Western Living

Interior: Modern ski chalet

A family’s Whistler retreat is built around a gabled great room that simply soars.

By Barb Sligl | Photographs by Ed White

Building on challenging land

A good challenge can spur great design. And a narrow, steep property in Whistler’s Creekside neighbourhood-with little leeway to build between the street side, which boasts mountain views, and the bottom of the property, which borders a greenbelt-did just that. It took some architectural ingenuity, but the tricky site is now the perfect perch for an unexpected cabin that celebrates both outlooks-even passersby on the street get a glimpse through one end of the expansive, exposed structure and out the other into the tree canopy beyond.

"Cabin" may be too humble a description for this modern interpretation of a ski chalet. The 2,700-square-foot residence is the work of Brad Lamoureux, the award-winning West Vancouver architect with plenty of experience designing homes for challenging sites. This "postage-stamp-size" property, as he puts it, was no exception. With the awkward topography and Whistler’s tight zoning regulations, there wasn’t much space to go big and bold-and yet he did.

Designing a second home in Whistler

Homeowners Steven and Karen Bruk wanted a second home in Creekside, where Karen grew up (her family’s cabin is just down the street), and they liked Lamoureux’s West Coast-contemporary designs. As a vacation retreat, the home needed the requisite bedrooms, bathrooms and utility space to accommodate the couple and their three school-age children. But it was also an opportunity to create something, says Steven, "where people would walk by and think ‘I want to get inside that house.’"

Creating drama with a central focus

"I saw the potential here to create one important space and make it as dramatic as possible," explains Lamoureux. "One magnificent space that the whole building hangs its hat on." That space is a gorgeous gabled great room. Here, the kitchen, dining and living rooms, anchored by a huge stone fireplace, are part of one voluminous post-and-beam space-22 feet high at the apex and 47 feet long. That expanse is emphasized through a reinterpretation of timber trusses using steel rods to minimize the exposed structure.

"The trusses are meant to be a little bit of a surprise," says Lamoureux. "The idea was to take away the heaviness of a normal wood truss and replace it with these more delicate steel members so that you have this greater sense of space." A zipper of skylights lines the roof ridge; the effect is cathedral-like.

Modern rustic design with bluestone and Douglas Fir

The lightness is maintained through the home thanks to a contemporary palette of materials that re-examines traditional chalet aesthetics. No Whistler clichés of river rock and logs here. Instead, strong horizontal lines of bluestone and local Douglas fir create a warm modernism: not easy when working with so much wood-especially the orange tinge of fir. Finding a stain to achieve the rich, chocolate-brown tone at the centre of the colour scheme was key to the interior design, a team effort that included Lesli Balagno of Heffel Balagno Design Consultants. She brought in modern-rustic elements like a mohair sofa, and cobalt-blue mosaic tiles and a slate floor in the master ensuite. For the master bedroom, she brought a chalet-chic cowhide headboard and a sumptuous Catherine Regehr fur throw.

This contemporary chalet is more than a getaway; it’s a family home. The great room is where the family most often gathers-compartmentalized living just isn’t part of the vacation plan. "We wanted that open concept," says Steven, "this one room where you could be in that space as one person or among 35 people and it doesn’t feel any different." The home’s success as an intimate space and also a party space means that the family now entertains more often here than in the city. You just might find 15 kids running around in the vast space under those trusses, happily oblivious to the beauty above. wl

