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The intrigue of a swiveling bookcase revealing a hidden
study harks back to a time when homes had character, mystery
and style. The new Milne show home has all of these, without
the chilly rooms, drafts and humidity of a century-old stone
house. The stone exterior and classic lines belie the fact
that the3 Whidbey Harbour show home was the only R-2000 rated
entry in the Parade of Homes. A combination of the best in
design, technology and expert craftsmanship has meant not
having to compromise either style or comfort.
"We wanted to include the features that people are
all craving to get back into their homes," says Doug
Milne, pointing out the cove moulding and the oversized baseboards
present throughout the house. "We've put the character
back into the character home."
A traditional dark stain was chosen for the hidden room
and the bookcase, which when closed, blends seamlessly into
the oak paneling with its detailed millwork, including a distinctive
rope moulding present throughout the house. Despite its old-world
appearance, this is a fully equipped modern office with a
built-in Local Area Network (LAN) connection, extending to
the upstairs teen suites to give simultaneous access to the
Internet.
The study is situated between the music room and the master
bedroom. With contrasting French doors in dark oak trim, sculptured
carpet, recessed sage wall panels and a tray ceiling, the
music room provides a majestic setting for the baby grand
piano. "But the rooms don't echo, even with those wonderful
large open spaces," says Interior Designer Olenka Antymniuk,
who worked closely with Milne through all phases of building.
"The house not only looks and feels great, it works."
The large Low-E argon gas windows, for example, trap solar
heat in the winter, reducing heating costs while keeping the
rooms warm. Because comfort was a key concern for Milne, he
included a heated floor in both the upstairs bathroom and
the oversized ensuite on the main floor. In the ensuite, green
ceramic tiles rise to embrace a Jacuzzi tub defined by a geometric
listello. Antymniuk insisted that the tile be cut at an angle
to eliminate any exposed edges. "Design is not an isolated
process," she emphasizes. "We depend on the painter
or tile cutter to interpret. It's about people joining abilities,
talents and excitement."
Even in the transition between the flooring of the bathroom
and walk-in-closet, a carefully laid strip of tile compensates
for the difference in height. This attention to detail is
reaffirmed in the pullout jewellery boxes of the silver ash
bathroom cabinets and the concealed coffee bar in the master
bedroom. Dropping the ceiling moulding created a canopy effect
over the luxurious four poster hickory and maple bed.
Antymniuk and Milne chose a lustrous bird's eye maple PVC
material for the bedroom's built-in cabinets as well as for
those in the kitchen. Besides providing superior resistance
and durability, the same material could be used to inject
the defining rope moulding. The ceramic tile matches the cabinets
while incorporating the omnipresent green tones. A unique
Gibraltar counter top allows for coloured trim and for integral
sinks. Moulded right into the surface without seams that could
trap food or moisture. Continued...
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