Western Living

Cabin renovation: Perfect island cottage

A Vancouver design team transforms a condemned Mayne Island cabin into an idyllic retreat from the big city.

By Anicka Quin | Photographs by John Sinal

Building a dream home from nothing

The report said it all. At the 100-page mark, in big, black marker, the inspector had written: "This property is uninhabitable." And underlined it three times.
But Ian McLeod and Kerry Johnson had already fallen for the place. Set on an acre of waterfront on Mayne Island, British Columbia, the cabin had been home to a pair of chain smokers who had literally left the walls yellowed-even the cobwebs were stained orange. But Johnson and McLeod-who together make up Johnson McLeod Design, a team known for their work in Vancouver on luxury condos at places like the Fairmont and the Shangri-La-knew they’d found a diamond in the rough. "After 20 years in the business, we know how to look through clutter to see the bones of a house," says McLeod. "Though this was a challenge."

Gulf Island decor upstairs, Cape Cod decor downstairs

The two-level home was tackled one floor at a time, each evolving according to its own characteristics. "Each floor has told us what to do," explains McLeod. "The upstairs has a tented, varnished cedar ceiling with floor-to-ceiling windows, and is post-war modern. That dictated what we did.
"Downstairs was very bright, and with its local sandstone fireplace, it felt very east coast. So we’re Cape Cod downstairs, and upstairs it’s Gulf Islands."
Bringing the home back to life started with gutting the walls (the nicotine-soaked atmosphere had the effect of helping them work 14-plus-hour days without exhaustion), and opening up the ’60s-era, boxy design into a modern, open-concept space. The living room, which McLeod refers to as "Sinatra goes to Tahoe," is a twist on Mad Men-esque design, with ’50s-style sofas gathered around the hearth-a look that’s meant to evoke a vintage cottage passed down for generations.
One large master bedroom was divided into two cheerful bedrooms, separated by an insulated wall with a transom window. Tucked in behind the hearth, the sleeping quarters enjoy the radiant heat of the fireplace on damp winter nights.

Using natural light

There was originally nothing but solid wall on the western side of the home, so they opened it up to the view and afternoon sun with new, oversize windows. Likewise, a stairwell receives natural light for the first time in 40 years with an ingenious trick: an internal window on the stairwell opens onto a guest bedroom, bringing through the room’s natural light. When the room is occupied with guests, the window can be shuttered again for privacy. And, to counter any dark, West Coast days, the pair has dotted the space with orange: bright throw pillows inside, and dozens of umbrellas and lanterns outside.

Designing with local products

Working on Mayne was a lesson in island living: because bringing materials over from the mainland can be a hassle, they wanted to work with local products as much as possible. Home Hardware became their stomping grounds-the spot where vintage tin buckets and quirky decor items could be refashioned into chic finds under the couple’s design-savvy guidance. Mayne finds its way into the decor in other ways, too: branches of driftwood are collected into those tin buckets; seashells found on the beach are gathered in shadow boxes; and local pottery becomes a modernist statement, grouped together on the dining table as an art piece.

DIY interior decorating

And, for the first time in 20 years, Johnson and McLeod became their own general contractors as well. "We call it designer’s boot camp," laughs Johnson. "We don’t do a lot of hands-on work in the city, but when we get there, we’re breaking out the power tools and the paint brushes. It hones your skills, and it’s a lot of fun." Johnson designed and built coffee tables-each one "strong enough that 12 people could dance on it"-that are found on both floors, and the pair crafted boxes that fit in their custom kitchen island for storage. (Johnson built them, and McLeod painted them. The one that houses the tinfoil is coloured a cheeky silver.)
It’s a way of life that suits the couple, a break from the design world they inhabit in Vancouver and the hectic pace that greets them any time they go back. "We love doing it," says McLeod. "We could not wait to get over and finish those storage boxes. In town, it’s all meetings and 200-page reports handed off to contractors. But here, we find ourselves blissful, just painting a window frame and listening to the radio." wl