Sources
Pages 46-52 Architect, Brad Lamoureux, Lamoureux Architect, 604 925-5170, lamoureuxarchitect.ca Designer, Lesli Balagno, Heffel Balagno Design, 604-926-9585, heffelbalagno.com.
Pages 46-47 GREAT ROOM Benjamin Moore paint, Decorator’s White CC-20 Regal Matte Finish, Pacific Paint & Wallpaper, Victoria, 250-381-5254, pacificpaint.benmoorepaints.com; Kerrisdale Decorating Centre, Vancouver, 604-264-1074; West Hillhurst Paint & Design, Calgary, 403-270-9696; ColourSpec Paint & Decorating Centre, Edmonton, 780-454-5830, paintededmonton.com/colourspec; Regina’s House of Colour, Regina, 306-757-5055, reginashouseofcolour.com; Eastside Paint & Wallpaper, Saskatoon, 306-477-5555; Windsor Plywood, Winnipeg, 204-786-5555. Millwork/ceiling, Hemlock tongue and groove ceiling with custom stain, millwork by Harper Knudsen, Vancouver, 604-685-0029, harperknudsen.com. Table, custom designed by Heffel Balagno Design, West Vancouver, 604-926-9585, heffelbalagno.com; built by Harper Knudsen, 604-685-0029, harperknudsen.com. Chairs, by Jiun Ho, Trammel Gagné, Seattle, 206-762-1511, tgshowroom.com. Goa Brown Granite countertops, Marble Art, Burnaby, 604-436-0322, marble-art.com. Light fixtures and chandelier, custom designed by Heffel Balagno Design, West Vancouver, 604-926-9585, heffelbalagno.com; supplied by Hammerton Lighting, hammerton.com; Empire Kitchen and Bath, Calgary, 403-252-2458, empirekitchenandbath.com. Martha Sturdy brass bowl, The Gallery at Mattick’s Farm, Victoria, 250-658-8333, matticksfarm.com; Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com; Artful Living, Calgary, 403-265-8338; Blossoms Florist, Saskatoon, 306-955-3355, blossomsflorists.com. Sofa, ottoman and armchair, WD Western Designers, Vancouver, 604-255-3200, wdwesterndesigners.com. Coffee table and end table, Gulassa & Company, Trammel Gagné, Seattle, 206-762-1511, tgshowroom.com. Vase, Da Vinci’s Home, West Vancouver, davincishome.ca, 604-921-3344. Artwork (over fireplace), by artist David Burns, Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Recessed shelving, built by Harper Knudsen, Vancouver, 604-685-0029, harperknudsen.com. Lapchi custom carpets, Salari Vancouver, 604-261-3555, salari.com. Hakwood flooring, BC Hardwood, 604-255-7375, bchardwood.com.
Page 48 KITCHEN Wolf 60" range, Coast Wholesale Appliance, Victoria, 250-475-0277, coastappliances.com; Midland Appliance, Vancouver, 604-608-0600, midlandappliance.com; Denca Cabinets, Calgary, 403-252-5552, dencacabinets.com; Appliance Gallery @ LightForm, Edmonton, 780-455-8807, appliance-gallery.ca; Stalwart Appliances By Design, Winnipeg, 204-786-4879, stalwartappliances.com; Rick’s Custom Cabinets & Renovations Ltd., Regina, 306-352-6044; Midtown Appliance World, Saskatoon, 306-242-8363, saskatoonappliance.com. Sub Zero 700 Series fridge and freezer, Coast Wholesale Appliance, Victoria, 250-475-0277, coastappliances.com; Midland Appliance, Vancouver, 604-608-0600, midlandappliance.com; Denca Cabinets, Calgary, 403-252-5552, dencacabinets.com; Appliance Gallery @ LightForm, Edmonton, 780-455-8807, appliance-gallery.ca; Stalwart Appliances By Design, Winnipeg, 204-786-4879, stalwartappliances.com; Rick’s Custom Cabinets & Renovations, Regina, 306-352-6044; Midtown Appliance World, Saskatoon, 306-242-8363, saskatoonappliance.com. Miele steam oven and coffee maker, Coast Appliances, Victoria, 250-475-0277, coastappliances.com; The Ultimate Kitchen, Vancouver, 604-688-2020, theultimatekitchen.com; Calgary Home Appliance, Calgary, 403-269-3600, calgaryhomeappliance.com; Appliance Gallery, Edmonton, 780-455-8807, appliance-gallery.ca; Coast Appliances, Saskatoon, 306-933-4993, coastappliances.com; Coast Appliances, Winnipeg, 204-786-8811, coastappliances.com. Fisher Paykel dishwasher drawers, at Hudson’s Bay Company store locations across western Canada, hbc.com.
