The elements of luxury and comfort
WORDS LISA MANFIELD
PHOTOGRAPHY Julian Pimley, Trenton Lepp, Andrew Fyfe, Icon Marketing Inc.
They say you should go big or go home, and according to husband-and-wife team Cameron and Amanda Jones of the T. Jones Group, that was the intention with their latest showstopper—the award-winning Elements Estate located in Vancouver’s Shaughnessy neighbourhood and completed earlier this year.
Currently listed at a cool $28 million, the seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom estate oozes luxurious comfort, with splashes of glamour and coordinated artistic flair that elevate every unique enclave throughout the nearly 10,800-square-foot home.
Flourishes such as oversized fireplaces, designer paint and gold-flecked fixtures add luxury to core spaces, while recreational amenities, including an indoor swimming pool, hot tub and infrared sauna, keep residents and guests well entertained.
This home is, in fact, an entertainer’s delight, with indoor and outdoor kitchen and gathering spaces custom-crafted for bringing foodies and friends into the fold. The large, lavish kitchen reflects every memorable moment in its tinted-mirror ceilings. Servers’ quarters off the main kitchen offer a private space for party prep. Out back, in the pristinely sculpted yard, an outdoor heated deck area features a fully equipped kitchen ringed with a restaurant-inspired fire wall, gas torches and colour-changing light and water features. A one-bedroom laneway guest house ensures ample space for accommodations or remote office work.
Every detail in the house has been carefully considered and coordinated—from the hand-painted marble-like Venetian plaster walls and ceilings to the solid oak hardwood floors and ornamentations, the inset carvings and matching patterns, and the lighting, carpeting and adornments that literally sparkle.
“We came across this property and really wanted to go all out,” Cameron says. “We wanted to do something special.”
Levelling up the playing field
While the T. Jones Group has developed over 200 luxury homes in Vancouver’s West Side, Elements Estate is an exquisite showcase of next-level modern opulence. To achieve a balance of high-end appeal and everyday functionality, the Joneses partnered with Geele Soroka of Sublime Interior Design to develop concepts and select materials. “Everyone brought ideas to the table,” Cameron says. The result? Each of the three levels in the house exudes a unique energy.
The opportunity to custom-build without a client enabled members of the design team to display their own stylistic leanings and creative eye for detail—something that is seen in everything from their choice of paint and fixtures to the artwork and furnishings adorning every room.
“We’ve studied what our clientele wants and we know what people like,” Cameron says.
Crestron smart home technology brings modernity to traditional elements, like the Lutron lighting system that learns daily routines, as well as speakers, water features and high-end security that are easy to manage both from home or away.
Niches, nooks and hidden passages add a touch of mystery, while making this home even more seamlessly functional, adding up to a property that truly stands out. And it’s already garnered the awards to prove it—from HAVAN’s Best Feature Award (for a built-in ice chest in the basement bar) and its Best Space Award (for the basement) to countless other nominations.
Enter the opulent oasis
Elements takes its name from the water, fire, earth and air features integrated throughout the home—starting in the front yard, where a water fountain sets the tone for tranquility.
The arched walnut doorway gives way to a majestic entry hall anchored by a custom curved glass staircase with walnut banisters. Marble floors are illuminated by a sparkling crystal chandelier.
To the left, a stately sitting room with a warm-walnut mantle welcomes guests. To the right, an elegant dining room shines with white marble floors (accented with black Calacatta) and dual crystal chandeliers.
Just past the staircase is the heart of the home; a great room offers both comfy respite and grandiose flair with marble walls and floor, and chandeliers in triplicate. While a TV and wet bar keep residents comfortably anchored, the neighbouring kitchen ensures sustenance is never far away.
Airy and bright in white and gold and glass and mirrors, the kitchen is a mecca for cuisiniers with its double fridges and dishwashers, triple sinks and an oversized range. And when help is on order, a hidden door to servers’ quarters makes satisfying guests seamless and stealthy.
This is clearly no everyday mess hall, with luxury touches like the French-style hood fan, built-in wine cooler, auto-lit pantry and an Urban Cultivator so fresh-grown herbs are always on hand.
