A fundamental component of good art is using top-quality materials. A memorable meal begins with fresh ingredients, ceramics are a reflection of the clay from which they are formed and a good brush gives the painter greater control over what lands on the canvas and where. In the world of interior design, having the right materials begins with finding the perfect site.
That’s partly what drew Amy McGeachy, of McGeachy Design Studio, to a Victoria neighbourhood for a unique project that gave CHEK television viewers an inside look at what goes on behind the scenes of a full-scale home renovation.
“This site was particularly attractive because it’s perched high up on a rock,” Amy explains, during a tour of the property. “It has a very low- to no-maintenance yard, beautifully designed rock work, stunning sunsets and a view that looks out over the entire neighbourhood.”
It also didn’t hurt that the architecturally designed home featured expansive skylights, massive picture windows filling rooms with all-day natural light and vaulted ceilings soaring over a semi-open plan that amplifies the spaciousness of the executive home’s nearly 2,500 square feet.
“The home’s style lent itself well to our project,” she says of the 1980s-era property. “We just had to bring it into the modern era.”
The rehabilitation of Amy’s home into a living space worthy of the 21st century is the premise of I Bought a House, a five-part series on CHEK television. The show gave viewers an insider’s perspective on the year-long process that Amy and her team undertook to restore and renew the new-to-her home.
For six months of the project, Amy and her dog Milo – who offers plenty of canine comic relief during the show – actually lived in the home’s laundry room while her contractor, tradespeople and a television crew had free reign throughout her home, often arriving on her doorstep at the break of dawn.
“Living in the laundry room was a great learning experience, but I’m not going to do that again,” she says.
The spotlight isn’t entirely new terrain for Amy, who has become a recognizable media presence on CHEK’s weekly Trend and as the host of her House Guests podcast.
Amy has lived in Victoria for most of her life, which includes dwelling in almost every surrounding municipality. She has been in the industry for 20 years, specializing in kitchen and bath design. Her team received no fewer than three CARE Awards this past year for the interior design on one of their modern new builds. Knowledge of the area means Amy has experience and local connections throughout the region.
“I love supporting locals whenever I can, as it’s these relationships that I’ve built my business on,” she says. “I have a great team that I work with and they help me to make everything happen.”
Launching a television series is a logical next step towards bringing her design experience, as well as her eye for what’s hot, and personal connections with suppliers and builders across Vancouver Island into local homes, and hopefully inspire other homeowners to realize what’s possible.
“A lot more people are renovating because building (new) costs a lot of money,” she says. “Because you’ve got to take care of the tear-down as well as the build, many people are deciding to stay where they are versus moving. This house really lent itself to being converted to a modern home. If you didn’t know, it could easily be mistaken for a new build.”
Amy starts every project by looking over the house’s floor plans to gain an overall perspective. By looking at elements such as a home’s orientation, floor space and internal layout, Amy develops a general idea of what can be done with the space.
“It all starts with the design essentially – looking at the floor plans and going from there,” she says. “The finishes and such are really secondary, and it’s a lot less money to redo things on paper when you’re at the design stage versus after you’ve started construction.”
Amy knew from the get-go that her property needed to take advantage of its great views, ample sunlight and natural setting. New windows and doors were installed, baseboard heaters removed, and the home’s two fireplaces were upgraded to improve energy efficiency. Superficial walls that separated living, dining and kitchen areas were taken out, carpets were removed and replaced with white-oak engineered hardwood, while wallpaper gave way to walls painted in airy, yet warm off-white.
“It was literally ripping and stripping wallpaper out of almost every room,” she recalls.
With a sense of cohesive flow now connecting these previously independent spaces, Amy set about accessorizing with wrought-iron railings, local artwork and modernized lighting. Black Norwegian cladding used to give the home’s exterior a contemporary look makes an appearance indoors to contrast the interior’s white spaces.
“Often when you’re in a modern-looking home, it’s common to have a lot of white space and neutrals, which can come off as cold sometimes, so there has to be a lot of wood tone and cladding that adds texture. Even with the furnishings, we’ve done lots of layering and textures as well,” Amy says.
A huge central island, complete with seating and functional millwork, was shaped to configure with the kitchen’s uniquely angled layout. The result defines the kitchen space while keeping it open and connected to the nearby dining room and living areas for entertaining friends and family.
The resulting space is bathed in the natural light streaming through the skylights and windows that run the length of the home. Each window, in turn, offers a picturesque glimpse onto the bright green of rhododendrons or speckled rock that surround the property.
Accents and colours used throughout the home’s main living spaces are also featured in the structure’s three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Unseen touches, such as heated bathroom floor tiles, a ductless heat pump with UV germ killing system and a built-in EV charging station complete the home’s transition from a 1980s throwback into modern West Coast wonder.
“It’s these luxuries that you don’t necessarily see, but they are all there to make the home more comfortable,” she says.
As for Amy’s laundry room, it emerged as a work of art that now rivals any luxury suite. Built-in comforts, such as laundry risers and pull-out hamper trays, include an infusion of moodier colours and more efficient use of space. And Milo? He got a dedicated indoor dog wash station right next to the home’s side entrance so he can be easily freshened up after his walks through the neighbourhood. As they say in show business, it’s important to keep the talent happy.
For more information about McGeachy Design Studio, visit mcgdesignstudio.com.
This story appeared in the February / March 2023 issue of Boulevard Victoria,
