Story and Photos by
Elisworth Dickson

TODAY'S FEATURE Home
is one of the most unusual
and innovative homes that
has appeared in the News.
More than just a renovations
job. Ryan and Rachel Mur-
raygreen have totally re-
designed and re-built the
original Lynn Valley cottage
with virtually nothing of the
old place remaining.

Ryan is a professional ar-
tist with schooling in = ar-
chitecture. He and Rachel
have put an_ incredible
amount of thought, talent,
craftsmanship and plain
work into both the lot and
the house.

Starting with the landscap-
ing. the lot was contoured,
four kinds of bamboo were
planted, five kinds of ferns,
various maples, sumachs,
ash, broom, dogwoods and
water-washed pebbles were
added as were winding

pening New Doors on the North Shore |

wooden pathways.

The home itself is contem-
porary, but not just West
Coast. There are influences
from Japanese architecture
as well as Navajo.

The building of the house
was approached as if it were
a sculpture to live in and
took two years of con-
struction. The unique plex-
iglass awnings which let in
light took three months to
construct and “an insane
amount of work”, Ryan told
the News.

Other features of the
home include an atrium
between the two-level kit-
chen and a large studio
which displays Ryan’s art.

The studio itself is 560
sq.ft. and has clerestory win-
dows on one side plus a
twenty foot skylight in the
ceiling. Some of the ten
skylights in the house have
mirrored wells and one amaz-
ing skylight is over a wall
with “pyramid” shaped mir-
rors on the wall itself which

“sprays” the light throughout
both the living room and the
bedroom. ;
The kitchen is designed so
two operations can be car-
ried on at once and hence,
the two sinks. For instance,
pasta can be made in the
lower kitchen while the rest
of the dinner is being
prepared in the upper.

The attention to detail in
this home has got to be seen
to be believed. The natural
fir boards on the walls and
even the river rocks were all
hand picked for perfection.

‘The extensive glass and
wood bookcases were all
hand mado, as were the win-
dow frames, and yes, the fur-
niture was hand made
Ryan and Rachel. The
beautiful tan coloured tiles
on the floor were all cast in
place.

The home has many other
interesting features too
numerous to mention. If
there was ever a labor of
love, this Is it.

ne .

TOP PHOTO, two views of the Murraygreen house with its ‘extensive landscaping, Above,
lefe, is the atrium. Above, middle, the living room. Above, right, counter and kitchen.