Windows that allow for food to be passed outside and auto-sliding glass deck doors lead to the ultimate in heated patio seating and eating: a sizeable glassed-in deck with built-in Alfresco kitchen including barbecue, pizza oven, fridge, bar, waterproof TV and speakers, retractable roof awning and surrounding fire and water features that bring an exotic resort feeling to the backyard.
Get down and rest up
The resort ambience is echoed downstairs, where indoor recreation and fitness facilities are surrounded by an outdoor rock wall and cascading waterfall. But in stark contrast to the bright whites upstairs, this level is darker and decidedly more snug, with textured black plaster walls and walnut ceiling inlays adding an evening vibe to the backlit bar.
Deep teal banquet seating is flanked by twin fireplaces embedded in black marble walls. Across the room, bar seats with a front-row view of the pool in the adjoining room enable merrymakers to watch over their charges at play, while the retractable glass doors at the end of the rec room open onto the waterfall, which lights up at night and adds soothing ambient sound.
An adjoining wine room holds upwards of 500 bottles, while a soundproof media room down the hall features an 8K projector TV with theatre seating and Dolby’s Atmos surround-sound system. A gym with rubber floors made from recycled Nike shoes offers additional opportunities for fitness, while a guest bedroom provides ample space for a private retreat.
Four bedrooms upstairs round out the luxury accommodations with the ultimate pièce de résistance in the master bedroom: fully outfitted his-and-hers bathrooms and walk-in closets. The men’s closet features a steam unit for clothes while the women’s offers pullout storage for extra space. And in the bathroom, there’s a digital shower, aromatherapy tub, dome ceiling and private deck.
Here all the elements come together in a tour de force, breathing life and vitality into every moment, day and night.
More information is at: elementsestate.ca
水與火 天與地
四元素構建世外桃源
