Photos and Story by
ELLSWORTH DICKSON
This house is a_ very
special place. It is so high
and open that at first one
feels a sense of somehow
floating off the cliff edge
over the water. Designed by
Robert Hassels, it is now

owned by Bruce and Joanne
McNicol.

The house is really “up
there” with no less than 73
steps to the first level, then
seven levels which add
another 36 steps. Granted,
that’s a lot of steps. The
price to pay to live like an

cagie.

Designed expressly for this
rocky lot, the house has
three bedrooms, an office, a
loft, and a fireplace.

When Bruce and Joanne
bought the house two years
ago, they proceeded with a
number of improvements
such as enclosing the deck to
make a beautiful sunroom.
They also enlarged the
kitchen and added a Jenn-
Air range and put down oak
flooring in both the kitchen
and dining room

After hinng a structural
engineer, Bruce and Joanne
were able to add a lower
bedroom. A 12’ mirrored
closet was installed and the
ensuite bath enlarged

One of the most attractive
features in the McNicol
home 1s the way the seven
levels flow together For the
most part, there are open
spaces between the levels
which contnmbute to the
cffect

Being perched on
bedrock, there is no yard
maintenance cxacept for
occasionally sweeping the
(wo decks

The cottage like = at-
mosphere is enhanced by the
glass and shyhghts which
Kive nice forest views with
lots of sunlight and of course
the ocean vista of Indian
Arm and Burrard Inlet

Joanne told the News that
the only concession she has
to make with all the steps ts
that she buys grocenmes in
small bats instead of trying to

carry heavy bags up all the
stairs

C9 - Sunday, June 13, 1982 - North Shore News

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE, the skylit kitchen with
its oak floor; the living room which leads to a sundeck
built on the bedrock; and an outside view of the
MecNicol house. Although In the centre of the house,
the dining room has splendid views as well. Last pic-
ture is the enclosed sunroom with its occan view.