Comox Valley Dwellings

{ Dreaming + Planning } Industrial, Framhouse, Craftsman, Reclaimed!

bethany — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:17:09 +0000

yep, I’m still here!

Every day I can be heard asking,“is it June yet?”
I graduate on June 11th.

Here is what I’ve been dreaming of these days:

Industrial. Farmhouse. Craftsman. Reclaimed.

Can they co-exist peacefully?

I think it’s possible!

via: www.beadboard.com
I love beadboard ceilings. What better way to cover up the horrid textured ceiling without having to grind it all off upside down for hours upon hours?

Anyone know where this image is from?
This floor is similar to the Premier Garage floor I blogged about here. Also, I’m in love with industrial style pendant lamp.

This image is forever stored on my computer. I also have the publication from Better Homes and Gardens where it was featured. This reclaimed mantel is exactly what I want in my house. I foresee multiple trips to Demxx in coombs…

I love this exterior by this renovation company in Washington. Our home could definitely look like this with a little assistance!

Alright – back to work for me!

-b

{ Art Trumps All } Project Update

bethany — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:34:17 +0000

Although it’s hard for us to believe, we are only into week 4 of actual construction to Sunrise Veterinary Clinic at 800 Shamrock Place in Comox. We’re really putting all this Design-Build stuff to the test – even in this small-scale renovation – and finding that it’s a perfect match for our personalities and skill-set. Design-Build is fast… really fast!

Thank you all for voting on your favourite colour schemes and for providing your comments. In the end, it was your comments, our clients needs/wants, and our own ideas that helped solidify the final colour selections and over-all feel of the space.

But the real thing that brought the design together wasn’t a person at all – it was ART.

Art trumps all.

I’ve mentioned before that I feel that art has a “love” emotion strongly attached to it.

When we first saw the art we’ve chosen for this space we allknew that it was the right choice. It embodies the feeling we want to achieve with the space, and it also suites the personalities of Dr. Tammi Whelan and Dr. Stacey Gastis perfectly.

Here’s another sneek-peek into the design concept. I have kept the final art slection a secret for now because I feel it is deserving of a spotlight in the official reveal. Plus, we don’t want to give everything away!

{ Sunrise Veterinary } Colour Concepts – You Vote!

bethany — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:59:00 +0000

Sunrise Veterinary Clinic

Which Concept do YOU like the most?
Please vote for your favourite below.

CONCEPT #1

CONCEPT #2

Colour Concepts by: Lindsay McCotter of ReSOLVE Interiors
Designed by: Lindsay McCotter and Bethany Pearce
Conceptual Renderings by: Bethany Pearce

We’re making big changes to Sunrise Veterinary Clinics new location at 800 Shamrock Place in Comox, BC. We’ll be sharing some of the project details here on ComoxValleyDwellings.com.

Design-Build renovation by: Capstone Creative Industries Ltd.
(that’s us!)

See Previous Post for details on the Art pictured in renderings.

{ Art Round-Up } Animal Art for Your Home

bethany — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:56:18 +0000

HELLO MODERN ART

featuring Animals in all their

exuberant energy

and

lovable innocence…

All of these pieces are by Canadian artists.
I have had the honor to personally meet every single of of these talented people. What a wonderfully artistic country we live in!

Click on the painting to visit the gallery
and learn more about the artist.
Buying original art supports artists.

(Interested in learning about galleries, ethics, and how it all supports the artist? Start Here)

ARTISTS:

Ken Campbell
Les Thomas
Sheila Norgate
Terry McCue
Lucy Schappy

{ Floor Coatings } Durable & Beautiful

bethany — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:00:42 +0000

While planning for a local commercial renovation, we’ve been exploring some alternatives for flooring. For the type of application we’re using it for, it needs to be extremely durable but also professional looking. Marmoleum, as efficient as it is for commercial use, isn’t exactly the most beautiful product available. Tile looks great, but it’s very hard on joints when working on it all day.

Here are two alternative products we’ve considered during the design process. I can imagine these products in a commercial setting, but also in a sleek residential one.

