A CELEBRATION OF STYLE ON THE HOME FRONT
Writer Grania Litwin and photographer Frances Litman are known for their sense of style and knowledge of outstanding design. They tour homes around the south Island, talking to homeowners, interior designers, architects and artists who influence the way we live.
An aficionado of English historic houses dating from 1500 to 1930, Edy Bradley has long been absorbed in the study of their interiors - everything from medieval furnishings to the glamorous and exuberant decor of art deco.
While researching her redecoration of Government House during the last dozen years - including the lavishly refurbished royal suite - she drew inspiration from dozens of royal castles and elegant country homes such as Windsor, Badminton and Chatsworth.
But when it came to conceiving houses for herself and her business partner, Bob Greene, the interior designer recently went in a completely new and understated direction.
"I've gone very, very contemporary, from one end of the spectrum to the other," she said with a chuckle.
For a woman who is proud of her historical research and opulent esthetic, this sea change represented a major shift in focus, but she explains the look at Government House had to be in keeping with its English manor house theme, as well as the needs and expectations of people who live, work and visit there.
"This time, I was building something for myself," she said.
She wanted clean lines and an easy-care home. "And I got really excited about another idea: I thought, if I can't be at the beach, which is where I want to be all the time, then I would bring that idea into the home through its finishes, and make something that feels really, really restful."
She and Greene, who is a property manager, bought land on Pendray Street from Pablo Hernandez, who used to operate Pablo's restaurant. "He used to grow herbs and fresh vegetables here, and we still have kale, fennel and fruit trees on the property," she said.
Over the years, a number of proposals were bandied about for the site, including a boutique hotel or pair of duplexes, but Bradley and Greene felt the massing of the latter was far too heavy.
They decided to build four small homes - and live in two of them.
"It has to do with street scale," the designer said. "There are several larger heritage houses in this area, so we felt it was important to have some smaller ones too, a staccato of several modest houses."
Greene recently moved into his almost 2,000square-foot home, while Bradley's next door is almost complete. The other two will be built sometime in the future.
"The location is great - I can walk everywhere, and I have wonderful views of the Inner Harbour," said Greene who belongs to a walking group and says everybody talks about downsizing these days.
"People come from Uplands to walk in James Bay, because it is so entertaining. They say their homes and huge gardens are like anchors."
He likes his new home's breezy feel, and the top-floor loft where he can lounge and enjoy the view, spread out his work and never feel the need to clean up. "No one ever has to see it. I call it my cave."
He also appreciates the inner light. "Although Edy got a little carried away with it," he joked. "I have no lamps in this house, so there is no need for any pedestals or tables to hold them." That saves space and adds to the open feeling.
He appreciates the mood lighting inside, thanks to dimmers and recessed fixtures, and the outdoor lighting, too, which makes the exterior attractive and adds to his sense of security.
"Lighting is so important in a home," said Bradley.
"No other piece of architecture has so much diversity in use. A home can be a quiet place or a place to entertain. It can be a family gathering spot, a place where one senior lives or a couple of young professionals. So you need to be able to vary the light."
Because she likes plenty of options, she installed 22 pot lights in the living area alone. They can be muted to a low glow, or turned up high when entertaining a crowd.
The interiors are soft and calming with sand-coloured, pickled-finish, engineered-oak floors "brushed for texture," and ceramic tile with electric in-floor heat.
Aqua-coloured glass is used as the backsplash and for a peninsula bar in the kitchen, while pendant lights above look like glasses filled with champagne bubbles.
The same aqua glass is used in the three bathrooms, along with rippling white tiles on all the walls. Countertops and windowsills are covered in quartz with bits of sparkling mica in it for a lively touch.
To the side of the kitchen is a pantry-cum-computer workstation, for those who like to sip wine while winding down or clearing emails. In this nook is a wine fridge, wine racks, a glass "garage" for hidden storage and a wall oven with extra-deep cupboards and drawers above and below.
On the opposite wall is the working area of the kitchen, a compact space that includes an extra-wide but not super-deep fridge, with two freezer drawers below. Bradley has created a well thought-out space that flows from prep area with recycling bins underneath, and utensils, to the touch-top range and dish storage area, followed by dishwasher and deep, double sinks.
Drawers under the counters are trimmed in aluminum, while cupboards flip up and have soft, automatic closing devices. The baseboard is aluminum too, and includes a kick plate for floor sweepings - part of the built-in vacuum system. "You simply sweep any debris to the dust bin, toggle it open with your foot, and the suction pulls it away," she explained.
As well as a built-in vacuum, the house has music speakers inside and out.
Bradley seems to have thought of everything, and explains that's because she designed this house for herself. Her home next door is very similar, but has even more special details just for her.
"People like me may want to downsize, but we don't want to let go of all our conveniences. We want to uncomplicate things so we can focus on enjoying ourselves.
"There is less square footage and less garden here, but more luxury," she said of the home that has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a separate suite downstairs.
Outside, she has installed a permeable stone drive with a roughed-in outlet for a security camera, and plug-in for electric car charging. The paved back courtyard has two gas lines - one for a patio heater and another for a barbecue - and is wired for a hot tub.
High fencing encloses the area, with pergolas above and climbing plants for added privacy.
For Victoria urbanites, the appeal is clear: This home is minutes from downtown, restaurants and nightclubs. It offers a minimal garden, basement suite and three floors above - topped off with a sunny loft and harbour glimpses.
"And walk in almost any direction and you are at the ocean in just a few minutes."
Bradley wanted to build compact homes that fit into the neighbourhood.
"This street is just one small block long and we felt that the rhythm of four houses suited it best. It allows air and light to pass through and is easier on the eyes than two duplexes."
And while the interiors are contemporary, the exteriors are heritage.
Bradley describes them as "Nob Hill" style, referring to the exclusive enclave in San Francisco named for the wealthy "nobs" who originally lived there.
"Victoria is an important, international destination and this site is a block from the harbour, in the heart of the city, so I felt it deserved special treatment. It is perfect for a person who works downtown, wants to walk to catch a flight, someone who might be close to early retirement, who might do a house exchange," she said, adding with a giggle: Someone like her.
timescolonist.com
