High above the frothy, deep blue, yacht-skimmed waters of Satellite Channel, a staggeringly beautiful stone home rests astride a rocky outcrop, looking for all the world like an 18th-century Georgian manor house, magically transported to the West Coast.
With fountains from Italy and Belgium, a slate roof from Quebec, chests and chairs from Argentina, wall sconces from France and objets d’art from around the world, every room is a delight for the eye. It’s also a masterpiece of local talent and vision.
The house belongs to Derek and Deborah Wolstenholme and has been conceived in grand English style, with traditional interiors and soaring seven-metre ceilings.
The couple bought the waterfront property on Lands End Road about 10 years ago, tore down an existing home and rebuilt on the original footprint. It’s been a labour of talent and passion, a project that has been seven years in the making, plus two years for landscaping.
“Jim Grieve was our designer and he is absolutely wonderful to work with,” said Deborah, who notes that the home has a “grand feeling” but is still cozy and liveable. “We loaded him up with ideas and he translated them all for us brilliantly. He is extraordinary.”
She also credited the small army of “unbelievable” artists and crafts people who worked on the project. “I have never seen such talent, from Mark Haley, who did the slate roo§ng and copper §nishing, to stonemason Armando Futado and Dieter Geppery.”
The latter is a specialty §nishing expert adept at faux painting, antique §nishing and even repairing gilt picture frames, which the owners discovered when a package was damaged.
“We found you have the best crafts people anywhere in the world here,” Deborah said.
As a tribute to their newfound home, the Wolstenholmes are opening their house for a Paci§c Opera Victoria fundraiser on July 27.
A stage is being set up with seating in the home’s parking area, and opera sensations Tracy Dahl and James Westman are donating their talents. (See related story)
Grieve, who worked on the house for §ve years, said the quality of detailing in the European-style home is stratospheric.
“A British carpet rep who came to see what was wanted commented that he had been in only two houses like this — the other was Buckingham Palace.
Grieve called the level of §nishing “stupefying,” inside and out.
“There is no room, no corner, no tiny place where the §nishing has not been taken to the highest standard,” he said.
“This is a bespoke house of the §rst order, from the 10-foot-high foyer doors with arched transoms curving above to the African sapele wood, which has been used throughout.” (This hardwood of the mahogany family is used in everything from musical instruments to Cadillac interiors.)
“The owners originally thought of having exterior stucco and stone, but Derek, being British, has an enthusiasm for great stone houses of the United Kingdom, so they took that direction instead.”
All the exterior moulding and trim around doors and windows is cast concrete created on site by Ray and Shane Wright. “It was all acid-etched and stained to look like cut stone and is up to 10 inches wide and seven inches thick,” said Grieve.
“Exterior walls are cut granite — with a bit of a rustic quality so it looks like a country house, not a bank — and the roof is eastern Canadian slate with copper ridges, valleys and gutters. Copper everything, in fact, which is brutally expensive.”
Grieve said it’s the most extraordinary project he has ever worked on, and has set a new standard for the area.
“This home was a grand luxe undertaking … an English Georgian-style home with many French in§uences, and a little Italianate enthusiasm tossed in as well.”
Everything was painstakingly built on-site, from the doors to the built-in cabinets, library panelling and lavish wine room.
Bob Collins of Mystic Woodwork and Steve Wells of Imperial Woodwork served as joiners and carpenters.
“Bob is one of the most talented, inventive, creative carpenters I’ve ever met,” said Deborah. “He has such vision, you could hire him even without an interior designer and he was able to interpret all of Jim’s dreams.”
Every room in the house deserves its own full-length article to catalogue the embellishments and details.
The dining room, for instance, is a masterpiece of style and bravura, from its black marble §replace to its vaulted ceiling, fabric inset walls and multiples layers of glazing and gold leaf.
Grieve notes that hardly any area of the home is simply drywalled and painted.
Sepele millwork is everywhere, as is extensive over-glazing, antiquing, staining and lacquering, not to mention gold and silver leaf treatment.