#1. Premier Garage – Floor Coatings

These floors are made from a hybrid polymer. The product has been specially designed to withstand typical wear and tear in a garage. This product has a 10-year warranty against peeling, and a 10-year warranty against staining*. One of the best parts in my opinion, is the fast turn-around in installment – typically it takes only 48 hours finish. It is available in a high-gloss finish or a speckled “granite” look. I’m imagining the high-gloss flooring in a modern setting… stunning!

#2 StoneCraft

StoneCraft offers another great solution for floor coatings. This product is a cement and plastic combination that can be applied in a variety of ways. It can be applied as a smooth surface, or can be created to have the look and texture of tile. This product is pretty dynamic, and can be applied vertically up a wall – in fact, StoneCraft has been used on climbing gyms. This product also installs in approximately 48 hours.

As with any new product on the market, make sure to do thorough research before buying. If you are considering purchasing a product like this, perhaps ask the business for a few references from satisfied customers. If using it for commercial applications, it’s a good idea to compare the product’s durability with any heavy-duty cleaners that are used in the building.

Photos:
Top – Premier Garage
Bottom – StoneCraft

Local Contacts:

Cory at Premier Garage (Parksville) : 250-228-7768
Melanie at StoneCraft (Nanaimo) : 250-716-9294

Please note: this is not an advertisment. I just think this stuff is great!

*always confirm full details of warranties with the company.

{Home Tour!} John Lore’s Home – of Live Edge Design

bethany — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:00:49 +0000

We’re off to the Cowichan Valley today to peek in the home of John Lore – president of Live Edge Design.

I’ve mentioned this company before because I like the look of reclaimed and can get pretty excited when I find it locally. Live Edge Design has a noteworthy talent for design and a focus on quality workmanship. I’m cheering this Vancouver Island company on for chasing their dream of stylish sustainability.

Let’s take a peek…

I love this mid-century inspired reclaimed bed frame. The perfectly mitered corners on the side-table are a beautiful contrast to the textured edge of the headboard.

A well-made solid wood highboy is always a good investment. This piece works hard providing ample storage. The sophisticated button-like knobs gives this practical piece a very grown-up look.

Bring back the classics! I see this as a modern version of the popular 20’s must-have vanity. In the 20’s, art-deco pieces were often made to highlight the natural wood-grains. In this piece the wood-grain is the focus again, but with classic lines and a sustainable approach.
(also, I like the offset partial frame on the mirror!)

Floating shelves have become a staple for home accessorising in many style genres. From “Minimalist” to “Eclectic” and now to “West-Coast Sustainable”, floating shelves serve practical needs while eliminating awkward brackets.

Now this is a table! Connecting with natural foods around the dinner table is a focus for many families in our community. I can imagine food tasting it’s best when devoured around this down-to-earth piece. I like the regal look of the high-backed chairs and choosing to anchor the design with a dark craftsman inspired base was a great idea.

Thanks John, for sharing your home with us!

Want to see more? Live Edge Design has an incredible portfolio on their website.

For other HOME TOURS featured on ComoxValleyDwellings.com, click HERE.

If you know of a local home we should tour on this website, please let us know!

This is not an Advertisment. Please visit this page for more information.
-b

{ High Tides + High Winds } Flooded Oceanfront Homes in Campbell River this Morning…

bethany — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:33:32 +0000

The beach is on the road on the Old Island Highway in parts of Campbell River today.

The storm last night and this morning has thrown all sorts of beach debris on the Old Island Highway. Some poor soul, who parked his car on the side of the road with a “For Sale” sign on it, will find his car this morning completely blocked by logs swept in by the ocean. I’m guessing there will be some damage on the car from all the logs and rocks…

I stopped by two homes where the residents were standing outside discussing the mess they find themselves in this morning.

They said they suspected something like this would happen. High tides and high winds are the perfect recipe for storm like this.

“The dog was startled last night by a wave hitting the second story bedroom window”, home owner Kath Brown told me.

Kath, who lives in an oceanfront home on the Old Island Highway, says the last time her home flooded like this was 7 years ago. At that time the flood was a result of poorly serviced culverts which overflowed and caused water to flood down over the highway from the rivers and streams into her home. This time, the water is coming from the other direction.

When I asked her how long it took for her insurance company to help her out with the repair last time, she said that she didn’t think her insurance would cover this kind of thing.

