The window running down one wall of the living room curves to offer a wider view of the harbour. From inside the curve is barely visible.
“The curve and the lower profile of the home fits the property so well,” says friend and neighbour Mark Bowler.
Glass blocks from Happy Harry’s building salvage let more light into the laundry room and guest bath, which have smaller windows due to sharing a wall with the outdoor kitchen.
The fireplace is tilt-up concrete, meaning Ernie poured each panel on the floor and tilted it up. “It was a little bit odd for people watching from the water,” says Ernie. “We had to stand this up in advance of building the structure so it stood there for weeks. People said, ‘What the heck is he doing over there?’”
Recessed pot lights in the ceiling and slip covers on the living room furniture make it easy to change a room’s colour palette.
Ernie says it's not unusual to see boats passing or a neighbours float plane in the harbour.
Jane didn’t want to spoil the relaxed coastal vibe in the master bedroom with a TV on the wall. She commissioned a painting by Neva Becker to cover it when not in use. The painting attaches to a hinge that flips it up when it’s time to watch a movie.
Corner windows in the master bath offer a sweeping water view from the tub.
Son John made the wood cuts on the rafters, so he picked this bedroom so could admire his work from bed each morning.
The barn was Ernie’s first attempt at working with SIPs. The main floor provides storage for yard equipment and left over SIPS, while upstairs his adult sons have a spot to hang out while visiting.
SIPs are commercially available, but the Porters saved money by building their own. It took family and friends nine hours to build the panels they needed, with a few left over.
On the second floor, the barn features pool, ping pong, and foosball tables, plus a skateboard ramp.
Bed tucked under each end of the ramp can sleep four when friends come to stay.