Arts Center: Downtown Denman
Visit the Art Gallery in downtown Denman featuring the work of local artists. The theme for this exhibition is_ ?______: paintings, photographs, quilts, pottery and more. The lime-yellow house was built in 1908. In 2004, local residents purchased Dora Drinkwater’s former home and preserved it as an arts facility. Take home a memory of this year’s tour!
C-Rea and Steve Aberle – 3751 East Rd.
Welcome to the newest home on the tour built in 2022. This contemporary home features ORCA steel frame and metal siding. A commissioned glass-on- metal sculpture, etched with marine life by an Alaskan glass artist greets you as you enter the home. The 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom custom designed home sits on .47 acres. The reverse floor plan hosts the main bedroom, two bathrooms and laundry room on the main floor with the open-concept kitchen, living room and entertainment area as you ascend the designer staircase. Marine-themed art is located throughout the home, in keeping with the surrounding marine environment. The 16-foot-wide sliding door opens onto the large, outdoor living space which overlooks Hornby Island and leads to the “casita” used as a guest suite, weaving and music studio. Note the beautiful artwork from northern Canada and Alaska throughout the home, especially the caribou masks made by indigenous elders in the community of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska.
The backyard storage shed was built by the new owner to cover a third pergola and designed in conjunction with the home builder to match the house architecture. A built-in fire pit and patio sit under two additional framed pergolas. Newly planted fruit trees and local roses adorn a landscaped backyard, with shrubs and ornamental grasses providing cover for the many songbirds that visit the home.
The garage has been converted into a woodworking shop and is accessed through the breezeway beneath the upper deck. Ornamental grasses, shrubs, rocks and trees accent the front landscape, situating this home between the forest and the ocean beyond!
Val Hammell & Bob Albrecht – 2835 Piercy Rd.
Every aspect of this beautiful home & garden have been carefully designed and incorporate the stunning views of Baynes Sound, the Beaufort Range and their gardens. This west coast, contemporary home was designed by the award winning Etienne de Villiers and meticulously crafted by the owner. As you enter the front door, notice the colourful stained-glass insert and oyster catcher panel in the living room. This floor plan was designed to flow and the split level design forms multi-purpose spaces for fitness, guests and office/entertainment center above.
There is an infusion of natural light from the surrounding windows and doors. The home has heated concrete flooring and a 2-sided propane fireplace. In the garden, 3 ponds cascade down from the garden shed deck, where the owners relax and enjoy the views, fragrances and bird songs. A new greenhouse, 11 raised vegetable beds, hoop house, berries, nut trees and orchard fill the back yard. Drip irrigation, drought tolerant plants and organic nutrients conserve water.
You are invited to walk down to the beach to the once floating loggers cook house where the owners lived while building and now serves as a cozy family cabin. On Sat. enjoy a glass of lemonade.
This home and property showcase the vision and talents of a couple who have chosen to “go with the flow” in creating such a remarkable property!
Bee Balm – 2665 Lake Rd.
Follow the winding path through the ferns and wetlands, past the cedar grove and up to this 1970’s magical mystery “hippie” home. This property was featured in the 2008 Book of the Year: Builders of the Pacific Coast by Lloyd Kahn. Check out the book on display. The hillside cabin was built in 1970 and named “Mossy Hollow”. The present owner, Bee, wanted to honour the memory of Robbie Newton who moved into this cabin in the 1970’s. He supported land conservancy on Denman and played the Lorax in a Dr. Seuss play speaking the words, “I speak for the trees.” Sadly, Robbie died two years ago.
Nestled in the forest, the cabin was originally round and had two feet of moss on the roof but alas the rain still came in and the roof has been replaced with tin. The property consists of wetlands, rock, cedars, Douglas firs and ferns. Perfect for forest bathing!
Thanks for leaving your legacy, Robbie! It’s still far out! (Park on Lake Rd.)
