Homes of The Foothills
We continue our Homes of The Foothills series where we give you a peek into finished homes and share some inside details about the team's finishings and process behind Foothills homes.
We sat down with Richard Wohl, General Manager of Momentum Design Build, to discover his perspective as a building planner and now the owner of his home at The Foothills. Richard and his partner Cathy have recently moved into this Owen Gardiner Construction built home, that they are now excited to call home.
Q: Tell us about your home at The Foothills.
Richard: Our home at the Foothills is nestled up at the top of Tonnerre Way overlooking the amazing Winchelsea Islands and mainland coast. Although the house is only 3000 sqft, it looks larger with the many vaulted areas and windows. We have a large expansive deck that takes full advantage of the ocean and mountain views. It truly is a million-dollar view and I get to enjoy it while cooking on the BBQ every day.
Q: Although you did not take on the build process this time, tell us about the process as a builder to choose a finished home and what about this design/neighbourhood drew you to it?
Richard: The house does express the character of the architect/designer with interesting rooflines, flooding light throughout with skylights, and windows in vaulted ceilings. The house checked several boxes for us including the oversized garage, pantry, main floor living, extra room for parking, and of course the amazing view. The neighbourhood and location take advantage of the raw natural beauty of the forest surrounded by beautiful custom homes. It is a unique location to enjoy the immense uncrowded hiking trails with the tranquil views of the ocean.
Q: What neighbourhood did you call home previously?
Richard: We moved from Lindley Valley where we enjoyed a nice house on the main pond. The neighbourhood grew significantly over the 7 years I lived there and lost its small quiet charm. It is a beautiful place for families to enjoy the outdoors in a safe, friendly environment. I lived in North Vancouver before moving to the Island and I really enjoy the rugged trails and forest-like backdrop. So, I guess, in a way, I missed that feeling at Lindley Valley. The trails are great but becoming very busy
Q: Does the house have a name? And if so, please share it with us!
Richard: Not at this time. However, we have been considering some strong candidates. It seems like a fun thing to do and many of the houses on our street do have names.
Q: Tell us about your family who also call this home. What are their favourite rooms/areas of the house?
Richard: We purposely chose a house that was designed for a couple who receives frequent guests. Our house is enjoyed by Cathy (my partner) and I but we do have frequent visitors from the Mainland. Every house in The Foothills seems to have a dog and we are no exception. Mocha, our 5-year-old Labradoodle enjoys the freedom of the trails immensely. At this point, I would have to say that the Kitchen is one of my favourite rooms as I enjoy cooking and the kitchen is amazing. I also like to putter so my large garage and newly built shed are some of my favourite spots.
Q: How many homes have you worked on within the (Foothills) project?
Richard: I have personally been involved in two homes. We built the Hospice Dream home on High Ridge Crescent, and I also built my first home in the Foothills, also on High Ridge Crescent. And of course, we now own a home on Tonnerre Way.
Q: Bike, Hike, Climb? What adventures do you take part in the most at The Foothills?
Richard: So far, we mostly enjoy the hiking trails. The terrain is pretty steep for my mountain biking skills at this time, but you never know.
Q: What are you most excited about for the future Foothills Village
Richard: Cathy and I grew up in the Okanagan and have always enjoyed the ski village feel. We are very excited about the possibility of having local places to hang out and have a coffee on a patio or maybe a cold beverage after a long hike. The Village will be a very important aspect of the future of the Foothills. It will bring the neighbourhood together and set it apart from any other locations in the mid-island.
The builder, Owen Gardiner Construction, also a preferred builder of The Foothills, worked alongside Swanson House Plans on the house plans and the Karly Parker Design team on the finishings for this home. Pam and Owen had some words for us about the property and home they created.
Pam and Owen Gardiner: Specifically this lot appealed to us because of its unparalleled ocean views. Despite being in a subdivision you can feel like you are all alone taking in the breathtaking ocean views. We designed this home to take this in with a focus on capturing the view while maintaining privacy so the homeowners can feel that they are in their own little oasis. Watching the birds riding the wind right at eye level with the breathtaking ocean in the background as you were perched up framing felt as though you were on top of the world. I struggle to pick one favourite area of this home, but the Great Room / Kitchen where you can also get lost in thought taking it all in while enjoying entertaining family and guests are up there.
