Design ideas from some of Powell River's beautiful homes
When you're looking for design ideas for your home, there is absolutely nothing wrong with borrowing ideas from other homes--and plenty of Powell River homes offer inspiration. Here we show off some ideas from a few of Powell River's beautiful homes that you might be able to incorporate into your next renovation, update or building project.
Use the view
If you have a view, use it! Windows run the full length of the waterfront exposure of this home. You're paying, in taxes and in purchase price, for that view, so enjoy it.
All decked out
Powell River is blessed with one of the mildest climates in the country, which means we can spend a lot of time outdoors. An expansive deck off the main floor is a summer living space for Perk and Merrilyn and their many visitors. And upstairs there's a smaller deck off the master bedroom with clear glass panels to cut down on cool breezes while they enjoy a morning coffee.
First Look
You don't get a second chance at a first impression. That's why CaroleAnn and Mark added a front entry porch with large Douglas Fir timbers cut from salvaged dead and down wood by Outback Milling to create a very inviting entrance. "We wanted our Craftsman-style bungalow to have an eye-catching curb-appeal," says CaroleAnn.
Keep the character
Sandra and Don took on a massive project seven years ago with their Townsite home. But they played to the strengths of the home, keeping the historical value and returning the porch to its former glory. Townsite homes were all built with front porches where neighbours could sit and visit with each other but the original front porch in this house had been closed in. Among seven years of renos, they reconstructed the veranda and added pillars and overhang. "A perfect summer evening is sitting on your front porch, sharing a glass of wine with neighbours, in the shade of the majestic oak trees which stand guard on this street," says Sandra. They have now sold this Townsite beauty and are starting their next project south of town.
Open it up
Any time you can open up a wall, it makes the house seem larger and makes the space more usable. Perk and Merrilyn went to a lot of work to design this open-tread curved staircase, but it turned what would have been a utilitarian stairway into a design feature that invariably elicits favourable comments from visitors.
Save that wood
"We tore down a house several years ago and salvaged most of the materials thinking we could build a shop or something out of the ugly old painted beams and framing lumber," says CaroleAnn. "It was a helluva lot of work but out of the debris that would have ended up splintered and broken in a landfill somewhere we discovered we had beautiful edge-grain old-growth Douglas Fir lumber that when planed, milled, sanded and finished became all the interior window and door trim of our new house as well as gorgeous ceiling beams that are a feature in the library."
