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whistler homes

BEST of both

WORLDSCAPTIVATED BY MOUNTAIN ARCHITECTURE, A COUPLE BUILDS A TIMELESS TIMBER HOME THAT STAYS TRUE TO THEIR AUSTRALIAN AFFECTION FOR LIGHT AND VIEWS

A two-sided fireplace takes centre stage on the main floor of the timber-framed home. The warm-toned wall stone was chosen to reflect the rock cliffs seen across Green Lake. Artwork: Red Tree Reflection by Vancouver artist Robert Kwon; Double Eagle Moose Antlers on soapstone base by Linda Madden, The Plaza Galleries.

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stor y and photos by BONNY MAKAREWICZ

FFRANK LLOYD WRIGHT once said, “Wood is universally beauti-ful to man, and the most humanly intimate of all materials.”

James and Susannah Calvert-Jones couldn’t agree more with the renowned American archi-tect. In fact, when the Australian couple decided to build a home in Whistler, their love affair with alpine architecture and the time-less beauty of wood was an inte-gral part of the design.>>

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“It is such a incredible feeling,” explained Susannah, co-owner of Celebrate Whistler, a local gift and homeware store. “When I curl up in bed under the timber ceiling, there is a heavy, solid feeling of peace and warmth, which is hard to explain as an Aussie. It feels very Canadian.”

Before a move to Whistler in 2009, the couple “oohed” and “aahed” at Whistler’s signature homes over the Internet, often wondering what it would be like to live in such a structure.

When a lakeside lot came up for private sale in the Nicklaus North area, the couple enlisted interior designer Lynn Gentile of Cabin Fever Interiors, home designer Sean Anderson of Progressive Design Inc. and premier builder Durfeld Constructors to create their mountain retreat.

“My clients are a darling family with four young children who wanted a retreat in the mountains that felt like it had been there for centuries, yet were drawn to cleaner modern lines,” said Gentile. “We tried to accommodate both by choosing rustic materials but apply-ing them in a more contemporary style.”

This blend is most visible right upon entering the home. Hand-textured, wood wall panels are contrasted with a modern glass-and-steel staircase, set against a wall of stone. The stone, chosen to reflect the rocky cliffs seen across Green Lake, is used throughout the home to create continuity and achieve the feeling of a century-old alpine home.

To complement the indigenous Douglas fir used for the main structure material, Gentile chose white oak for the millwork, cabinetry, trim and floors for its warmth, durability and overall aesthetic.

“Quarter-sawn boards of oak have been esteemed since the Middle Ages for use in interior paneling of presti-gious buildings, such as rooms within the House of Commons in London,” said Gentile. “It seemed appropriate, then, that such a timeless wood was the right fit for this mountain retreat.”

On top of creating a home to accom-modate a large, growing family comfort-ably and achieving a feeling of privacy within a dense subdivision, Anderson also had to provide light and attractive views for the sun-loving clients from Down Under. >>

TOP: For the kitchen bar, designer Lynn Gentile of Cabin Fever Interiors incorporated cuts-offs from wood timbers in order to create an interesting texture and to lend to the rustic feel of the home. MIDDLE, LEFT: Gentile used seeded glass that dates back to colonial times for the kitchen pantry. The glass has tiny bubbles embedded within it to create a diffusion — perfect to house plates, dishes and dry goods.MIDDLE, RIGHT: A steel stringer staircase with open wood treads leads to the main floor of the home, providing a perfect spot for Sylvester and Pennington, bronze sculptures by artist Marty Goldstein from The Plaza Galleries.BOTTOM: A low-slung, cocoon-style Togo modular sofa system offers a modern twist to the lower media room, while textured wood paneling wraps the room in warmth.

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“The intent was to bring in as much of the natural light as possible to help bring in a sense of warmth, as well as maximize the exposure to the incredible views,” Anderson explained.

While ascending the stairs to the main floor, one is struck by one of the most phenomenal views Whistler has to offer — a 180-degree panorama of the emerald waters of Green Lake, topped off with surrounding peaks from Mount Currie to Blackcomb Mountain.

It is a view, the owners say, that never gets old.

architect: Progressive Design Inc.interior design: Cabin Fever Interiorsgeneral: Durfeld Constructorsglass: Whistler Glasswindows: Dynamic Windows and Doordoors and other wood features: Canadian Bavarian Millwork & Lumberflooring: Canada West Wood Flooringsteel: Wide Open Weldinglandscape: Another View Landscapingelectrical: Spark Electric

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ABOVE: Clean and modern lines are presented in the master bathroom.RIGHT: The home is reflected in Whistler’s Green Lake. The timber details are testament to the work of the team at Durfeld Constructors.

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