STAIRCASE Hakwood flooring, BC Hardwood, 604-255-7375, bchardwood.com. Benjamin Moore Paint. Hanging lamp, Hammerton Lighting, hammerton.com; Empire Kitchen and Bath, Calgary, 403-252-2458, empirekitchenandbath.com. Benjamin Moore paint, Decorator’s White CC-20 Regal Matte Finish, Pacific Paint & Wallpaper, Victoria, 250-381-5254, pacificpaint.benmoorepaints.com; Kerrisdale Decorating Centre, Vancouver, 604-264-1074; West Hillhurst Paint & Design, Calgary, 403-270-9696; ColourSpec Paint & Decorating Centre, Edmonton, 780-454-5830, paintededmonton.com/colourspec; Regina’s House of Colour, Regina, 306-757-5055, reginashouseofcolour.com; Eastside Paint & Wallpaper, Saskatoon, 306-477-5555; Windsor Plywood, Winnipeg, 204-786-5555.
Page 50 MASTER BEDROOM Edge Grain Oak custom stain, designed by Heffel Balagno Design, West Vancouver, 604-926-9585, heffelbalagno.com; supplied by Harper Knudsen, Vancouver, 604-685-0029, harperknudsen.com. Hakwood flooring, 877-576-8988, hakwood.com; BC Hardwood, Vancouver, 604-255-7375, bchardwood.com. Tufenkian Carpets, Salari Fine Carpet Collection, Vancouver, 604-261-3555, salari.com. End tables, custom designed by Heffel Balagno Design, West Vancouver, 604-926-9585, heffelbalagno.com; supplied by Harper Knudsen, Vancouver, 604-685-0029, harperknudsen.com. Bed and headboard, custom designed by Heffel Balagno Design, West Vancouver, 604-926-9585, heffelbalagno.com, supplied by Harper Knudsen, Vancouver, 604-685-0029, harperknudsen.com. Bedding, Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Throw, designed by Catherine Regehr, Vancouver, 604-734-9339, catherineregehr.com; Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Cushions, designed by Catherine Regehr, Vancouver, 604-734-9339, catherineregehr.com; Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Vase and bedside Items, Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Ceiling Lights, Bruk Lighting, 714-259-9959, brucklighting.com. Benjamin Moore paint, Decorator’s White CC-20 Regal Matte Finish, Pacific Paint & Wallpaper, Victoria, 250-381-5254, pacificpaint.benmoorepaints.com; Kerrisdale Decorating Centre, Vancouver, 604-264-1074; West Hillhurst Paint & Design, Calgary, 403-270-9696; ColourSpec Paint & Decorating Centre, Edmonton, 780-454-5830, paintededmonton.com/colourspec; Regina’s House of Colour, Regina, 306-757-5055, reginashouseofcolour.com; Eastside Paint & Wallpaper, Saskatoon, 306-477-5555; Windsor Plywood, Winnipeg, 204-786-5555.
ENSUITE Stone Forest sink, 888-682-2987, Stoneforest.com; Cantu Bathroom and Hardware, Victoria, 250-382-1252, Vancouver, 604-688-1252, cantubathrooms.com. Jason bathtub, Cantu Bathroom and Hardware, Victoria, 250-382-1252, Vancouver, 604-688-1252, cantubathrooms.com. Bluestone Natural Cleft flooring, Adera Stone, Vancouver, 1-877-526-6900, aderastone.com. Honed Bluestone Slab countertop, Adera Stone, Vancouver, 1-877-526-6900, aderastone.com. Kallista tub and sink, 888-4-KALLISTA, Cantu Bathroom and Hardware, Victoria, 250-382-1252, Vancouver, 604-688-1252, cantubathrooms.com. Kallista showerhead,1-888-4-KALLISTA, Cantu Bathroom and Hardware, Victoria, 250-382-1252, Vancouver, 604-688-1252, cantubathrooms.com. Wall Sconces, Hammerton Lighting, hammerton.com; Empire Kitchen and Bath, Calgary, 403-252-2458, empirekitchenandbath.com.

OUR SISTER PUBLICATIONS