My Houzz: Green Home Tucked in a Canadian Forest
Thoughtful craftsmanship and sustainability plus an exuberant edible garden make this bright home just right for a retiring couple
After four generations of family summer vacations spent at their cottage in Roberts Creek, British Columbia, Bill and Carol Page knew that this area on the Sunshine Coast is where they would build their dream home after retirement. The environmentally conscious couple worked with Montgomery Wood Architect for the majority of the design, using local wood and high-tech sustainable features where they could. The Pages kept all the cut-off material during construction and are now using the pieces in hand-crafted furniture. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts era, their home design is a dynamic mix of clean, contemporary lines and simple craftsmanship.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bill and Carol Page
Location: Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
Size: 1,600 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, office, workshop, open garage
That's interesting: Rainwater stored in a cistern under the sun deck is used for irrigation and a koi fish tank.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bill and Carol Page
Location: Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
Size: 1,600 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, office, workshop, open garage
That's interesting: Rainwater stored in a cistern under the sun deck is used for irrigation and a koi fish tank.
Rather than interfere with the sun deck at the front, the homeowners placed the door to the side of the lot and allowed the entryway to bisect the living and private areas of the house.
The local cedar siding was hand-dipped in a stain by a local painter to protect the wood from weather and increase the color's longevity. Painted a forest green, two trim accents were used: rough-cut Douglas fir and stained vertical-grain Douglas fir, which carries on inside the house.
The local cedar siding was hand-dipped in a stain by a local painter to protect the wood from weather and increase the color's longevity. Painted a forest green, two trim accents were used: rough-cut Douglas fir and stained vertical-grain Douglas fir, which carries on inside the house.
The front deck wraps around the side of the house.
The main living area opens onto the sun deck and the kitchen; windows make good use of the lot's southwest orientation.
The design emphasizes the progression from garden to deck to living spaces and then private areas. Clean and simple off-white walls complement the warm tone of the wood siding outside.
The design emphasizes the progression from garden to deck to living spaces and then private areas. Clean and simple off-white walls complement the warm tone of the wood siding outside.
The large central island serves as a prep and dining space.
The open floor plan, the vaulted ceiling and the skylights create an airy feel in the living spaces.
Freshly cut hydrangeas from the garden are an instant centerpiece.
Freshly cut hydrangeas from the garden are an instant centerpiece.
Glass doors connect the home's interior with its yard.
An efficient furnace, on-demand hot water and in-slab heating help keep the house warm in winter. However, strategic window placement and the insulated thermal mass of the concrete floor mean heating is rarely needed.
An efficient furnace, on-demand hot water and in-slab heating help keep the house warm in winter. However, strategic window placement and the insulated thermal mass of the concrete floor mean heating is rarely needed.
Steel spindles from a Vancouver company were a successful design experiment.
The upstairs home office overlooks the main roof and offers a view of the Georgia Strait.
The upstairs bathroom is simple and pragmatic, with a large tub and dual-flush toilets.
Carol's upstairs sewing area also looks out to the front of the house and the Georgia Strait.
Efficient multipurpose spaces promote circulation into other areas of the house. The laundry room area also functions as the back hallway, leading to the downstairs storage space and the garage and shop areas out the back. Large light wells on both sides of the space welcome light into the home's deepest areas.
The lower patio is enveloped by Carol's garden — a sanctuary secluded in plain sight. Carol maintains an edible garden with a wide variety, including beans, lettuce, raspberries, cucumber, squash, swiss chard, kale, chives and leeks.
The couple is responsible for all the landscape design, plantings and built structures. Many of the plantings are heirlooms from other families' homes around British Columbia and Alberta, and many of the new plantings are native species.
The couple is responsible for all the landscape design, plantings and built structures. Many of the plantings are heirlooms from other families' homes around British Columbia and Alberta, and many of the new plantings are native species.
The cottage style of Roberts Creek lends itself well to a large setback site, rather than a tight urban fabric. The house almost blends into the forest. Carol and Bill's home is now a destination for future generations of their family to enjoy all year.
Houzz call: Do you have a creative, ecofriendly home? Share it with us!
Houzz call: Do you have a creative, ecofriendly home? Share it with us!
Carol's knack for growing and her experience working at theDevonian Botanic Garden at the University of Alberta helped turn their front garden into a lush oasis. She planted a lively mix of hydrangeas, Russian sage, elder, montbretia,Euphorbia, daylilies, Kinnikinnick, clematis,honeysuckle, bamboo, daisies, black-eyed Susan, dogwoodand showy stonecrop — among many other plants.