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Houzz Tour: White Is Right for Nurses in Ottawa
Immaculately sleek and comfortingly bright, this modern Canadian home is a soothing retreat for hardworking healers
Anyone who's familiar with Ottawa's winters will tell you: It gets cold in these parts. So when Andrew Reeves' clients came to him after deciding on a plot of land for their dream home, they expressed visions of a shelter from the biting cold that didn't disconnect them from nature, and a warm sanctuary where they could rest their wearied bodies after a long day. "My clients are nurses who work long hours and had really saved up for this home," says Reeves. "They wanted it to be an articulation of their lifestyle, so there are a lot of things about the house that are an extension of who they are."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Greg and Beata Campbell
Location: The Glebe, Ottawa, Ontario
Size: 2,800 square feet
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Greg and Beata Campbell
Location: The Glebe, Ottawa, Ontario
Size: 2,800 square feet
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| White walls and ceilings, stainless steel surfaces and appliances, and unadorned windows may create a white-box effect for some people, but not for Reeves' clients. "I suggested a wood island for the kitchen for some contrast and variety, but they preferred stainless steel. I think it may have something to do with their work; they're around stainless steel and white walls at the hospital, so they have a deep connection to this material and treatment," he says. The white walls also reflect all of the natural light coming in from the surrounding picture windows. Cabinetry: Ikea |
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The architect and a horticulturalist from Richmond Nursery embedded a potted Brazilian olive tree into the ground and surrounded the surface with stones, creating a small interior garden.
"One of the clients expressed how sad she gets during the winter months and how she wished she could be around nature — but the cold makes staying outdoors difficult. So we added the tree and created a Zen garden to make winters more bearable; we brought the outdoors inside with this patch of nature," says Reeves.
"One of the clients expressed how sad she gets during the winter months and how she wished she could be around nature — but the cold makes staying outdoors difficult. So we added the tree and created a Zen garden to make winters more bearable; we brought the outdoors inside with this patch of nature," says Reeves.
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The exterior displays a mix of stucco, pine, metal and glass. The materials break up the boxy volume of the house and add interest to the facade with geometric patterns.
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| "The house is in a less established part of the Glebe and on an eclectic street filled with completely different architectural styles and rooflines," says Reeves. "We've got a two-story home on the left and an apartment building to the right, so this contemporary house is the only structure with any architectural interest on the street." |
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Although the rest of the home has wide-planked white oak floors, the entryway stands up to the wear and tear from the outside with dark porcelain tiles. The dark tile accentuates the ebony cabinetry and contrasts with the light wood floor and seating material.
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A custom cabinet's frosted glass door both conceals clothing and lends the entry a mysterious appeal. The entryway seat makes a statement and welcomes the homeowners with its regal, elongated back.
Cabinetry, seating: custom, Constructive Behavior, designed by Linebox
Cabinetry, seating: custom, Constructive Behavior, designed by Linebox
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| "They keep irregular schedules because of their jobs, so the informal nature of this efficient, compact kitchen really appeals to them," Reeves says. "Everything they need to prepare or eat a meal is just a few steps away. They only use the formal dining table when guests are around." |
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| The architect framed the outside views of nature with picture windows and a clerestory window. A contemporary fireplace extends the sleek, angular look of the entire home. Fireplace: Spark Fires |
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"The staircase separates the kitchen and dining area from the living room without taking away from or intruding on the sense of openness of the space," says Reeves.
Windows lining the back of the olive tree and at each staircase landing bathe the interior — and the olive tree — with light.
Windows lining the back of the olive tree and at each staircase landing bathe the interior — and the olive tree — with light.
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Reeves sought inspiration from boutique hotels when designing the master suite. "My clients didn't want any stark divisions between the bath and the bedroom; they love the open quality of the suite and said that they think it's going to be their oasis once they start growing their family," he says.
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Three frosted glass panels partially shield the soaking tub from the bedroom. Hardwood floors meld into porcelain flooring and signal the transition from bedroom to bath.
"The bath is the first thing that greets you in the morning and the last place you spend time in before you go to sleep; knowing this, they requested for a beautiful space to wander into at any odd hour without having to open any doors," says Reeves.
Porcelain tiles: Stone Tile
"The bath is the first thing that greets you in the morning and the last place you spend time in before you go to sleep; knowing this, they requested for a beautiful space to wander into at any odd hour without having to open any doors," says Reeves.
Porcelain tiles: Stone Tile
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A mixture of picture and clerestory windows adds light and heat during the winter, frames outdoor views and visually extends the ceiling height. Blue skies and varying foliage framed by the windows add splashes of color to the neutral bathroom.
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The homeowners specifically requested a sauna. "You can go for months without sweating in the winter," Reeves says, "so the sauna is one of the ways they've invested in both the house and their health."
Ideabook published on Sept. 20, 2012.
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But the house itself is beautiful, open and bright.
www.logsend.com and they have a great showroom at the corner of Innes and St Laurent in the east end of Ottawa.
Ottawa is a fabulous city to visit I always find it so welcoming. Every time I am there I am blessed with yet another interesting adventure.