By Danielle Pope / Photos by Joshua Lawrence
When designer Jenny Martin was approached to work on an ocean-view Cadboro Bay home, she knew she’d have to get resourceful. The 4,000-square-foot house was located on such a unique triangular lot that the structure appeared almost folded in, with sharp, angular edges and dynamic room shapes. The origami-like nature of the building was so different, in fact, Martin nicknamed it “Edge.”
As with many coastal homes, Martin’s goal was to maximize the views available from every vantage point while turning the interior into a Vancouver Island sanctuary. With two storeys, two master bedrooms, a floating walkway, a two-level garage and full beach view, she had plenty to work with.
“The design was largely inspired by the client, who wanted a contemporary look with a focus on natural elements to reflect an earthy, modern feel,” says Martin. “We played that up through our use of materials, and rich, smoky tones.”
The floors are formed from oak hakwood, creating a wholesome and knotty atmosphere. Martin used a variety of earthy materials, from steel and glass to wood and stone, to ensure the interior held its rustic feel. Yet the house also captures a meditative calm, with natural lighting from the window walls emphasizing each room, and stylized features — like the floating toilet and freestanding soaker tub — playing off a modern Japanese theme.
On the main floor, the entryway leads into an open-concept dining, kitchen and living room. Set in a triangular perspective, the three divisions are outfitted in complementary charcoal and cream colours, with a “Cinder” quartz countertop dividing the kitchen, and a glass-encased wine cellar paralleling the dining room. Sliding barn doors accent the pantry and laundry rooms, while polished-concrete flooring separates the living room, and an accordion window wall offers free-flowing access to the patio.
“These really are our favourite projects to work on,” says Martin. “Each room allowed us to implement simple but dramatic details that make a home stand out.”
Off the patio, landscape designer Jonathan Craggs weaved the rustic Zen themes throughout the exterior. Craggs used sedge baby’s tears and Japanese maples to create a “rusted” evergreen atmosphere. Poured concrete steps lead around the house, while a refinished concrete perimeter wall acts as a wind and sound barrier to frame the home.
“The ocean side of the house speaks for itself, but the pathways and wall are soft ways of linking the two arms of this design without distracting from the view,” says Craggs. “We focused on using non-linear, natural lines and a curved patio, which contrast with the sharp lines of the house — they play off each other.”
The patio also features a 12-foot-long fire-table feature, formed from rock and steel, with infrared heaters mounted in the deck’s overhang to capture fugitive heat. Craggs even designed an adjacent bistro area to integrate the built-in barbecue and pizza oven.
Back inside, the main-level master bedroom carries on the natural theme of hakwood flooring and knotty high beams, while the ensuite features a pocket mirror that rolls into a window wall. Meanwhile, the upstairs bedroom boasts a tree-fort feel, with full window views, and its ensuite features a glass-enclosed bathroom with steamer shower — made from a single slab of marble — and separate floating-toilet room, next to a generous walk-in closet.
Much like a tree fort, the upper level also features a walk-around balcony that peers down to the first floor. Specially developed ceiling panels mute acoustic noise, while the upstairs media room offers a quiet place to play or relax. It’s on this level, too, that the floating walkway links the main house to the office above the garage. The effect, from inside and out, is an open-concept visual masterpiece.
“We consider the location and sight lines in every project, and the Edge’s unique layout really upped our creativity level,” says Martin. “The more challenge you face with a space, the more it allows you to be inventive.”
RESOURCES
Architect: Dan Boot, Studio DB3
Design: Jenny Martin Design
Construction manager: Jake Grypma
Plumber: Erb Technical Contracting
Electrician: Allied Power and Communications
Doors and hardware: Jason Good Custom Cabinets
Windows: Westeck Windows and Doors
Concrete slabs: Jake Grypma Custom Woodworks
Cladding: Cedar siding – Jake Grypma Custom Woodworks; stucco – Esquimalt Stucco and Plastering
Roofing: Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal
Tile: Decora Ceramic Tile & Natural Stone
Painting: Jake Grypma Custom Woodworks
Kitchen/bathroom millwork:
Jason Good Custom Cabinets
Custom millwork: Jason Good Custom Cabinets
Landscape design: Jonathan Craggs Garden Design
Planting: Bricklok Surfacing & Landscaping
Concrete hardscape: Jake Grypma Custom Woodworks