For people moving to Vancouver Island, finding a home that offers an ocean view and access to both nature and urban amenities is often a paramount consideration. But one expat couple and a young daughter moving to the Island from Phoenix, Arizona found all this and more on a lot in The Foothills in Lantzville.
Tucked along the ocean front on the east side of Vancouver Island and nestled against the northern edge of Nanaimo, Lantzville is a small community of just under 4,000 people.
Its rural vibe, with trails, parks and beaches, belies its close proximity to city conveniences. Making the most of this pristine location is The Foothills development, where a picturesque and winding drive upwards leads to lofty and spectacular views of the Salish Sea.
Allard Ockeloen, CEO of The Foothills, agrees that it’s the setting and location that really draw people in.
“The Foothills community is centred around 1,100 acres of parkland, which we have worked with the District of Lantzville to preserve as protected forest and trails. It offers residents that daily bike ride, trail run, or nightly dog walk from their doorstep and our future planned village will ensure residents have walkable access to daily amenities.”
And while the natural setting might lead you to feel like you’re a world away, Allard notes, “The Foothills offers the added convenience of being five minutes from schools, beaches and core Nanaimo shops and services.”
It was this heady combination that encouraged the homeowners (who wish to remain unnamed) to purchase the lot, develop house plans and meet with builder Stu Hopewell, COO of Alair Homes.
“We went through the details and talked about their vision,” recalls Stu. “They had done a lot of research on the quality of work and level of finish they wanted. Their expectations were a good match with our company in terms of the quality we’re known for, and the homeowners were also a really good fit from a relationship perspective.”
With the plans and budget in place, the team began construction on a 5,000-square-foot, two-level home in January 2023.
Of course, living in one country while their home was under construction in another might have created a stressful situation for the homeowners.
“One of the things that sets Alair apart is our planning process and our software which allows homeowners to be in full control the entire time – which in turn relieves that stress,” says Stu. “Clients can log in and see what they’ve selected, the cost and even the invoices. Any changes are transparent so there are no surprises. They can also check photo galleries to see how the build is progressing.”
Travis Rogers, Alair’s general manager, says that while the build went smoothly, the lot presented a challenge.
“Every lot is unique, especially with the rock on Vancouver Island. In this case, excavation meant that there was a 36-foot drop from the top of the rock to the bottom of the hole. Getting to this depth allowed us to position the house where it needed to be to maximize the view and minimize the slope of the driveway.”
Built over a 15-month period, the contemporary home now sprawls over a half-acre lot with a rear backdrop of rock and fir trees and front-facing ocean views. The façade of the home is a sharp combination of white and black warmed up with cedar garage doors and locally sourced timbers flanking the deck on the upper level.
Inside, the interior is effortlessly modern with clean lines, a soft palette and expansive stretches of glass. The two levels are connected with a stunning staircase that features floating wood treads on a single steel backbone and glass railings. The entire staircase is encased in two storeys of glass to create a central atrium effect.
The kitchen maintains the warm aesthetic with book-matched rift oak cladding the seamless refrigerator wall and perimeter cabinetry. A striking black island contrasts with the white veined porcelain waterfall countertops, while the eight-burner gas range sits beneath a statement range hood. A design decision to forgo upper cabinetry in favour of windows further expands the airy feel of the kitchen.
Built for a busy family and entertaining, kitchen amenities extend to include a butler’s pantry with an abundance of closed storage, a roomy dining space and a 400-bottle, climate-controlled, glassed-in wine room. To facilitate the ultimate in indoor/outdoor living, a 20-foot wall of black-framed glass folding doors leads to a roomy 620-square-foot outdoor terrace.
Another wall of glass runs along the back of the living room on a raised hallway that connects the primary wing on one end of the home with the daughter’s quarters on the opposite end.
Stellar views abound from the primary bedroom and ensuite, and the disciplined palette continues with rift oak cabinetry on the floating vanity. A stand-alone tub is flanked by three sides of glass, while the generously sized walk-through shower adds to the spa-like sense of luxury. Access to an adjacent hot tub and sauna completes the homeowners’ oasis.
Down the hall and dressed in touches of pink, the daughter’s bedroom is a sweet retreat that also includes its own walk-in closet and ensuite with a white floating vanity and a tub/shower combination.
The lower level is no less impressive with a checkerboard floor leading to the home office with an en suite, gym, theatre room and a mudroom that provides plenty of additional functionality.
As the family happily settles into their new home, Stu says he is pleased with the result.
“We’re able to build beautiful homes because of our clients. In this case we were fortunate to work for great clients who came to us with a cool design. We provide the general contracting but at the end of time we love the collaborative relationships and the ability to build something that we’re all proud of.”
Suppliers:
Kitchen cabinetry: South Shore Cabinetry
Countertops: VI Granite & Quartz Countertops
Windows/doors: Westeck Windows and Doors
Staircase: VI Stairs / Zenith Glass & Railing Ltd.
Siding: NK Exteriors
Timbers: Great West Timber Frames
Tiling: BEtile Ltd.
