We had the honour of having the Wood Be Art show house on tour this year along with two other homes we recently did work in. The weather was super and the volunteers amazingly enthusiastic.
The Wood House was well received and tour goers were surprised and delighted at every turn with all the attention to detail and whimsical touches making our house feel like a home most anyone could comfortably embrace. The style range of homes was diverse this year too. The grand ol’ Queens Park houses, Mid-Century Modern renovation, the uber Modern almost art gallery house and of course our modest Victory Heights home.
Here’s The Wood House write-up as seen in the tour book:
915 Chilliwack represents a moment in time in New Westminster’s history.
Built in 1949 it is a fine example of post-war construction in the aptly-named Victory Heights neighbourhood that served as an affordable base for returning soldiers eligible for housing grants from the Veterans Land Administration (VLA).
These homes were built in the late 1940s and early 1950s housing young families eager to get on with—or start–their lives after WW II.
H.J. Wood and Sons were one of many contractors who were on duty to meet the housing needs of these families.
This charming home retains the original exterior wood cedar shakes, stone planters and leaded glass windows.
On entering the home one senses the mastery with wood that is evident throughout the house from the mouldings to built-in drawers and closets.
The present owners own Wood Be Art where woodworking meets…of course…Art!
Mr. Wood be proud.
The Wood house features all the traditional fare of homes of that era including the original tiled fireplace, coved ceilings and a large front window.
A 1970s renovation led to an “interesting” addition that the current owners have thoroughly updated.
That proud accomplishment now houses the kitchen, office and a deck overlooking Triangle Park, the hidden gem of the neighbourhood.
However, it’s the whimsical and elegant design touches that surprise and please the eye as you enter the focal point of the house—the kitchen.
A sumptuous feast for the home décor aficionado’s soul where form and function meet a mix of traditional and individual tastes.
Where else will you find arts and crafts shaker cabinets and a reclaimed gramophone cum light fixture harmoniously blended in a room that is the heart of the house?
Where else would you find an induction cook-top and hidden fridge/freezer combo with yes…hood ornaments from a Nash Ambassador that act as handles in the same room?
Adjacent to the kitchen is an open area that serves as the house’s central think tank/home office.
The Peter Lik’s lithograph “Tranquility” grounds the space and the house reminding us that there is spiritual connection to all things Wood.