As Kath headed into her home wearing pj’s and her rubber boots, she remarked with half a grin, “I had plans to be in the garden tending to the snowdrops that are popping up, guess I won’t be doing that today!”

{Local News} Small Comox Valley gets featured on leading Design Blog!

bethany — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:03:16 +0000

The Comox Valley is featured on Design*Sponge today!

I’m over the moon this morning. It’s so fantastic to see our little community get some international love on a website dedicated to all things design.

Check it out!

We do, indeed, live in a very special place!

Thanks to Simone for sending this in to Design*Sponge :)

{ Interior Inspiration } Ski Chalet Inspired – School Project

bethany — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:51:11 +0000

I NEED visuals when I’m brainstorming. For example, I like to write things down on paper. When I’m experimenting with colours, patterns and textures, I like to do a computer mock-up or lay photos out together to see how the elements play off each other.

When it comes to visualizing ideas for our current renovation, I’m over the moon when I find a photo that represents what I’m considering. YAY for this book!

For my school project (see post below), I’m finding that I need visual inspiration for the interior floor plan. I have ideas of what I’d like, but most of the time photos help me to expand on my own ideas and brings up a creative flow that wasn’t there before.

Here are some of the interiors that are catching my eye today:

Via: www.decoratingguru.com
Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo/House Beautiful

Timber-frame is something Joe and I are really into – but for this project I’m going to leave it aside so that I can concentrate on learning how to use AutoCad for traditional framing. However, I’m going to incorporate some timber-frame elements into the design. For example, this banister could become a timber-frame inspired jointed piece.

Via: www.willowdecor.blogspot.com
Photo: Southern Accents

Ski chalets often have beds for as many powder lovers as possible. Perhaps doing the two “kids” bedrooms with built-in beds would help to carry that idea into a modern year-round home? Two beds in each room might seem a little extravegant, but the second bed would be wonderful for sleep-overs or reading stuggles.

Via: www.stovesonline.co.uk

Oh woodstoves, how I love thee! A REAL woodstove is a must. Fireplaces are lovely too, but there is nothing like the cozy heat of a woodstove. Although this blue is a too overwelming for my taste, I like the combination of the blue and red. Perhaps if the walls were more of a dusty blue/green…

Also, totally in love with the black/glass combo beyond…

{Forbidden Plateau} Project – Modern, yet Timeless, Chalet.

bethany — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:55:43 +0000

Joe and I moved to this valley in 2005. We purchased a good-sized townhouse in Comox and lived there for a couple years. During that time we renovated and dreamed of where we would go next…

In the months of exploring the Comox Valley for our next place, we kept a keen eye on Forbidden Plateau. We looked at a couple places, and even put an offer on one. The offer was rejected – since we offered much lower than what they were asking. (This is another story entirely and has something to do with the fact that the building “inspector” who looked at the house reported it as having a full foundation – which it did not.)

The house that we bid on could be described as a “gingerbread swiss-inspired ski chalet”. It looked a lot like this:

We never did purchase a home on Forbidden Plateau. But the idea hasn’t left our minds…

This week our instructor at the NIC Drafting program introduced us to our next project. We’ll be learning about architectural drafting - while incorporating studies in building design, site orientation, bc building code, interior detailing (millwork etc.), amonst other areas.

After much begging, he allowed us to choose our own house plans out of various old plan magazines. At first I wanted to choose a clasic Craftman home, but I changed my mind when I spied a 1987 plan for a swiss-inspired gingerbread vacation chalet. The gears started turning…

For my project I’m going to take this vintage plan and attempt to modernize it while infusing some classic design to help it become more timeless. I’m one for dreaming, and today I’ve been dreaming about how satisfying it would be to take the history of Forbidden Plateau and incorporate it into a home that pays tribute to the area and looks after the land it sits on.

It’s going to be a major challenge to the the “kitch” out of this type of architecture – but I’m game!

If you want to read a great post about Forbidden Plateau head over to Keira-Anne.com. She wrote about it back in September…

Some Inspirational Photos:

Via: www.vacationrentalpeople.com

Via: www.dgspc.co.uk

Via: www.ofis-a.si