A solitary chair sits in a bright alcove in Kam and Michelle's waterfront home on Langford Lake. "I can't bear to get rid of it," says Michelle. "I nursed my two children in that chair. It is ugly, but I will find a way to make it work."

The padded rocker and matching footstool contain the thread of a story that weaves through every action taken so far to build the family home.

The room will eventually become a library, with a Murphy bed for guests and an assortment of vibrant family photos nearby.

This weekly series takes readers on a tour of outstanding homes in Greater Victoria. Writer Thelma Fayle and award-winning photographer Ted Grant take you inside houses that show off unique architecture and design.

Look for House Beautiful every Saturday in the Times Colonist Homes section.

thelma.fayle@shaw.ca

But right now, most of the walls throughout the house are bare and the rooms starkly furnished. Other than a big fish tank housing friendly, colourful fish, evidence of decorating priorities proves scarce. All is serene and almost monastery-like until we venture into the rocking world of spaces that are enjoyed by the whole family. We'll return to that later, but first the earlier chapters.

Michelle and Kam, best known as Mom and Dad in this story, bought the last vacant lot on Langford Lake two years ago. Michelle put her career as a CGA on hold and Kam continued to work as an independent mortgage broker while they took a year to plan and then another year to build their home. "It was more than a full-time job," says Michelle. "Decision-making was overwhelming at times."

Michelle never expected her work skills to be so transferable. As the comptroller of a medium sized business, Michelle was accustomed to working on budgets, writing contracts, and doing tax returns, payroll and planning. Crossing Ts and dotting Is are her specialty and were essential skills in building their home.

Michelle credits long-time friend and colleague Stanley Kwok with creating the concept for their home and guiding the early planning. Kwok is an acclaimed architect whose designs include the Laurel Point Inn.

"Locally renowned Zebra Design Group took Kwok's concept and brought it to life with exceptional refinements in the working drawings," Michelle says.

Interesting characteristics of the house include LED lights, natural woodsiding painted with a vegetable-based stain, nine-foot ceilings, a striking arrangement of horizontally placed flat stones from Italy in the fireplace, handcrafted cherry wood and fir throughout the house, and large Euro windows that open into the rooms and clean easily.

The kitchen has all the latest features, including a walk-in pantry with sliding doors; foot-deep drawers; toe-kicks below cupboards for extra storage space; a warming drawer and steam oven as well as the regular oven and stove top for grilling.

A Jetsons-like Control 4 system from the One Touch House in Victoria includes a touch screen on each floor controlling music, lighting, security and the media room.

One particular project that created more work than Michelle expected, resulted in a spectacular success.

Building a geothermal heating system involved creating loops of pipe that went down more than six metres into the lake to extract heat that is used to heat the floors and hot water tanks. In the summer the system takes the heat out of the house and into the lake, and in the winter takes the heat out of the lake and into the house.

"It is a green approach that substantially reduces hydro costs," says Kam.

Some people build ponds to create the effect, but Kam and Michelle were able to use the natural body of water beside them. "We had to hire an environmental consultant to help us get this approved," says Michelle. "You would think that the government would be onside but they actually made the process more onerous."

"However, Langford municipality on the other hand, was wonderful to work with; they really have a solid can-do mentality," says Michelle.

The family loves living in Langford. It's only five minutes from the office for Kam, and the family can enjoy swimming, fishing and using their five-seat paddle boat. The easy-care garden allows Kam and Michelle time to focus on the job they love most -being parents to a seven-year-old son and a daughter, 10.

The central meeting hub for the family is in the kitchen nook with its ban-quette seating style, which is reminiscent of an old-fashioned restaurant booth.

"We spend lots of time here," says Michelle.

Across from the nook is a built-in desk with one shared family computer where k the kids can surf online and do homework. Mom and Dad monitor computer use. Each family member has their own open desk slot for school assignments, mail, keys, etc.

"When they get older they will probably work in their rooms, but right now they need help [from parents] so this family desk works well," Michelle says.

When the children are not playing outside, there is plenty to do inside. Kam has two old 1960s style pinball machines. "I grew up playing pinball in my youth and now my kids enjoy it, too," says Kam. There is also a video arcade machine, a ping-pong table, an airhockey game and a movie theatre room.

Four big reclining seats with comfy blankets huddle in front of the 108-inch movie screen. "Friday night is movie night at our house," Michelle says. "We just like to hang out together, make popcorn and have fun."

An inspiring feature of the family games room is a basketball hoop and backdrop board autographed by Steve Nash. Michelle and Kam bought the treasure from a charity fundraiser. Nash used it when he played at St. Michael's high school. The thick black signature serves as a reminder of what hard work can do.

"We want to help our kids in every way we can, but we are not their servants," says Kam, "the kids do chores and have responsibilities and are also aware that they are very fortunate. Even at their young ages, they are beginning n to understand the value of hard work, and being honest."

"There are no princesses in this house," says Kam, "we are not royalty. We all do the same stuff."