對於 T. Jones集團的夫妻檔Cameron Jones和Amanda Jones來說，要麼不做，要做就做到最好. 這一原則在今年初完成的獲獎地產項目Elements Estate上得到完美體現。
位於溫哥華Shaughnessy地區的這座豪宅目前標價兩千八百萬元，建築面積近一萬零八百平方尺，擁有七閒臥房，九個洗手間，處處體現奢華與舒適，散發出獨特的魅力及藝術氣息，堪稱都市中的世外桃源。
超大的壁爐，獨樹一幟的顔色，以及金色斑點的裝飾都爲屋內核心空間帶來華麗的色彩。而室內游泳池，熱水池以及紅外線桑拿等衆多娛樂設施，令主人和賓客可以盡情享受。
事實上，這是個聚會的好地方。好客的主人可以大顯身手，在室內和戶外廚房穿梭往來，招待賓客；廚房的天花板鑲有鏡子，可以映射出每一個難忘時刻；而廚房旁邊的服務區則爲私人聊天提供隱蔽空間。走進假山流水的後院，是帶有地暖的露臺，設有裝備齊全的戶外廚房，以及富有餐廳情調的明火墻，燃氣火炬，和可變換顔色的燈光與水景。還有帶有一間臥室的後巷屋，可用來招待客人或遠程辦公。
建築內每個細節都精益求精。從手工繪製的大理石威尼斯石膏墻和天花板，到橡木實木地板和裝飾品，嵌入式雕刻和對稱的圖案，以及照明，地毯和裝飾品，無不體現出設計施工的獨具匠心。
“我們找到這塊地皮，真的想全力以赴，”Cameron説道，“希望做到與衆不同。”
豪宅典範
T. Jones集團在溫哥華西區開發了200多個豪宅，其中，Elements Estate堪稱現代奢華住宅的典範。爲在高端設計與日常需求之間取得平衡，T. Jones集團與來自Sublime Interior Design的Geele Soroka共同確立概念並甄選材料。“大家群策群力，” Cameron 説，從而令這座三層房屋的每一層都散發出獨特魅力。
對設計團隊而言，客戶的全面放手爲他們提供前所未有的良機，從而大膽地發揮其創意，這在油漆，內部裝飾和陳設，甚至藝術品的選擇上都可以看得到。
“我們對客戶的需求做了充分研究，而且我們深知人們的喜好，” Cameron 説。
快思聰（Crestron）智能家居技術為房屋的傳統元素帶來現代感，比如路創（Lutron）照明系統可以配合主人的起居習慣；還有揚聲器，水控和保安系統等，讓主人無論是在家還是在外都可以輕易操控。
而壁龕，隱藏的角落與通道的設計不僅增添神秘感，讓房間之間更通暢，還令這座房屋在HA VAN的行業評比中脫穎而出，獲得多項提名。其中，地下室酒吧的內置冰櫃獲得最佳功能獎，地下室也獲得最佳空間獎。
世外桃源
以Elements冠名的莊園名副其實，水與火，天與地的元素處處可見。先從前院説起，噴泉為這座豪宅奠定了寧靜的基調。
穿過胡桃木拱形大門，進入高貴典雅的入口大廳。帶有胡桃木欄杆以及定製玻璃的弧形樓梯映入眼簾，大理石地板上則映射出閃閃發光的水晶吊燈。
左邊是莊嚴的客廳，鑲有胡桃木的壁爐讓客人倍感溫暖；右邊是餐廳，白色大理石地板（搭配黑色的Calacatta大理石）以及雙水晶吊燈更顯華美風範。
拾階而上，則是整座家庭的中心所在。這間可供休憩的房間配有宏偉的裝飾，大理石地板和墻壁以及三個水晶吊燈。如果説房間內的電視機和吧檯令主人倍感舒適，那隔壁的廚房則確保了生活上的便利。
廚房以白色和金色為主，玻璃和鏡子令房間通透明亮。再配上高端的雙冰箱，洗碗機，三個洗手池，以及超大多爐爐灶，可以説是美食家的聖地。需要幫手時，旁邊一扇隱藏的門方便援手進出，客人則毫無知曉。
顯然，這不是普通的廚房，豪華的設施包括法式抽油煙機，內置酒櫃，自動照明的食品儲藏室，以及可以常年種植並享受新鮮蔬菜的城市農夫（Urban Cultivator）配置機等。
穿過全自動的玻璃門，即通往鋪設了加熱系統的露臺，為賓客帶來獨特的就餐體驗。寬敞的露臺設有內置Alfresco廚房，包括燒烤，比薩烤箱，冰箱，酒吧，防水電視和揚聲器，還有可伸縮的屋頂遮篷以及可操控的水火裝置，為後院帶來富有異國風情的度假氛圍。
享樂天地
度假的氛圍在樓下更爲濃厚，室內健身休閒設施被室外的石牆和瀑布所環繞。與樓上明亮的白色形成鮮明對比的是，樓下光線更暗，更為舒適，帶有紋理的黑色石膏牆和胡桃木天花板更為酒吧增添夜晚的氛圍。
深青色宴會椅的兩側是嵌在黑色大理石牆上的壁爐。坐在酒吧座椅上，隔壁游泳池的景色一覽無遺，讓縱情享受的賓客可以兼顧池內嬉戲的孩子。娛樂室盡頭是可伸縮的玻璃門，門外流水潺潺，當夜幕降臨，燈光以及瀑布的水聲營造出獨特的意境。
隔壁則是可珍藏超過500瓶美酒的酒屋，以及帶有隔音裝置的媒體室，配有劇院座位，8K投影電視和杜比Atmos環繞聲系統。健身房內的橡膠地板是利用回收耐克鞋子所製成，為健身者提供更多空間。悉心設立的一間臥室則為需要休息的賓客提供私隱空間。
樓上，四間臥室盡顯奢華，主臥室更提供了極致享受：設施齊備的浴室和步入式衣櫥；男士壁櫥中提供蒸汽熨燙設施，女士壁櫥中則有抽拉式儲物空間，可容納更多用品。浴室配有數碼淋浴，香薰浴缸，還有一個圓頂天花板，以及隱蔽的露臺。
在這裡，所有元素融為一體，時時刻刻注入生命和活力，生生不息。
A home for the ages