- Interior
How do you make sure that a residence with a lot of space and a minimalist interior does not feel too empty? For the interior architects, that was the main challenge in this home in the south of Vancouver Island, Canada. Situated near the beach, it has sublime, calming views and is a true art mecca, thanks to the owners’ extensive collection.
The active family with three sons loves a sporty lifestyle and recently moved to Victoria. There, they found their dream home, at the beach of Cadboro Bay. The task for the Falken Reynolds interior architects was the following: a residence that maximises its views onto the ocean, combined with a sustainable, timeless interior that still feels warm and sophisticated. Interestingly, the team was inspired by the warm, minimalist approach of modern Belgian architects, who work out details to perfection. Finally, the owners’ art collection, consisting of modernist Canadian artists, had to receive a prominent place. There immediately was a sort of synergy between us and the owners, the studio tells us, which of course forms a great starting point for an extraordinary project such as this. 
The residence consists of two levels and gives the feeling of a bungalow. On the ground floor, there is an open kitchen, a dining and living room, a master suite and two bedrooms, a study room, and a powder room. Downstairs, on the same level with the beach and the pool, we find a large home gym, a media room, two bedrooms, and a recreation room. It was very important that the house feels like a relaxing space in the busy lives of the owners. To achieve that and create more unity with the surroundings, the colour palette had to be an extension of the beach. Next to grey and white tones, shades inspired by driftwood were used, as can be noticed in the oak furniture in the dining and living room and the bedroom. In this way, the mid-century art collection, which contains much colour, takes centre stage. Two exceptions to the neutral colour palette were the Verde Alpi marble in the bathroom, which reminds of the deep green waters in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mainland, and the blue Bocci 73.v pendants above the dining table, which refer to the blue sky and the water.
The colour palette had to be an extension of the beach
In terms of materials too, the task for the interior architects was clear. The owners emphasised that they wanted as many local materials as possible, because this meant that they could support the community and the environment by reducing the costs for transport. In other words, the materials and products had to tell a ‘local story’. Moreover, these materials are perfect to create the desired calm, serene atmosphere. Furthermore, the home needed to be easy to maintain. Concrete floors, which do not require much maintenance, were chosen, as were sustainable surfaces such as plaster walls. Like the floors and walls, the oak carvings and narrow boards of the ceiling have a quiet texture, but also radiate a lot of warmth. The large, open spaces with views to the outside could have felt very empty with a minimalist interior, say the interior designers. They solved that by combining the clean lines with subtle details that add just enough warmth to the interior. 
The result of all these considerations is a home that perfectly suits its owners, and, thanks to its use of sustainable, local materials, also pays attention to its surroundings. The location near the beach forms the perfect background to fully relax.
Photography by Ema Peter