Emma & Marcus Engstrom – 8575 Owl
In five years, this young couple have cleared the land, planted a high intensive flowery farm, built a home, studio, office and welcomed a baby. This 10.3 acres extends to Graham Lake. The garden has 34 raised beds, a hoop house and greenhouse. Half of the beds are dedicated to perennials, bulbs and tubers. The lower beds produce dahlias, peonies, sweet peas and roses. In the greenhouse, lisianthus, bachelor buttons and cosmos bloom all summer. Emma’s business, Keep Floral, designs for large-scale events, specifically high-end weddings. Last year she did 35 weddings! Creating unique arrangements is her specialty. Denman’s rocky ground has been augmented with new soil and amendments. Water is conserved with landscape fabric, drip irrigation and water collection. Compost tea is sprayed on the plants each week. Check-out Emma’s floral artistry at www.keepfloral.ca, “hand-grown, hand-picked, hand-designed.” Wow! (Garden only – Park on Owl Rd.)
Andrew Fyson & Robert Newton – 4174 Wren Rd.
This 5 acre property hosts wetlands, forest, vegetables, flower gardens and orchards. A sea of lupins bloom in early summer. The impressive log house was built in 1982 with chain saws and an addition was added in 2020. The home features Denman timber, maple flooring and river rock in the central fireplace. The piano is featured in years of home concerts. The details celebrate the talented owners, an art historian and botanist. The stained glass print of St. Roche, Andrew’s photographs, paintings by local artists, and garden sculpture enrich their beautiful property. Robert’s creations include the Russian-styled sauna, cupola on the main roof, his greenhouse design and the lychgate (church gate) up in the top meadow. Sit and contemplate the beauty of this garden. The orchard includes cider apples, plums, peaches and a glade of Garry oaks. This property is truly an ode to beauty, music and creativity! (Follow the signs to park in the meadow and to exit the circular driveway.)
Terry Lynn & John Hemmerling – 5685 Lacon Rd.
Stroll five minutes down the driveway to this inspirational beach front property. Half-way down, choose the forest trail or continue down the driveway. Enter through beautifully designed gates. The cottage was originally built in 1940 and the Hemmerlings began their extensive and creative renovations in 2019, breathing new life into the cottage, repurposing the original wood. The open, calm interior is a perfect setting for meditation, yoga and artistic creations. The front garden gives commanding views of the mountains and ocean. Meander through the back garden filled with medicinal herbs, vegetable beds, fruit trees, perennials and a memorial rose garden. There is a workshop, kiln, outdoor shower and bath (using rain water catchment) and children’s play area. The pièce de résistance is the geodesic dome designed by Beech and Cedar Homes of Denman. Take a cleansing breath as you leave this lovely property!
Des and Sandy Kennedy – 1670 Pickles Rd.
Surrounded by fern and forest, this rustic house and its mature gardens have been featured in numerous TV programs, magazines, books, & calendar. Slowly carved out of a clear-cut decades ago, this garden is extensively terraced with local sandstone and overflows with drought tolerant ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials and ground covers. A small pond and waterfall are central features. The whimsical house is owner built from largely recycled and hand hewn materials. The greenhouse, large vegetable garden and fruit trees provide a year round abundance of organic produce. This property is a 1970’s “back to the land” classic!(Pickles Road has been designated one-way for the tour. Park on the right side and walk-in.)
Tish & Mike Scott – 5090 Cokely Rd.
Welcome to this modern, west-coast home designed by the renowned, Etienne de Villiers, and family-built five years ago. The design is configured to highlight the dramatic ocean views, overlooking Hornby Island, the coastal mountains and down into a pocket cove. The open floor plan was designed to accommodate the family, extended family and guests.
There are so many lovely features to notice: the Denman alder counter in the kitchen, designer lighting, the fireplace constructed with powder coated sheet metal and angle iron to match the front door, the multi-purpose solarium for fitness, play and entertainment. The home is heated with in-floor heating and 3 heat pumps. The owner’s private wing features an office, breakfast nook, master bedroom, bathroom with a steam shower and walk-in closet. The back garden is being established with vegetable & herb beds, berries and grapes growing over the arbour.
The panoramic views from the oceanside garden showcase the infinity pool, hot-tub & native plants. Wander down the curving pathway to the beach cabin/studio & boat house/workshop. Family, friends and guests enjoy all of the unique aspects of this stunning ocean side property! (Park on Cokely Rd. & follow the arrows to loop back onto East Rd.)
