Sooke
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Municipality: Sooke
AN OUTSIDE UPGRADE MAXIMIZES FRESH AIR LIVING AT THIS SOOKE BASIN RESIDENCE
Outdoor improvements breathe new life into the exterior of this Sooke Basin view home. The back terrace, outdoor kitchen, and gardens are now inviting, versatile spaces that welcome seamless indoor-outdoor living.
For the terrace, an established footprint was expanded and hand-set with natural stone to match the existing surface of the outdoor kitchen. This new stone expanse was an upgrade from gravel, creating a charming transition between the home and its rugged surroundings. Along the edge of the terrace, Flintstones installed a retaining wall of substantial boulders, echoing the ones used along the front of the home at a smaller scale.
This Sooke exterior renovation included enhancing the outdoor kitchen. Cooking outside is now an elevated experience with a full-service setup. Flintstones built a spacious meal prep station complete with a granite countertop to house a new BBQ and flat-top grill, sink, refrigerator, and storage. A glass-panel windscreen was added to ensure comfortable outdoor cooking while taking in the views. These new cooking conveniences complement the existing feature fireplace, resulting in a highly functional and aesthetically cohesive space.
The backyard also features a garden for growing fresh produce. For this exterior renovation, Flintstones reworked an existing garden into a tidy, tiered design with cedar boxes. Deer-proof fencing protects the plants, and the garden is now easier to maintain.
At the front, Flintstones achieved both function and style. Standing water and drainage issues were resolved as we beautified the entranceway, replacing asphalt with the same stone as the back terrace. A fresh gravel path extends from the driveway, meandering through the landscaping and along the forest’s edge toward the garden.
We completed
- Stone paving, gravelling, and drainage
- Retaining wall
- Decorative stonework for the outdoor kitchen
- Granite counter, storage, and appliance installation for outdoor kitchen
- Glass-panel windscreen for outdoor kitchen
- Gas firepit installation
- Produce garden redesign and fencing
a trusted residential construction leader offering design and build services to clients in Greater Victoria, Oak Bay, and the Gulf Islands
Client objectives
The clients’ main priority was maximizing their outdoor space. They wanted to spend more time outside cooking, relaxing, and enjoying the view. With a focus on healthy living, they also desired an organized and efficient garden to make growing and harvesting their own food simple and enjoyable. Changes to the hardscaping and landscaping at the front create desired curb appeal that complements the home’s natural setting.
Project Challenges
Outdoor renovations on Vancouver Island have their own unique challenges, including the weather. Fortunately, this Spring project yielded amenable conditions for its 4-month duration.
We maintained a smooth client experience for this Sooke exterior renovation by:
- Working onsite within reasonable hours so as not to impede the clients when they were home
- Acquiring the necessary permits
- Keeping the worksite safe and clean by storing materials and equipment in a staging area out of the way at the front of the property
- Keeping the driveway clear so the home remained accessible even during construction
- Using smaller equipment to access the backyard easily and facilitate minimal disturbance to the natural surroundings
- Organizing teams strategically to minimize noise and traffic
- Working in flexible collaboration with the client, designer and landscaping teams as needs evolved
- Creating a final product integrating natural elements, existing materials, and structures
- Extending the scope of work to ensure a final product that blends all aspects flawlessly