In a back hallway, from the garage to the family room, the African hardwood appears in a cross-diamond pattern. It’s a kind of Harlequin pattern in veneer — all handmade on-site,
Grieve added that it was a joy working with a team of such talented craftsmen, as well as owners who are blessed with “very mature and refined taste, as well as great instincts about what works for them within a specific space, without upsetting the aesthetic applecart.”
Derek pointed out that the house evolved slowly, which was a huge asset as all the exquisite §nishing touches could be dreamed up as the project advanced. “It would have been almost impossible to preconceive all this.
“A tremendous amount of love and attention to detail has gone into this house, including the best of materials — slate, marble, stone, wood — and the work of the best artists and artisans we’ve ever seen.”
He credits his artistic wife for being the creative driving force behind the project. “While there has been tremendous input from all kinds of experts, she is the one who created this house.”
He added with a chuckle: “We had an unlimited budget, but we managed to overspend.”
The owners, who travel extensively, explained they came here to visit friends some years ago and instantly fell in love with the area.
“It’s Shangri-la … the landscape, the colours, the water, the island. It just feels so right, so English,” said British-born Derek, who is an engineer and turnaround specialist. He moved to Calgary about 30 years ago to deal with a pipeline manufacturing company that was in dif§culties and still works there. The couple have a home there and in the desert, also.
Deborah added that Victoria encapsulates the best of the best.
“You have a great symphony, great opera, great ballet. Who would have known?” she said
“We appreciate Paci§c Opera enormously. It is a first-class company, creating something very special here. It is privilege to help such an enthusiastic and creative group of people.”
When they built the house, Derek said, it was obvious that they should offer it for a relaxed and stylish fundraiser. And although the $500 ticket price is steep, all proceeds go to POV, and each ticket includes a $300 tax receipt.
Derek, who is a Federation of International Polo ambassador, noted the two are also hosting a unique four-day event in September with polo ambassadors from 70 countries. The couple is delighted to be showing off this area to an international crowd, he said.
“The federation meets two or three times a year, but has never met in Canada.”
FACTBOX AND SIDEBAR
WHAT: The First Great Houses of Victoria Opera Event
WHERE: At a spectacular waterfront home in North Saanich
WHEN: 6 p.m. July 27
TICKETS: $500 with a minimum $300 tax receipt. Call 250-382-1641 to reserve.
DRESS: Summer elegant, or black tie if desired.
Two of Canada’s premier opera singers — coloratura soprano Tracy Dahl and baritone James Westman — will join accompanist Robert Holliston, harpist Annabelle Standly and a local jazz trio to entertain 100 guests at a unique open-air concert on July 27.
The venue is the magni§cent home of Derek and Deborah Wolstenholme, a jewel on the North Saanich waterfront that was seven years in the making.
Guests will be served champagne at a gazebo imported from Italy, and will be invited to explore the extensive gardens and house.
The Deep Cove Chalet will prepare a feast of delectable hors d’oeuvres, while a feast for the ears will include some of opera’s greatest hits, from Puccini and Verdi, as well as classics by Gershwin and Cole Porter, said Patrick Corrigan, executive director of Paci§c Opera Victoria.
“We are so grateful to the Wolstenholmes for giving us this lovely opportunity and special concert,” he said, adding the homeowners travel extensively and were inspired by famous outdoor opera events at Glydebourne, England.
“This evening will be like going to a chateau for an opera event,” said Corrigan, adding the location is stunning and the stone home’s forecourt has excellent acoustics.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7, followed by the concert at 8, a short exclusive live auction with Eric Charman, and dessert at 9 p.m.
Charman, who was asked to help with the fundraiser, called the home “unbelievable, with magni§cent §nishing, detailing, objets d’art and a spectacular garden.”
“The entertainment will be top-drawer and the food amazing. People come from all over the world to eat at the Chalet, and the food for this evening will be incredible.”
Charman, who has long hosted special fundraising events at his home, is happy to see newcomers taking a similar interest. He added this event marks the start of a new kind of fundraising era for POV.
“This is a much brighter and more original event than we have seen here, more like the opera-in-summer events held on estates in England.”
Charman said the house is “quite different” from modern monster homes.
“It has an elegant European feeling because Jim Grieve is an amazing designer. His homes will be talked about in the next century.
“He is the modern-day version of Samuel Maclure.”