Decorating & Design

October 1, 2021

This Vancouver Island Duplex Is Big On Coastal Charm

Can one house have both a colorful apartment for a daughter and a rental unit designed for income generation? Well, yes, it can. This 910-square-foot Vancouver Island duplex has all that and more: outdoor spaces on both levels, a private beach and a separate art studio, all of which take in views of a quiet inlet that’s minutes from downtown Victoria.

Local restaurateurs Shellie and Mike Gudgeon worked with BoForm architect Chris Foyd and designers Christi Rivard and Kyla Bidgood of Bidgood + Co. on the clever build. When the couple’s daughter, Isabella, wanted her own space, the time seemed right to take down the existing 1960s house — worn from its long years of service as a rental property — and build anew. The new house would be a duplex with a top-floor apartment for Isabella and a ground-floor rental suite.

In Isabella’s apartment, the decorating is vibrant and eclectic, layered with deep, jewel-toned furniture and dark wood to balance the lighter white oak used in the wide-plank flooring and rift-cut millwork. “I love color and showcasing art, and I wanted the rooms to feel warm and collected over time,” says Isabella. Several pieces, including a pair of ladderback chairs, came from a former family home. Everything is carefully chosen to be both durable and beautiful, a mix that defines the decorating style. “Shellie wanted things that would hold up over time,” says Kyla. “She was able to inject some practicality into Isabella’s wish list. It was a true collaboration.”

Scroll down to explore this small duplex with incredible views!

Author: Rosemary Poole
Photographer:

James Jones

Source:

House & Home September 2021

Designer:

Christi Rivard & Kyla Bidgood