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Houzz Tour: A Fresh Pacific Northwest Take on Midcentury Modern
This updated ’60s modern vacation home honors the past while embracing its sublime surroundings
“Wanting to spend time in your vacation home even in bad weather — that’s the litmus test,” says interior designer Ian McLeod. These homeowners are so thrilled with the renovation of their 1968 home in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, they head there as often as possible, rain or shine.
“We didn’t set out to re-create ’60s modern,” says McLeod, who worked with partner Kerry Johnson on the project. “We combined goals of respecting the original home’s spirit with honoring the incredible natural environment around it — it’s a fresh Pacific Northwest take on midcentury modern.” The pair listened closely to the homeowners, whose tastes they knew well after helping them design their city home, to make the house function as the escape hatch and entertainment hub they had hoped for.
“We didn’t set out to re-create ’60s modern,” says McLeod, who worked with partner Kerry Johnson on the project. “We combined goals of respecting the original home’s spirit with honoring the incredible natural environment around it — it’s a fresh Pacific Northwest take on midcentury modern.” The pair listened closely to the homeowners, whose tastes they knew well after helping them design their city home, to make the house function as the escape hatch and entertainment hub they had hoped for.
“This house had fantastic bones,” McLeod says. “By this I mean it had wonderful proportions, beautiful shapes, and that sunken living room just looked like a party.” As soon as he crossed the threshold, Johnson, a building designer, was already imagining ripping down walls to open up all the public spaces, as well as adding extra-large custom windows.
The renovation was all about transparency and long sight lines through the space to the spectacular views beyond. Creating a sense of continuity was paramount. All the floors are tiled in 30-inch by 6-inch Italian porcelain planks that resemble wood. The flooring is unbroken through all of the rooms and hallways, has no thresholds and is heated from underneath. It even continues up this high media wall, warming up the space.
They painted the vaulted ceiling white to lighten things up and cover inconsistencies left behind by old walls, since removed. In keeping with the home’s proportions, Johnson designed windows that are 10 feet high, as opposed to their previous standard sliding door height of about 6 feet, 8 inches — all the more chances to see the eagles, whales and deer beyond the glass.
Poufs: West Elm, Eames chairs: Knoll; sofas: custom; media shelves, coffee table: custom designed by Kerry Johnson
The renovation was all about transparency and long sight lines through the space to the spectacular views beyond. Creating a sense of continuity was paramount. All the floors are tiled in 30-inch by 6-inch Italian porcelain planks that resemble wood. The flooring is unbroken through all of the rooms and hallways, has no thresholds and is heated from underneath. It even continues up this high media wall, warming up the space.
They painted the vaulted ceiling white to lighten things up and cover inconsistencies left behind by old walls, since removed. In keeping with the home’s proportions, Johnson designed windows that are 10 feet high, as opposed to their previous standard sliding door height of about 6 feet, 8 inches — all the more chances to see the eagles, whales and deer beyond the glass.
Poufs: West Elm, Eames chairs: Knoll; sofas: custom; media shelves, coffee table: custom designed by Kerry Johnson
The designers mixed splurges like authentic Eames lounge chairs and a custom coffee table with less expensive pieces from popular retailers. The chevron poufs are from West Elm. “They just look like a party,” McLeod says. “They say, ‘Come sit with a cocktail and have a chat.’”
The designers were inspired by the lichen-covered rocks around the property, which include the occasional burst of orange, and the local fauna. Deer and owls are represented on playful pillows. “It’s a modern way to reference the beautiful animals who live on Pender Island,” McLeod says.
The designers were inspired by the lichen-covered rocks around the property, which include the occasional burst of orange, and the local fauna. Deer and owls are represented on playful pillows. “It’s a modern way to reference the beautiful animals who live on Pender Island,” McLeod says.
BEFORE: “The house was very well loved by the previous owners for many years,” McLeod says. The opening to the left led to the kitchen. The new owners were ready to open things up and enjoy the space as one large two-level great room, where big groups could gather but break off into smaller groups in the same space.
AFTER: They knocked out the walls between the public areas, making it one big room. Both owners and designers embraced the original two-level element wholeheartedly. “The sunken living room is just one of those ideal 1960s house things,” McLeod says. A new dining area is a part of the wide-open space. A jazzy group of pendants creates a funky rhythm overhead.