Sources
Pages 35-39 Designers, Ian McLeod and Kerry Johnson, JohnsonMcLeod, 604-733-6523, johnsonmcleod.com.
Page 35 PATIO Table, table kit from Home Hardware, painted by Ian D McLeod; Home Hardware across the West, homehardware.ca. Chair, Canadian Tire, locations across western Canada, canadiantire.ca. Orange throw, Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Mug, Home Hardware, locations across western Canada, homehardware.ca. Binoculars, Atmosphere, Victoria, 250-294-7140; Vancouver Kitsilano, 604-731-6181; Vancouver Downtown, 604-687-7668; Richmond, 604-278-5461; West Vancouver, 604-922-3336; Burnaby, 604-434-9397; Coquitlam, 604-945-9511; Banff, 403-760-8249; Calgary, 403-516-3218; Calgary Downtown, 403-264-2444; Edmonton City Centre, 780-426-7801; West Edmonton Mall; 780-487-5607; atmosphere.ca. Tea/coffee maker, Motiv, Vancouver, 604 737 8116, motivdesign.ca. Floor mat, Pottery Barn, Vancouver, 604-678-9897; Calgary, 403-259-2100, potterybarn.ca.
Page 36 LIVING ROOM Pendant lamp, Perfolium Design, Vancouver, no longer in business. Woven basket, Ikea, Richmond, 866-320-4532; Coquitlam, 866-313-4532; Calgary, 866-887-4532; Edmonton, 866-877-4532, ikea.ca. White pepper mill, Motiv, Vancouver, 604 737 8116, motivdesign.ca. Plates and cutlery, Pier 1 Imports, Victoria, 250-391-7336; Vancouver, 604-742-2340; North Vancouver, 604-980-8888; Port Coquitlam, 604-472-1080; Richmond, 604-273-7000; Abbotsford, 604-864-0802; Kelowna, 250-869-1660; Calgary, 403-210-5550; Edmonton, 780-443-6644; Regina, 306-359-6007; Saskatoon, 306-975-0710; Winnipeg, 204-786-6797; pier1.ca. Candles, Paboom Home Imports, Vancouver, 604-738-1050; Victoria, 250-380-0020; paboom.blogspot.com. Table mat, custom made in Sri Lankan Fabric. Chairs and ottoman, Moe’s Home Collection, Vancouver, 604-687-5599; North Vancouver, 778-340-6392; moeshome.ca. Dining table, Caban, Vancouver, no longer in business. Shelf, custom, JohnsonMcLeod, johnsonmcleod.com. Orange lamp and table (on right), Fullhouse Consignment, Vancouver, 604-733-7789, fullhouseconsign.com. Log on wheels, log from property, wheels from Home Hardware; locations across the West, homehardware.ca. Flooring, industrial tile. Paint (walls), BeautiTone Designer Series, White Suede for walls; Paint (fireplace wall) Beauti Tone Designer Series, Charcoal Dark Espresso, both from Home Hardware, locations across the West, homehardware.ca. Mirror (above fireplace), Fullhouse Consignment, Vancouver, 604-733-7789, fullhouseconsign.com. Grey, black and white painting, Ian D McLeod. Orange brown dresser, vintage. Lamp on dresser, Fullhouse Consignment, Vancouver, 604-733-7789, fullhouseconsign.com. Collection of vases (on dresser), vintage. Black urn (next to fireplace), Ten Thousand Villages, locations across the West, tenthousandvillages.ca. Leather sofas, Urban Barn, Victoria, 250-360-9067; Vancouver, 604-731-9047; Calgary, 403-270-7129; Edmonton, 780-485-0503; Saskatoon, 306-933-9770; Winnipeg, 204-663-7656, urbanbarn.com. Orange pillows, custom-made in Sri Lankan Fabric. White and black cushion, Fullhouse Consignment, Vancouver, 604-733-7789, fullhouseconsign.com. Coffee table, custom, JohnsonMcLeod, johnsonmcleod.com. Plate on coffee table, Heather Ross,
604-738-4284, heatherrossinhouse.com. White birds, India.
