story by Janice Henshaw | photos by Janis Jean Photography except where noted –
Andi and Larry Hook, the owners of Hook & Hook Designs in Sidney, design and manage custom projects for their clients. In 2016, they bought a project of their own, a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, single-storey house in Sidney built in 1965. The 1,147-square-foot house was completely unchanged since the first build. Larry said that the lack of renovation was a good thing: he has experienced many renovations where multiple homeowners have added their brand of skill (or lack of) in undertaking renovation projects in his work. It then becomes his challenge to figure out the best solution, fix problems, or tear things down and start over.
Andi and Larry Hook, the owners of Hook & Hook Designs in Sidney, design and manage custom projects for their clients. In 2016, they bought a project of their own, a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, single-storey house in Sidney built in 1965. The 1,147-square-foot house was completely unchanged since the first build. Larry said that the lack of renovation was a good thing: he has experienced many renovations where multiple homeowners have added their brand of skill (or lack of) in undertaking renovation projects in his work. It then becomes his challenge to figure out the best solution, fix problems, or tear things down and start over.
Andi, the design guru at Hook & Hook, drew up the reno plans and in the fall of 2020, they were ready to “push the go button.” Out went the wall-to-wall carpet, the windows, a wall between the kitchen and living room space and all the electrical and plumbing; it was a complete strip down to the 2 x 4 walls. Their reno added 615 square feet to the original footprint, making room for a new master bedroom and ensuite. And unlike others who move out of their homes, the family lived in the house during the whole renovation process!
Andi said that making design decisions for their home was just as hard as it is for everyone else. “I think it was probably harder for me because it’s my job; it’s more personal. It’s hard to run a business, deal with Covid issues, have family time and renovate a home all at the same time. It’s exhausting, chaotic.”
Andi’s current favourite design includes clean, crisp lines and a little “Boho” style. “Bohemian or Boho decorating is for those who want their homes full of life, culture and interesting items for all the world to see.” (The Spruce.com). “There are no rules when it comes to Bohemian decorating; warm earthy colours are common, as are metallics and jewel tones. Think deep browns, greens and grays for base colours, and then accessorize with saturated purple, fiery orange, and electric blue. Combining and layering colours is what makes this style unique.”
With the new open-plan layout, the house feels spacious. Most of the walls are painted in Balboa Mist, a warm grey neutral colour (all paint is Benjamin Moore). A gas fireplace makes the living room feel cozy. Larry built cabinets for both sides of the fireplace. The striking painting of the “Angry Fish” and most of the other artwork throughout the house was created by Andi’s mother, Jude Barkley
(Art by Jude).
The beautiful new floor is called Wire-Brushed White Oak. This technique means that the soft wood grains have been wire-brushed and removed, giving a raised, textured appearance to the remaining harder wood. It looks warm and slightly rustic throughout the home, contrasting nicely with the clean, modern design. The relatively rough finish ensures that the floor is not slippery, making it an ideal surface for children and pets.
In the kitchen, the flat panel quarter-sawn white oak cabinets are natural, with painted end panels and valance, and have matte black pulls. The countertops are waterfall quartz. New appliances include a gas stove, stainless steel ceiling exhaust fan, convection oven, a built-in Panasonic microwave, KitchenAid fridge, and a Miele dishwasher concealed behind a cabinet panel. The porcelain backsplash above the undermount granite sink is a standout with its black and white trident pattern. Layered LED lighting includes a cable light around the main window, under-cabinet lighting, pendant lights over the island, pot lights, and a very cool linear LED chandelier over the dining room table.
Heated floors are a welcome touch of luxury in the gorgeous main bathroom. Grasscloth wallpaper covers the main wall and the ceiling. Grey subway tiles add a backsplash for the white vessel sink that sits elegantly on a beautiful Garry Oak slab. Other notable features include walnut cabinets, under-cabinet lighting, marble tiles in the shower, wall-mounted matte black faucets, and an opening window in the shower wall for a breath of fresh air.
The new open utility room makes the transition between the original house’s footprint and the addition. It houses a washer and dryer, an upright freezer, walnut cabinets with quartz countertops and a convenient stainless-steel sink. Large woven baskets and gorgeous orchids catch your eye. Outside, the house was newly sided in corrugated metal at the back and Hardie Board siding on the front. The reno included a new deck, landscaping for the front yard and an in-ground firepit and waterfall.
Access to the master bedroom is through the utility room and a small hallway full of light, thanks to the French doors. In the bedroom, a vaulted ceiling adds a lovely spacious feel. Wall paint is Whispering Spring, a subtle grey-blue colour that contrasts with the “Pacific Sea Teal” feature wall behind the bed. The walk-in closet is bright with pot lights in the vaulted ceiling and includes shelving, a dressing table and a mirror. It is painted in lovely soft “Ballerina Pink,” a colour that Benjamin Moore describes as “suggestive of pink tutus, silky smooth pink shoes, and pirouettes.”
There is lots of space for rejuvenating soaks in the gleaming white bathtub with back slants on both ends. The open shower is tiled in grey subway tiles arranged in a basket weave pattern and 12- by 24-inch marble tiles. A brilliant design feature is the lighted niche built between the upper and lower bank of marble tiles. The tiled shower floor slants down to a hidden linear shower drain. In-floor heating, walnut cabinets, under-cabinet lighting, a quartz countertop, double sinks and wall-mounted matte black faucets and drywall window return all contribute to the bathroom’s sleek look and feel.
Overall, this Sidney home is a super-cool project created by the Hooks. Larry says they love going out of the box with innovative ideas. “Sometimes people don’t understand our ideas right away, but when they see the finished product, they’re like, what? I didn’t even think you could do that! And that’s what we base our whole vision for everything on – doing something different that no one has seen before. I love our work because we build dreams!”
