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Set a short drive from the beach, the getaway brings in countryside views with a long, linear plan wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glazing.

Morsø

The counters are natural quartzite, called "Elegant Grey

Aleksandra shifted and shortened the window to pack in usable storage around it. The cabinets are painted Rainy Afternoon by Benjamin Moore, combined with white oak boxes for contrast. “We were also badly hit by the material price increases during Covid,” says Aleksandra, whether it was kitchen cabinets or framing lumber. The couple were receiving quotes that changed week to week.

New triple-glazed window units in the bay window conform with energy-efficiency requirements in Vancouver, "which is the most stringent in all of Canada,

The staircase needed to be rebuilt to meet current building code, but being in basically its original location, is an anchor in the redesign. The wall color is "Hamilton Blue

Harty explains that budget was an issue, and so "the house is just big enough to suit the needs of the family without being too grand.

“I was a little apprehensive about moving away from our neighborhood for 17 years,” says Jane, “but our friends from the city come up. It’s been a big hosting spot. And we’ve been making friends locally… it’s a nice community of people here.”

Sally waters the row of geraniums, keeping the bright red security barrier marking the edge of the deck in full bloom.

Both the walls and the maple cabinet facings in the kitchen are covered in a toxin-free whey-based finish. Clove-colored 2-by-10-inch backsplash tiles mimic the alley’s brick street, and the wall is covered in spray cork, a paint substitute made primarily of cork granules. The door pulls are closet knobs that Jack retrieved from his grandfather’s house in D.C. before it was torn down.

Every inch of the home is designed to accommodate the family's needs with ample hidden storage keeping spaces clutter free, complemented by open storage with those items more frequently reached for such as books to read and ingredients to cook with.

The renovation upgraded the home’s infrastructure from gas to electric, and Isaac built the minimalist range hood.

Despite the space’s relatively small size, its galley layout, with countertops on each side, easily accommodates multiple cooks.

Quartz countertops and two-by-eight-inch subway tile with tan grout (on the backsplash) complement the tone of the birch cabinetry and ash shelves in the kitchen.

The breakfast area sits directly beneath the clerestory window pop-up, or scoop.

Lee helped the couple source lighting, like the Nuura Anoli pendants above the kitchen island. “We're constantly having meals at home,” says Serena. “We get a CSA and I like to cook, so it's nice to have a lot of space in the kitchen, and have it be really functional for cooking and entertaining.”