The couple invested in authentic Eames dining chairs, but the dining table was a relatively inexpensive Crate & Barrel score. The couple commissioned McLeod to create the painting to the right, which brings in some of those orange bursts inspired by the lichen outside.
Bar stools: CB2
The couple invested in authentic Eames dining chairs, but the dining table was a relatively inexpensive Crate & Barrel score. The couple commissioned McLeod to create the painting to the right, which brings in some of those orange bursts inspired by the lichen outside.
Bar stools: CB2
The designers replaced the steps with an updated metal and teak version and added a glass railing, but the spirit of the sunken living room remains.
To create a unified look, McLeod believes in repeating elements. In addition to the unbroken floor planks, he used the same sofa style, fabrics and paint colors on both levels to keep things pleasingly cohesive.
To create a unified look, McLeod believes in repeating elements. In addition to the unbroken floor planks, he used the same sofa style, fabrics and paint colors on both levels to keep things pleasingly cohesive.
Though the room is large, there are plenty of intimate spots where couples and smaller groups can gather within it.
The fieldstone fireplace does a wonderful job of bringing in natural texture; the house literally sits atop a hunk of rock. The original chimney stopped short of the ceiling; McLeod and Johnson brought in a local stonemason to extend the chimney vertically.
The fieldstone fireplace does a wonderful job of bringing in natural texture; the house literally sits atop a hunk of rock. The original chimney stopped short of the ceiling; McLeod and Johnson brought in a local stonemason to extend the chimney vertically.
BEFORE: The former kitchen was closed off. The new kitchen is completely open to the dining room and two-level great room.
The biggest feature of the kitchen is this amazing 14-foot-long picture window that spans the counter length. “It almost feel like an aquarium,” McLeod says of the uninterrupted view through the trees to the water.
Johnson custom designed all of the cabinets in horizontal grained teak. The long drawer pulls and block over the window emphasize the horizontal as well. The refrigerator and freezer are housed on the left side of the window; the pantry and a broom closet are to the right of it.
Johnson custom designed all of the cabinets in horizontal grained teak. The long drawer pulls and block over the window emphasize the horizontal as well. The refrigerator and freezer are housed on the left side of the window; the pantry and a broom closet are to the right of it.
They kept the bedrooms simple to emphasize the views outside and create a restful vibe. Behind the headboard in the master bedroom is a textured Phillip Jefferies wall covering called Granite. “It looks like a taupey bronze gravel,” McLeod says.
Rough wood and sleek chrome are juxtaposed on the dresser. The Eames chair brings in the midcentury modern, and McLeod created another art piece to add some personality.
A big view from the bathroom shows how the lichen-covered rocks inspired the interiors. In keeping with the consistent flow throughout the house, all three bathrooms are more or less the same. They have the same porcelain wood-like planks on the floor; the vanities are crafted of teak, with long, sleek pulls and deep gray Caesarstone counters; and large-format gray tiles cover the walls.
McLeod describes another textured Phillip Jeffries wall covering in the guest room as “burlap dipped in mercury.” A wall-mounted velvet headboard allows for some versatility. It extends 14 feet so that the twin beds can be separated with a table between them or shoved together for a couple.
The owners are able to telecommute from the island and stay in their recreation home as much as possible, no matter the weather.
Contractor: Eric Pohl, Island Legacy Construction
Check out the designers’ own vacation home on Mayne Island, which is right next to Pender Island.
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The owners are able to telecommute from the island and stay in their recreation home as much as possible, no matter the weather.
Contractor: Eric Pohl, Island Legacy Construction
Check out the designers’ own vacation home on Mayne Island, which is right next to Pender Island.
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
Location: Pender Island, British Columbia, Canada (about a 1½-hour ferry ride or 15-minute seaplane ride from Vancouver)
Designers: Kerry Johnson and Ian McLeod
Size: About 2,800 square feet (260 square meters); 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
The couple had been looking for a “recreation home,” as they say in Canada, for quite some time. Once they got serious and narrowed it down to a few choices, McLeod and Johnson toured the finalists and helped them make the decision. The designers immediately recognized the ideal proportions and other promising features of this house, which sits on a hunk of rock jutting out into Swanson Channel. This is what the exterior looked like after they were done.
See the exterior before