After retiring to Hornby Island, a health diagnosis forced this couple to move back to Victoria — where they recreated their dream home.
BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY EMA PETERS
When Karen and Dick discovered they had to sell their newly built home in the coastal woods of Hornby Island and move back to the city, they reached out to their architect to ask for his help — again.
“Having to give up a home we poured our heart and soul into was hard,” says Karen, noting that a health diagnosis made the move unavoidable. “I called D’Arcy and said, ‘Please, work your magic again.’ ”
After working together with the couple on their Hornby house, D’Arcy Jones, principal of D’Arcy Jones Architects, understood what needed to be done to create a home worth leaving for. Knowing that, this time, another new build was not in the cards, the couple searched the market for a house that would make them feel something.
“When we walked into this bungalow in Fairfield, we both looked at each other and said, ‘This is just like our Hornby house!’ ” says Dick.
With its single-level modern shell and stucco interior walls, this house had sincere reflections of their island home — on a much smaller scale. Rounding out at 1,140 square feet, this home would afford the low maintenance of a condo-sized space, yet provide a large yard with lush greenery, reminiscent of their forest dwelling. The 1970s interior, however, needed a few improvements to make this a no-fuss space for the couple to call home.
“[Karen and Dick] love modern and refined spaces,” says Jones, “but with a touch of rustic.”
This Spanish-mission-style home with mid-century elements had a great foundation, but some important alterations would help it along. First on the wish list was to welcome in more light, which Jones did by widening all of the windows and doors to their maximum capacity. The move had the bonus effect of bringing the outdoor scene inside.
“I said to them, ‘Let’s make it feel like there are no walls in the house,’ ” says Jones. “They lit up at that.”
Second on the list was to make better use of the space the home had — which would include adding a new office and a second bathroom for guests. Because space was limited, Jones had to get creative in making this work. To carve out room for the office, he took out the mudroom and extended the kitchen wall to keep it open concept.
On the other side of this wall, Jones designed a laundry and storage area alongside an office nook that overlooks the garden.
For the powder room, Jones took the existing bathroom’s footprint and created two bathrooms: a powder and an ensuite.
“It was like a puzzle, trying to make everything fit,” says Jones.
The couple loves to cook, so creating a professional-grade kitchen was a must. In such a small space, however, Jones knew the kitchen would take up most of the visual. To work with that, he opted for sleek white cabinets with quartz countertops — sans backsplash — to let the oversized window shine.
For the island, Jones continued with the existing maple flooring to create a worktop and casual eating area. Karen requested an industrial stove, so Jones got creative in designing a completely stainless steel cooking alcove to make it a standalone piece that pops against the monochromatic space.
“Art, food, design and architecture are what [this couple] is all about,” says Jones. “They need a home that reflects what they love.”
The bungalow is embellished with the clients’ lifelong collection of paintings and ceramics from local artisans of Hornby Island — which fit in perfectly with the textured stucco walls and exposed cedar beams throughout the home.
“D’Arcy was able to bring back all the parts that made our Hornby home so special,” says Karen, “which made us not regret the move for a second.”
“It was like a puzzle, trying to make everything fit.”
Resource List
Architect: D’Arcy Jones Architects
Construction manager: Prevost Built
Plumber: Granger Plumbing & Heating
Electrician: Amped Electrical Contracting
Doors: Lumberworld
Windows: Westeck Windows and Doors
Roofing: Alpha Roofing & Cladding
Drywall: Vic City Drywall
Tile: Lang Custom Tile
Painting: Andrew Tuttle – The Paint Crew
Kitchen/bathroom millwork: Victoria Millwork & Joinery
Custom millwork: Victoria Millwork & Joinery
Finishing carpentry: Prevost Built
Floor refinishing: Heritage Hardwood Flooring
Glass: Royal Oak Glass
Landscape: Biophilia Design Collective
Pavers: Yorkshire Landscapes
Countertops: Colonial Countertops
Stainless steel nook: Silver Fern Stainless
Engineers: Ron Wedman Engineering Services
