BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY JODY BECK
Henry and Louise Fiorillo have a soft spot for the West Coast. Even after settling in Ontario, running a farm and raising their family, Henry held tight to his dream of one day building a house along the coastal B.C. waters of his youth, where he grew up in the family tugboat business.
It wasn’t until their daughter was visiting Vancouver Island in 2019 that the dream started to become reality. In the town of Shirley, about 16 kilometres west of Sooke, she came across a secluded cliff-edge property brimming with native species and mature cedars that overlooked the rugged waters of the Juan de Fuca Strait. Before long, the entire family was on board.
“Looking out, you feel as though you are floating on water,” says Louise.
A Peaceful, Tranquil Space
The family set about building their custom, multi-level home. Its architectural details were influenced by the Japanese Minka style — the simple but sturdy “people’s houses” of the countryside, built with clean lines and humble, natural materials — but with a modern coastal twist. For the build, they leaned on the help of architect Jack Ferguson, principal of JD Ferguson Design, and sourced Tonia D’Introno, owner of D’Introno Interior Design, to bring the interior to life.
“Just looking at the exterior, I knew the interior had to be very precise, refined and detail-oriented,” says D’Introno.
Knowing the clients were seeking a peaceful and tranquil space, D’Introno encouraged a soothing natural colour palette throughout and created seamless connections between the inside, the outside and the various living areas.
“I worked with a layered, single tone to create a subtle yet harmonious effect, to let the view be the main decoration,” she says.
It would be a fine balance choosing the various materials while keeping within a single tone. A cool-toned white oak was used for the flooring and millwork, but the textures were varied for visual interest. The ceiling, inspired by the family’s memorable visit to the Audain Art Museum in Whistler, is done in hemlock, stained to match the white oak in the rest of the materials.
“It was a challenge not knowing how the tones would match once installed,” says D’Introno, “but when you walk in the space now, it all fits like a puzzle.”
Culinary Focal Point
With a cooking-centric family to design for — Louise is a holistic nutritionist, their daughter a food blogger and Henry a fisherman — D’Introno knew the kitchen would be the focal point, and it had to be designed impeccably.
“The design needed to have clean lines and minimalistic properties to coincide with the house design,” says D’Introno, “but without compromising on a high culinary standard.”
Looking at the kitchen’s large-scale blueprint, D’Introno knew thoughtful space planning would be needed so the oversized kitchen island (at four by 12 feet) would act as a centrepoint for function without taking away from the breathtaking views.
She avoided upper cabinets and chose a thin, contemporary pendant light to hang above the island, offering unobstructed views out to the Strait. Across from the island, a large prep area, tall pantry drawer and full-length fridge and freezer blend in seamlessly with the custom-designed millwork. Countertops were made from sustainable Neolith sintered stone, while the solid oak stools were inspired by traditional Japanese Shinto shrine design.
The integrated Wolf hood liner, a signature moment in the minimal kitchen, was completed with the same white oak as the cabinetry and rests above the chef-grade Wolf cooktop and double oven. This subtle addition makes for a more streamlined look in the kitchen, and highlights the millwork while keeping visual clutter at a minimum.
“The goal was to create a high-functioning kitchen that didn’t look so obvious in its purpose, but would act as a work of art like the rest of the home,” says D’Introno.
Corners for Contemplation
The kitchen may be the focus of this home, but it also features many serene little corners ideal for contemplation, from the Japanese-style sauna to the multiple outdoor decks and the spa-like bathroom captured in a glass box of a room cantilevered over the forest. The themes of clean lines, organic materials and bright, natural light continue throughout the bedrooms and living/dining areas, with Indigenous carvings adding colourful notes and connecting the space to its West Coast traditions.
And always there is that view, changeable and beautiful, across the strait.
Although each space flows easily into the next, D’Introno carefully created defined zones, such as the two floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that separate the kitchen from the dining and living areas. The result: A multi-functioning space that is large enough to host family functions and can become one big area or three separate spaces when needed.
“We entertain a lot at our farm in Ontario,” says Louise. “The intention for this place was to do the opposite — to unwind and spend time with family.”
While Henry and Louise maintain their farm in Ontario, the family spends most of their time now soaking in the calming scenery of the West Coast.
“The windows are like never-ending movie screens that constantly change with the time of day,” says Louise. “Just yesterday, we saw three orcas swim by.”
RESOURCE LIST
House designer: John Duncan (Jack) Ferguson, JD Ferguson Design
Interior designer: Tonia D’Introno, D’Introno Interior Design
Construction manager: Paul Clarkston, Clarkston Construction
Kitchen millwork: Splinters Millwork
Finishing carpentry: Jason Lockert with Clarkston Construction
Electrician: Adam Dayton, Pardell Electric
Plumber: Cory Tucker, Riptide Plumbing
Tiles: Island Floor Centre
Countertops: Stoneage Marble & Granite
Interior stone: K2 Stone
Appliances: Trail Appliances