Joan & David Scruton – 6951 Denman Rd.
This 15 acre property is the perfect example of a hobby farm: lovely home, guest house, workshop, gardens, historic barn and animals galore. The owner-designed home features concrete flooring with hot-water heating. The kitchen cupboards and countertops are made with maple and the cabinet faces showcase quilted maple. In the sunroom, notice the beautiful stained-glass panel made by D.I.’s, John Harned. The exquisite craftsmanship of David Scruton is found throughout the home from the mahogany slant desk (with seven secret compartments), the long case walnut clock with its 1720 movements and fretwork, copied from York Castle, the display cabinets, doors and nesting tables. In the master bedroom, check-out the head and footboard on the bed, which displays a lovely Denman scene, and the dressing table from an 1820 design. David’s workshop is a builder’s dream. In Joan’s lovely back gardens, find the original concord grapevine, greenhouse, aviary, chickens, horses, dogs, goats and rabbits. Visit the 1922 heritage barn. Past the orchard, vegetables, and berries find two tranquil ponds and curving bridge. 3 large cisterns provide water storage and the 34 solar panels, heat pumps and some hydro provide energy. Leave inspired by the hobbies demonstrated on this farm: gardening, woodwork, animals, food production and energy conservation!
Mary and Peter Spurr – 2370 East Rd.
Welcome to this West Coast contemporary home with stunning views of Lambert Channel. The owners moved into this new home on 1/3 of an acre in the summer of 2018. As you enter, notice the antique gas lamp from Stockton-on-Tees, England. In a few short years, a garden has been planted with fruit trees, berries, herbs, vegetables, flowers, ornamental shrubs and a lovely collection of roses. Tomatoes are grown in the hoop house. The food garden is a priority with the constant challenge of adapting to this desert-like microclimate. Water conservation is a must as the property is on a well. An upper cistern provides water for the food garden, which is gravity-fed by a simple network of low-flow irrigation tapes. 13 solar panels on the garage roof provide clean energy.
Entering the home, notice the patio and pergola to your right. Local builders were employed in all aspects of the construction. Yellow cedar cladding, salvaged from Woss Camp on northern Vanc. Is., surrounds this 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home. As you enter, stunning views are afforded by plentiful glass doors and windows. To the right of the open concept, living room-kitchen is a guest suite. The alder kitchen cupboards match the warm hues of granite countertops. The home displays a collection of art and pottery from Denman artisans plus family heirlooms, including a Twiss clock and stained glass.
The beachfront deck covers 3 cisterns and houses a sunken hot tub. The Douglas firs along the bank have been sail-pruned and provide perches for the eagles and many other birds. To the left, discover stairs down to the beach. Each day is a wonder as the owners enjoy the sun, garden, ocean, and breezes! (Parking on East Road)
Rick Strong – 3675 East Rd.
A renovation dream! Rick Strong has totally renovated his father’s 1979 house from the foundation up beginning in 2018 with continual projects indoors and out. Entering the front post & beam porch and through the front door, notice the feature “shou sugi ban” wall treatment, the red cedar chair and yellow cedar bench that Rick built. His career as a wood scaler gave him an appreciation for wood and nature. The open-concept living space features a tiled fireplace with added fans to heat the floors and crawl space, ceiling lights and a sunroom that doubles as an entertainment room with sliding barn doors. The contemporary kitchen features the latest in cabinetry. Visit the master bedroom with ensuite plus a powder room for guests. Upstairs you will visit 2 more bedrooms and a large bonus room that is enjoyed by the grandchildren. The 2-car garage doubles as Rick’s indoor workshop and storage area. The backyard garden includes a 2-person hot tub, fire pit, green house, raised beds and workshop. Check-out the 33 solar panels, installed by Rick’s son’s company: Shift Energy, which offset 80-85% of Rick’s hydro bill. Rick’s vision and meticulous skills have transformed this old family home into a modern design creation! (Park on Beaver or East Rd.)
