French Dispatch

Home By Design

“Unless you have an unlimited budget and a huge lot to work with, building a new home is all about give and take,” says the homeowner. “This has been one of my biggest lessons.” It was January 2018, and the young couple with—at the time—two young children had finally found the lot of their dreams. Located on Vancouver Island in Victoria’s quaint South Oak Bay neighborhood, the land itself was “cozy and private,” says designer Julia Estey of Jenny Martin Design.

“Our home’s design was inspired by our travels to France [and] love for entertaining and cooking,” says the homeowner. “It plays tribute to classical French architecture and blends traditional style with modern luxury.” Timeless tenets of the architectural style such as balance and symmetry are apparent in the home’s traditional details, designed by home designer Zebra Group and builder M Knight Construction. “I didn’t want our house to look like a bright and shiny new build. I wanted it to feel comfortable, lived-in, warm and welcoming,” explains the homeowner of the design inside and out.

The interior design is exactly that. “They definitely wanted the interior to mesh with the exterior,” says Estey, who was the lead on the project along with Jenny Martin. The homeowner also led the interior design charge choosing most all of the soft furnishings herself. “They were specific on wanting a traditional home with old-world elements but also pared back and simplified,” says Estey.

To that end, the designers chose finishes that were not only inherently warm and inviting but also looked rustic and well worn. “Our finishes were selected to make the home look as though it had been there for years,” says Estey. Adds the homeowner, “All our finishes are matte, honed, or satin to have a non-glossy/shiny look. I wanted to have a slightly rustic, ‘old-world’ feel, so it looked more like a renovation than a new build. I love the character that old homes have.” Stunning slabs of honed Calacatta gold marble from Italy pair with classic, shaker-style cabinetry adorned with brass hardware, resulting in a warm, organic aesthetic. On the island, lacquered birch wood custom cabinetry complements the European oak hardwoods and wood beams that run the length of the great room.

Architectural details played an integral role in the home’s overall design, explains Estey. The crown moldings and millwork were custom-designed for the home, resulting in an aesthetic that toed the line of modern and traditional. “Even the width of the hardwood floor was custom,” says Estey, who notes that the foyer’s herringbone pattern is a subtle but impactful element that sets the style tone. “Those details were so important in achieving the overall look of the home.” The foyer stairway railing was custom-designed, as well—“We wanted it to look like it came out of a one-hundred-year-old home in Victoria,” says Estey.

Oversized, arched French doors, a tenet of classic French architecture, provide a seamless pathway to the patio where the family loves to gather and entertain. “When we first designed our house, I knew I wanted a patio on the same floor as our main floor,” says the homeowner. “I wanted our indoor and outdoor space to feel cohesive.” The patio features Pennsylvania Bluestone in an ashlar pattern and ample space to entertain and cook during the warmer summer months.

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Though a labor of love to design, it’s become the home the family dreamed: a sophisticated and timeless space that exudes classic charm. “I wanted a balance of traditional, yet simple design features with a French influence,” says the homeowner. Mission accomplished? Oui!

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