British Columbia is one. So it makes great sense that just a short ferry ride from Vancouver, a coastal house will wrap its arms around its own environment. “The owners wanted some wood frame and natural components to tie it in with the site and felt it should be a low-profile structure from the street,” says architect Kevin Simoes of Streamline Design. “They desired a beautiful house on the inside but did not feel the need to showcase that from the road”
They moved with an easy A-frame and incorporated timbers for most of the structural components. Simoes’ layout was limited by the bunch, which has setbacks on three sides, for example, sea side. “The site really ordered what we can do in regard to the footprint and layout of the house,” he says.
Working with designer Jonalyn Siemens, he made a minimalist yet charming getaway that’s beautiful inside and outside.
at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a weekend retreat for a designer and her husband.
Location: Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia
Size: 3,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
That’s interesting: The house was constructed with a sustainably harvested Douglas fir wood frame and has a metal roof and a rainwater collection system.
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
An open living room, dining area and kitchen features a big portion of the most important level. “It is very popular with us to design such a manner and join all these open spaces,” says Simoes. “In this specific house, it allowed the great room and dining area to be slightly smaller than we would normally make them still feel as though they have more volume than they really do.”
Dining table: Restoration Hardware; chairs: Another Room; chandelier: Halo, Roost; sleeper couch: Willow Studio; mermaid sculpture: Alisa Shebib; fireplace: handmade Updated tile, Solus Vancouver
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
Seven doors open the space to the outside up . The floors throughout are engineered walnut from Lauzon.
Bar stools: Pier 1 imports, draped with sheepskin; pendant: Hudson Valley lighting, Luminosa Light Design; windows, doors: Dynamic Windows
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
An aggregate concrete route leads to the entry. There is into the mudroom A doorway off to the best.
The exterior is Douglas fir wood frame made without the wood’s heart. Simoes explains that because timber shrinks and expands, you don’t wish to work with the heart, or centre pith, of the timber. Nonheart timber is not as likely to expand, contract or spin over time.
Timber frame: West Coast Log Homes
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
The beams and posts are Douglas fir timbers. A floating staircase is Douglas fir and has a steel and cable railing. A similar railing leads to the reduced level, which contains two bedrooms, a rec room, a wine room and a media room.
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
Moveable portholes are fun features that help provide venting, since there aren’t many operable windows on the front part of the house.
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
The kitchen includes high-gloss white Euro cabinetry with Merit Kitchens, a stainless steel square tile backsplash from Custom Flooring and KitchenAid appliances (with the exception of a Miele dishwasher).
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
The homeowners plan to make use of the upstairs attic as a sitting area and library. Another area of the room contains a wall of bookshelves.
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
“Normally we wouldn’t place this kind of beam construction at a space where only the vertical post is required,” says Simoes. “But we wanted to add additional visual interest, as well as the beamwork helps to specify the kitchen space, not only when you’re down below looking up, but also when you’re up in the attic looking down”
He integrated the structural post which supports the ridge beam into the kitchen island. “Rather than have a stand-alone post, we wanted to integrate it in the island to give it a tiny bit more mass and to floor it.”
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
The master bedroom is on the main level, and you can see through the two-way fireplace into the excellent room.
Custom bed: Vincent Lang Furnishings; bedding, cushions, carpet: Designers Guild; pendant lamps: Luminosa Light Design; standing lamp: Adesso; couch, ottoman, draperies: custom by Jonalyn Siemens
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
We desired the master bath tub to be the focal point of the space,” says Simoes. “The owners love to sit here and feel as though they’re about the sea.”
Bathtub, sink: Ravello, Victoria and Albert; tub fixtures: Axor Massaud, Hansgrohe
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
The simple yet lavish finishes at the master bathroom comprise polished travertine tiles atop the vanity.
Mirrors: Restoration Hardware; sconces: Hudson Valley lighting, Luminosa Light Design; faucet fixtures: Axor Massaud, Hansgrohe
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
The homeowners wanted to maintain the master bathroom as spacious as possible. Sliding doors open into the bedroom, and picture windows provide a view of the sea from the shower.
Shower walls: limestone; flooring: pebble tiles, Ecolfor; fixtures: Axor, Hansgrohe
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
Practical and visually attractive, the mudroom with laundry has a countertop and loads of storage.
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
This is only one of two guest bathrooms on the lower level.
Shower tile: polished ceramic, Olympia Tile; sinks, sink fixtures: Ronbow; mirrors: Home Depot; sconces: Hudson Valley lighting, Luminosa Light Design; shower fixtures: Hansgrohe
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
The cedar rear deck runs the entire 45-foot span of the house.
Deck furniture: Costco; fire pit: Solus Vancouver
Streamline Design Ltd. – Kevin Simoes
A log staircase from the main floor deck brings down into a gazebo and a route into the sea.
