We at SPRUCE love to feature inspiring home renovations and custom builds that delight the eye and spark creative visions for your own refresh or new home. Today we’re spotlighting the top five most-read home features of 2021. From the enduring charm of a modern day lighthouse to a beautiful marriage of styles, here they are – listed from number five to number one.
NUMBER 5 – HERITAGE NOUVEAU
A 1911 Edwardian-style house in Fairfield gets a modern update that stays true to its storied heritage in this gorgeous transformation. The homeowner saw the potential in the home’s traditional features, including the original front door, and planned much of the work himself, committed to preserving every element he could, from the ornate fireplace and mantel to the hallway millwork.
NUMBER 4 – ROUNDED WATERFRONT HOME
The architect for this beautiful home responded to the challenges of a triangle-shaped lot by designing curves to enhance the natural landscape. The sheltered oceanfront location now makes the perfect backdrop to a home whose minimalist interiors capture the essence of a restrained West Coast aesthetic.
“We wanted a home connected to the ocean, a landscaped environment and an emotional connection to nature from the entire house,” says the homeowner. “[Architect] Franc [D’Ambrosio] did complete the circle.”
NUMBER 3 – ALL ABOUT THE VIEWS
YouTube success story Justin Tse turned his downtown Victoria investment property into a home for himself, imbuing its aesthetic with sleek, sophisticated design that’s become a perfect backdrop for filming the tech and home videos he’s become known for. The open concept, with floor to ceiling windows, lets both the light and the magnificent view shine.
NUMBER 2 – MODERN DAY LIGHTHOUSE
For the second year, this home hits our top five (moving from number five in 2020 to number two this year), and no wonder. Aside from being featured in the hit Netflix series Maid, it has drawn endless admiration for its excellent use of location and its perfect blend of industrial, modern and nautical aesthetics.
““We wanted this project to capture the magnificent space the home sits on,” says designer Ryan Hoyt. “It’s an experience just to be on the property, and, with that kind of nature on your doorstep, you want it at the foreground.”
NUMBER 1 – A MARRIAGE OF STYLES
Our number one most viewed home for 2021 sees a couple’s individual tastes merge for a custom build designed to accommodate a growing family who love to entertain. The homeowners conscripted interior designer Kyla Bidgood and architect Franc D’Ambrosio to help integrate one homeowner’s modern, clean taste, with the other’s love of pattern and colour. The result is stylish livability and flow.
“The more we use it, the more we’re falling in love with it,” says homeowner Shara. “I have a few favourite spots, like sitting by the wood-burning fireplace, or staring out the windows to the Japanese maples, but we’re still coming across these moments, even now — like the sight lines — and they create these little vignettes that are so beautiful and better than we could have imagined.”
Do you know a home that should be featured in Spruce in 2022? Get in touch!