MASTER BEDROOM: Clock, Three Centuries Shop, Vancouver, 604-685-8808. Bed and lamp, Ikea, Richmond, 866-320-4532; Coquitlam, 866-313-4532; Calgary, 866-887-4532; Edmonton, 866-877-4532, ikea.ca. Bedding, Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Pillows, Ed’s Linens, Vancouver, 604-263-7300; North Vancouver, 604-986-5203; Richmond, 604-270-3318; Port Coquitlam, 604-464-7170; White Rock, 604-541-2783; edslinens.com. Cushions, The Cross Décor & Design, Vancouver, 604-689-2900, thecrossdesign.com. White dresser, Sellution Vintage Furniture, Vancouver, 604-876-4517. Light blue tray, Gardenia, Mayne Island, 250 539 5574. Art sculpture, Baker’s Dozen Antiques, Vancouver, 604-879-3348. Paint (walls), BeautiTone Designer Series-White Suede; paint (floor), Beauti Tone Designer Series-Shallows, Home Hardware across the West, homehardware.ca.
GUEST BEDROOM Bedside table, lamp and bed, Ikea, Richmond, 866-320-4532; Coquitlam, 866-313-4532; Calgary, 866-887-4532; Edmonton, 866-877-4532, ikea.ca. Pillows, Ed’s Linens, Vancouver, 604-263-7300; North Vancouver, 604-986-5203; Richmond, 604-270-3318; Port Coquitlam, 604-464-7170; White Rock, 604-541-2783; edslinens.com. Orange shelf, custom, JohnsonMcLeod, johnsonmcleod.com. Black tray, Gardenia, Mayne Island, 250-539-5574; Lining for black tray, Paper Ya, Vancouver, 604-684-2531; Shells, Campbell Bay Beach, Mayne Island. Orange-yellow throw, Provide, Vancouver, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Black bird, Paboom Home Imports, Vancouver, 604-738-1050; Victoria, 250-380-0020; paboom.blogspot.com. Bedding, custom made from Sri Lankan fabric by JohnsonMcLeod, johnsonmcleod.com. Paint (walls), BeautiTone Designer Series-White Suede; Paint (floor), BeautiTone Designer Series-Shallows, Home Hardware locations across western Canada, homehardware.ca. Painting, by artist Pauline McLeod.
Page 38 KITCHEN Red/orange star, Home Hardware, locations across the West, homehardware.ca. Kenmore stove and dishwasher, Sears, locations across the West, sears.ca. White pepper mill, Motiv, Vancouver, 604-737-8116, motivdesign.ca. Lamp, Sellution Vintage Furniture, Vancouver, 604-876-4517. Condiment stand and jars, Ikea, Richmond, 866-320-4532; Coquitlam, 866-313-4532; Calgary, 866-887-4532; Edmonton, 866-877-4532, ikea.ca. Orange glasses, Paboom Home Imports, Vancouver, 604-738-1050; Victoria, 250-380-0020; paboom.blogspot.com. Sink and stainless countertops, Quest Metal Works, Vancouver, 604-253-7771. Wood cabinets, custom made by JohnsonMcLeod, johnsonmcleod.com. Giant silver fork and spoon, Pier 1 Imports, Victoria, 250-391-7336; Vancouver, 604-742-2340; North Vancouver, 604-980-8888; Port Coquitlam, 604-472-1080; Richmond, 604-273-7000; Abbotsford, 604-864-0802; Kelowna, 250-869-1660; Calgary, 403-210-5550; Edmonton, 780-443-6644; Regina, 306-359-6007; Saskatoon, 306-975-0710; Winnipeg, 204-786-6797; pier1.ca. Painting, by artist Jeff Mahorney, jmahorney.blogspot.com. Small nesting bowls, Gardenia, Mayne Island, 250-539-5574.
LIVING ROOM See page 36.
Page 39 GUEST BEDROOM White bedside table and chandelier, Sellution Vintage Furniture, Vancouver, 604-876-4517. Lamp (on dresser), Baker’s Dozen Antiques, Vancouver, 604-879-3348. Collection of images and frames, vintage. Bed, Sellution Vintage Furniture, 604-876-4517. Bedding and pillows, Twill Canvas bed fabric from Chintz & Company, Victoria, (250) 381-2404; Vancouver, 604-689-2022; Calgary, (403) 245-3449, Edmonton, (780) 428-8181; chintz.com. Clear lamp, custom made by JohnsonMcLeod, johnsonmcleod.com. Driftwood fish sculpture, The Blue Heron gallery, Point Roberts, WA, 360-945-2747. Carpet, Pottery Barn, Vancouver, 604-678-9897; Calgary, 403-259-2100, potterybarn.ca. Paint for walls, BeautiTone Designer Series, Shallows, Home Hardware locations across western Canada, homehardware.ca.

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