Clinging like a limpet to a rock outcrop on Salt Spring Island, this traditional looking cottage is bathed in warm sunlight on the outside, but has a surprisingly cool and hip interior.
From the line of antique toasters that gleam along a high shelf in the kitchen to a picture of Nixon over the fireplace and a whirligig trout upon which sit tiny figures of the owner's family 鈥� the home is a visual holiday from today's typically uncluttered, open concept residences.
鈥淚 used to collect all kinds of domestic things,鈥� said the owner who asked only to use her first name, and although Josette had to pare down when moving into this small space, she kept a few vintage treasures to create her amusing aesthetic.
鈥淚 once had collections of preserving jars, milk bottles, jelly molds, platters and I had one of the first hand-held electric Mixmasters. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen because I had four children, and domestic history always interested me, because of the industrial design and nostalgia.
鈥淭he objects show a continuum of people and their lives, in the simplest terms.鈥�
Besides vintage toasters 鈥� including one of the first ever made in the 1920s - she has rows of blue and white speckleware jugs and pots, old white enamel pieces from the sa国际传媒 Interior and a collection of classic coffee pots.
Mixed among the antique gadgets and appliances are historic pine pieces from Quebec and England, primitive Hutterite, Doukhobor and Mennonite furniture, and a diverse selection of folk and American pop art.
Her favourite artworks come from the emotionally intense period of American expressionism in the 1940s, and she likes to contrast these with primitive pieces, vintage linens and her own assemblages created out of found junk. Her free-form sculptures combine everything from old nails and wire to rusted pieces of metal found on the beach.
She mingles witty and whimsical elements to create an unpredictable style, creating a home filled with little wonders, happy astonishments and a sense of adventure.
Josette's family came to the island in 1947 and she was raised there although much of her career was elsewhere. 鈥淢y father was the government agent, municipal clerk, tax collector and assessor who also issued driving licenses, fishing licenses, and death certificates.鈥�
She grew up with a passion for design, 鈥渁n obsession really,鈥� but became a teacher because, 鈥済oing to design school from this island was like going to the moon.鈥�
Yet all her life she has created unique homes and spaces, and when she decided to retire and move from her big Mainland home she carefully chose where to design her next chapter.
鈥淚 looked all over the place: the Sunshine Coast, Bowen Island, Saturna Island, Qualicum, Parksville鈥�.
Salt Spring Island didn't occur initially as it seemed like a bit of a backward step, but that was before she spied this cottage. It was up for rent, but she made the owner an offer to purchase and it was accepted.
鈥淚 couldn't find anything better anywhere. My mantra was: Simplify life, edit down and keep only my favourite things around me.鈥�
She wanted to live small but have a large life, with freedom to travel and do art.
Most of the waterfront homes she'd looked at were far too big, and would have required too much work, inside and out, and the bonus with this house was the previous owner had decorated it in her style.
Josette has now settled into her waterfront gem with comprises 900 square feet, a sunny south-facing deck and a rocky, but interesting garden.
鈥淚 didn't have to do anything but move my furnishings and art in - and build a new garage,鈥� which she designer herself, with a tiny cupola.
She cleaned up the garden, 鈥減reviously a mass of blackberries, ivy and old scrappy flowerbeds,鈥� and carved new stairs into the rock. 鈥淚 wanted to live in nature, not just gaze out upon it, and this house is part of nature.
鈥淚 can reach out and touch it,鈥� she said, adding it's like living on a boat with water lapping below.
鈥淭here are many properties with more beautiful houses, or gardens, or views but his house has a personality and a feeling of intimacy that is very important to me.
鈥淚 like looking out at these two arms of land and the mountains. It's a big view but an enclosed feeling. Every home I've designed has always had pockets of intimacy.鈥�
She has placed a little day bed in the window next to her dining table and while it's a bit cramped, 鈥淚t's a great place to lie back and read. That little bed has followed me around forever so it was important to have it here.
鈥淎nd I don't need a large, formal dining area because I don't have big sit-down dinners anymore.鈥�
Her living room is warmed by red, blue and yellow Ralph Lauren fabrics - 鈥淚 love checks and stripes鈥� - which give her home a crisp, seaside look and some oversized furniture adds a flavour of relaxed opulence.
鈥淚'm crazy for white and I like connecting colours. That's the magic, and it's why I combine different patterns of red, or match the interior blues in my kitchen to the sea.鈥�
Several of her pieces are from Fever Tree clothing and home d茅cor store in Ganges, including a coffee table made with vintage boxes in a metal frame, and a vintage French linen top.
Her interior doors are painted red, a popular choice in Norway, and she loves the warm and playful look. 鈥淚 detest and abhor the usual,鈥� she said with a mock shudder,
Outside, her sunny patio is a lavish retreat featuring masses of overflowing blooms and mostly black furniture. 鈥淚 like black because it's sharp and great looking, and I like the unpredictable, surprises, magic.鈥�
鈥淭he trick is you mustn't decorate. It mustn't look like a fad or a fashion,鈥� and comfort is paramount, along with the idea of creating a nest with a hint of 鈥減oetry.鈥�
She quoted a favourite line from Henry David Thoreau, 鈥淏irds do not sing in caves,鈥� and added she also lives by the old Navajo adage, to always walk in beauty.
鈥淚'm not a material person but as William Morris said: Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.鈥�
Beauty is a necessity of life for her. 鈥淚t doesn't cost a lot of money, but it feeds the soul.鈥�
