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VERYONE DREAMS OF owning lakefront property in the Okanagan. In this issue, we feature a dream that was 11 years in the making. The builder, designer and homeowner came together to create an environment that marries the industrial feel of brick, steel and concrete with the organic nature of wood and water. I believe they executed their task flawlessly. LOCATION OF HOUSE: Raymer Bay, West Kelowna
BUILDER AND INTERIOR DESIGNER: James Wilson of Wilson & Company Custom Builders with Linda Trenholm Design HOMEOWNERS: Shannon and Cory Cross DESIGNER’S CONCEPT: A close collaboration between builder, designer and homeowner provides exceptional views and natural lighting for this modern lakefront home. Interesting rooflines and window design soften the impact on its hillside location. An open-concept floor plan on the ground level opens to a large pool deck, connecting indoor-outdoor living for an active young family that loves to entertain. STYLE OF DESIGN: An industrial style highlighting glass, wood, steel and concrete finishes. High ceilings, clerestory windows and stainless steel railing systems provide a gallery-like feel to highlight the artist/owner’s paintings. (Shannon Cross is a painter.) COLOUR SCHEME: Warm neutrals and organic finishes. STANDOUT FEATURES: Raw industrial finishes of brick, steel, concrete and exposed glulam beams provide a nice contrast of refined teak cabinetry and simple, shadow line detailing. A custom steel, see-through fireplace is the central feature of the house along with an antique steel barn door. While there are many feature finishes throughout the home, they are complementary and enhance the warmth and calmness of the space, allowing the quality of the work to tie it all together.
FROM HOMEOWNER SHANNON CROSS: I always wanted a home that brought the outdoors in. I wanted a home that had a slight West Coast feel — as well as a Soho or Manhattan vibe — but with a warm, industrial contemporary theme. Large, open rooms with floor-to-ceiling glass were a must, but I didn’t want it to look cold or too modern. I knew that if we made the space just right, with the perfect finishings, I could easily work with furnishings and décor to create a look that was aesthetically pleasing. Being a professional artist, I wanted large wall space, in particular the front foyer. When you walk in the front door, you see a gallery wall that is currently the home for three of my own 5ive-by-five-foot pieces. They’re tough to miss from inside or outside, and are complemented by beautiful, custom railings using horizontal steel stringers and walnut handrails. Being lucky enough to reside on the lake, we felt it fitting that every room in the house have a view to the water. Between designer Linda Trenholm and James Wilson, our builder, the floor plan was meticulously executed. Our intent when we were building this home was to have a sense of organic charisma: a flow, using natural elements such as stone and wood. This was achieved with the exposed beams that span the entire main floor, the brick wall and the walnut features throughout the home. Although these elements provided a certain richness, we wanted to ensure the house was comfortable and social at the same time. As mentioned, every room in the house has a lake view and the bar was built as an indoor/outdoor bar making use of large sliding glass on the bar counter to the pool deck. Our favorite area is the (main) floor living space. This is where most of the day-to-day activity goes on for our family. It was important for us that we had a huge area where we can be together with our kids, Ayla (11) and Cale (9). Here I have a massive kitchen from which I can see the rest of the family — either playing a game of pool or watching TV — while I prepare dinner. In the summer, it’s perfect because I can see the kids in the pool from anywhere I stand. 19