– Story by Barry Mathias, photography by nuttycake.com –
I discover, before I arrive, that the owners bought the property four years ago, but apart from minor changes their efforts have been focused almost entirely on redesigning their enormous garden. “Most people start with improvements to the house, and the garden is last on the list,” Jan says. “We began outside and are only now thinking of changes to the house.” There is a pause. “Oh yes, and we’ve just had a new roof.” I was intrigued.
Jan and Albert are the proud owners of an attractive 4,200 sq. ft. luxury home set in a large lot on a quiet, rural development perched on a hillside with fine views of Mount Baker and glimpses of the ocean. The entry is imposing, with its tall electrically operated wrought-iron gates supported by stone pillars, with traditional iron fencing on both sides. Ahead is, what appears to be, a large attractive single storey house with cream walls, a double garage on the right, and a complex roof design that boasts gleaming new shingles. A wide exposed concrete drive leads up to the artistic glass front door with its white trim, protected by a covered entry supported by two huge pillars. There are no steps.
“That was a major consideration when we bought this house,” says Albert. “We wanted a house with space, light, a fine view and definitely no stairs. We’re in our early seventies, and although active, we wanted to plan for the future, when we might not be so spry.”
“My previous house in Oak Bay had low ceilings,” Jan says, gazing up at the 12 foot ceiling in the spacious kitchen. “This house has very high ceilings. It took some getting used to.” The kitchen has beautiful bright oak cupboards and drawers, with modern stainless steel appliances, and oak and granite surfaces. It is a modern kitchen set in the grandeur of a 24-year-old house. A very large, angled island dominates the cooking area. “That is our next project,” Jan says. “We want to move this and create something less obtrusive.”
This large room, with its dark grey and blue tiles, has many windows and incorporates a dining space for six and a family area with arm chairs, small tables, a flat television and lots of reading matter. An eye-catching, woven gray-patterned carpet covers much of the area. “We bought one of our carpets when we visited Turkey last year,” Jan says. To the right of the kitchen, a door leads to a laundry room, a powder room and into the double garage. At the other side, a glass door opens onto a full deck overlooking the back garden, and is ideal for large gatherings.
The main hall, and much of the house, has pristine old oak floors with inlaid trim along the edges. It is a house that flows: with the kitchen area to the right, leading to a comfortable lounge with its traditional fireplace, deep chairs and settee, and fascinating views of the garden and glimpses of the Islands. Throughout the house are magnificent antiques: tables, cabinets, chairs, oil paintings and fine china, best exemplified in the formal dining room, and in the guest bedroom that they call the Library. “We both inherited our parents’ houses, and all their antiques,” Albert explains. “This chair, for instance, belonged to my Grandfather.” It seems a good reason for having a big house.
Also on this level is another two-piece washroom, and at the end of a corridor is their master bedroom suite. It’s cool and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows and double glass doors leading out on to a patio, and has plenty of space for the antique bedroom furniture. There is a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite luxury bathroom. An ample tub, with an aquamarine marble surround, is the focus of this room, with a vanity of the same colour to one side and, to the right, an inviting walk-in shower with glass on two sides.
Although much of the activity of the house occurs on this top level of 2,100 sq. ft. a wide polished wood staircase leads down to a lower, equally large space that contains a separate apartment, two bedrooms, two storage rooms and a big media room with ample washrooms. Glass doors open onto a wide patio and into the lush garden beyond.
Outside, we admire the new roof, recently installed by Paul Pellow of Admirals Roofing. The firm was founded in 1976, and employs more than 30 full-time craftsmen. “We had the wood shakes roof replaced with a new fiberglass shingle, recommended by Paul,” says Albert. “We also had two existing skylights converted to allow them to be opened when needed. “We were pleased with the quotation, and his crew did an excellent job, completing the work in a week and a half, and always cleaning up at the end of the day. Paul used four workers and sometimes five.” Albert, who is a volunteer at Heritage Acres, noted that Paul Pellow had also been keen to help roof a new washroom at the Museum. “He offered to provide both the asphalt shingle and the installation for free.” Jan and Albert highly recommend Admirals Roofing.
In her previous life Jan was a public servant and a journalist, writing for gardening magazines. She admits to being “crazy about gardening” and was involved with the Master Gardeners Assoc. of B.C. She has also been connected with the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, and with her extensive knowledge established the wide variety of trees, plants and flowers in this delightful garden. Local landscape designer Marty Watters helped redesign the garden and Albert has built the raised beds and maintains the complex irrigation system.
On either side of the front door are elaborate gardens with rhododendrons, azaleas, roses and peonies, and a wealth of unusual and colourful flowers. “We have three dogwoods, each with a different hue, and flowering at different times,” Jan says enthusiastically. To the right of the short drive a new garden is being developed: topsoil has just been laid.” I get excited when I think of choosing the plants to go there.”
We move to the left along a wide, level grass area with high hedges, where a tall, old fir is a reminder of earlier times. “When the house was built, great amounts of fill, from a farm below, was used to level this area,” says Albert. “It’s ideal for bocce ball.”
The lawn slopes around an extensive stone wall, complete with a wall fountain, and with elegant flowerbeds. It is my first real view of their enormous lawn. “We use Peninsular Lawns to manage the grass and Bird’s Eye View Tree Service for the hedges,” he says. “And I have regular visits from Jane Tice who helps me with the gardening,” Jan adds.
The lawn slopes down towards a picturesque pergola, surrounded by wide well stocked gardens, and with a statuesque Empress tree overhanging a traditional birdbath. “This tree has the most gorgeous blue flowers,” she says. “You’ve just missed them.” Meanwhile, two wild rabbits cavort on the manicured lawn.
Jan and Albert were married last year in the beautiful garden they have both created. I hope this enchanted place brings them continued happiness.
