First Responder's West Coast Cabin

This month we are so excited to be featuring a client who, not only has an incredible eye for design, but is also a first responder along with her husband! On behalf of the Heronwood team and the entire Vancouver Island community we would like to thank Jessica and Doug for their incredible service during these unprecedented times. 

We were lucky enough to work with Jessica and Doug as they built their dream house in Lake Cowichan. We absolutely love Jessica’s style and are so excited to share photos of their project. Read below to hear about how the design came together!

Tell us about your custom build and the inspiration behind it:

For many years we have been working toward finding a property that we could use to relax and de-stress from our careers as first responders. Doug and I have purchased and sold a number of properties in greater Victoria from condos to townhouses to character homes, new builds and renovations. All of our previous investments in property made our dream possible and we purchased a lot in the Woodland Shores neighborhood in Lake Cowichan in 2017. I had a year and a half to dream of ideas for the property once we were ready to build. I wanted our house to fit in with the homes in the neighborhood but stand out distinctly through colour choices and landscaping. My choice landed on a mix between minimalist Scandinavian style and what you’d expect from a traditional West Coast cabin. I spent many hours pinning and sourcing interior and exterior finishing’s that I was drawn to. Although we initially planned on the property being a part-time residence, we knew it could also be a place we will retire. With that being said, we opted for high-quality finish but did not break the bank.

What is your favourite room that you did and why?

My favorite room has to be the open concept living/dining/kitchen great room. The room has high ceilings, is perfect for family gatherings and has an oversized island and bar area for hosting parties. We worked with Jason and he recommended the larger island. It is definitely one of the focal points in the room.

What design trends did you follow? What design choices did you make on your own?

I picked out all of the design elements in our home (with some input from my husband!) from the cabinetry to the wall colour and lighting. I wanted to keep the finishing of the house modern and timeless. I did not want something that would be dated in a few years time that I would want to change. I chose to go with quality products that Heronwood had to offer that will last for many years of wear and tear. The house is a mix of modern Scandinavian and traditional West Coast. I took a bit of a risk with the natural oak cabinetry in the kitchen as it can look dated (think 90’s oak cabinetry). In this case I chose for a modern texture in a warm tone that is comforting in the kitchen and gathering area. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and wanted a place that I feel comfort in. The oak lower cabinets are offset by more modern open shelving that can be styled differently to change the feel of the room anytime.

Tell us about the inspiration behind your mudroom design and the millwork design? What was important to you in a mudroom?

The mudroom area was something I have always wanted in a house and never had before. This home is meant to be a place for friends and family to gather and an entryway coat closet would not be sufficient storage. We went with white shaker cabinets in the mudroom but added more personal touches with the cubbies/drawers/hooks. The bench area is the same material as the kitchen cabinets in a natural oak, bringing warmth into the space.

We love the wallpaper and decor you did in that room. Can you tell us why you chose those?

I wanted to transform the mudroom into a more eclectic, fun spot. I went with more risky design choices in the mudroom décor and picked a Moroccan inspired stencil instead of permanent tile backsplash above the laundry area. I then chose a patterned wallpaper in a similar colour but different pattern to the backsplash for the wall above the bench. The speckled wallpaper pattern is playful and something that can be swapped out easily if I want to try something new. The same goes for the stencil as it can easily be painted over and permanent tile installed at a later date.

Favourite online blogs or stores to get inspiration from or to shop at?

I used Pinterest for inspiration and overall design ideas. On Instagram I found inspiration through blogs like Domino, Apartment Therapy, Canadian Living, Style at Home, My Domaine and Home Polish. I love the Article and Rove Concepts blogs as they highlight the style of furnishings I like in different home settings. My main staples for furniture are Ikea and Wayfair. For decor I shop at a number of different places like HomeSense, The Bay, Amazon, cb2 and Simons Canada.

Was this your first time working with Heronwood? Why did you choose them?

When we began building our contractor gave us a number of recommended cabinetry suppliers. We received quotes from different companies and reviewed their work through websites/social media/etc. When we met with Jason and Ann-Marie at Heronwood and went through their showroom I was set on the style that I wanted and Jason worked with us to help come up with a design that would work with our floorplan. I am a big supporter of local and smaller run businesses. The quality at Heronwood for the value was a no brainer in comparison to our other choices. We were able to get what we wanted in our budget and know that it is a high-quality product. Bonus that it is a family-run business!

Thank you so much Jessica! We absolutely loved working with you and are so happy you had such a positive experience. 

Cheers!

Heronwood

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