Form and function showcase The Residence on Marine in West Van
Mary Frances Hill
The Province
The Residences on Marine
What: 16 two- and three-bedroom condos
Where: 1347 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
Residence sizes and prices: Two- and three-bedroom homes range in size from 950 to 1,321 sq. ft, starting from approximately $1,795,900
Developer and builder: Atti Group
Sales centre: 1347 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
Sales centre hours: By appointment only
Sales centre telephone: 604-281-1878
The kitchen is often the hub of a home’s family and social life, a place where generous cooks serve meals to show affection for loved ones and creative types experiment with new recipes. It’s where guests converge at parties, and children bond with parents and caregivers, revelling in their roles as bakers’ helpers.
It’s an asset of home life, and at The Residences on Marine, the Atti Group’s community in West Vancouver, designer Cristina Oberti shows how to invest in it — namely, by using resilient natural materials to build in practicality and beauty.
“A kitchen is in itself a functional space, a place for work, so it needs to be practical,” says Oberti, principal of Cristina Oberti Interior Design Inc.
At the same time, it’s an esthetic centrepiece, particularly in an open-concept living area, like those on offer at The Residences on Marine.
Known as a luxury single-family home builder, Atti Group shares Oberti’s great appreciation for kitchens; it shows in the focus on details, like Italian cabinetry and marble backsplashes.
“A simple way to really bring a boost to a home is by installing a kitchen backsplash that pops,” Oberti says.
“Most kitchens these days are shared with the dining and living spaces, so a kitchen is often in view, and as such, should make a statement. The solid marble slabs we used for Residences on Marine are extremely effective. The veins in the stone turn the kitchen into a kind of canvas.”
The kitchen is particularly striking, with dark cabinetry on one side accompanying the refrigerator and ovens, and a white prep area and dark backsplash. The mood is deep and dramatic, thanks to the natural stone and aluminum — a sleek juxtaposition of materials, she says.
“This aspect of mixing and matching in the kitchen is, for me at least, a very fun process. I like to experiment and combine different finishes and really make an esthetic statement with my kitchens, and indeed, sometimes even try to create a mood.”
Atti Group sees The Residences on Marine as a perfect space for couples downsizing from single-family homes. Moving can be stressful, particularly for those who move from large homes in which they raised their children — places packed full of memories — but Oberti says the transition can be relatively painless if homeowners focus on why they’re doing so in the first place: to find a greater sense of simplicity.
“Empty nesters and couples looking to downsize later in life often do so to simplify their day-to-day, so a sense of comfort and ease is essential,” says Oberti.
“Downsizing to a smaller space shouldn’t feel like a downgrade, but more like moving into a permanent holiday home, someplace where you can feel at your best, and where stress is kept to an absolute minimum.”
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