Bell Lane

A perpetual vacation

This place is magical. With expansive views of the Annapolis Valley, this property boasts remnants of a 100+ year old farm including a magnolia tree, wild apple trees and a tree-lined meadow. This breathtaking property is surrounded by acres of forest providing ultimate privacy.

We envisioned this house as a perch for our clients to watch the light play across the valley below. The most important spaces in the home overlook the view, and our homeowners have the great fortune of waking up each morning as the golden sun begins to illuminate the landscape around them.

A view of a house with a small wooden porch overlooking a green field and countryside, with a cloudy sky overhead.
Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a navy blue island, pendant lighting, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, and a hexagon tile backsplash.

This home was sustainably designed using Passive House principles. Central to Passive House standards are large south-facing windows with minimal glass on the north side. But this property has a showstopping north view. The solution: We altered the topography of the land, creating a bowl-shaped microclimate near the south-facing entry of the home. It is here that the house collects heat from the sun. The spacious entry is glass-filled to maximize the solar gains, which offsets the large north-facing glass opposite it.

A modern bathroom with a freestanding bathtub in front of a large window overlooking greenery, marble walls, a wooden ladder towel rack, a small shelf with plants and seashells, a dark green cabinet, and a white fluffy rug on wooden floor.
A blue two-story house with large glass doors and windows, surrounded by a green lawn and garden with pink flowers, trees in the background, and a cloudy sky.
Modern dining room with wooden table, pink chairs, a bench, large windows with a view of trees, and indoor plants.

With visions of leaving the bustle of the city behind, our yoga-music-loving clients wanted this house to be sized just right for them. The main floor consists of an open concept living room, dining room and kitchen. With a passion for the cooking, our clients wanted the moderately-sized kitchen to be well-functioning with large pantry. The acoustically-sound main floor master bedroom is a serene retreat, with luxurious ensuite and walk-in closet. It is positioned on the east end of the home to capture the exquisite morning light.

Sunlit living room with wooden walls, large windows showing green trees outside, a white sofa with dark blue pillows, a patterned black and white rug, a tan pouf, and potted plants near the door.
A modern bathroom with a marble tiled shower area, a ladder-style towel rack with white towels, a large round white bathtub in the foreground, and a white wall with hooks and a hanging towel.

Though not among the original requests from our clients, the enclosed screen porch, which faces north-west, is now their favourite room in the house. The homeowners spend many hours in this space watching the sun set.

Three distinct rooms make up the upper floor of this home – a guest bedroom, a fitness/yoga room and a music space. An attached garage on the west side of the property buffers the home from passersby.

Location: Nova Scotia
Type: New Residential Construction
Builder: Bentley Built Homes
Photography: Matthew Rodgers

A bedroom with a bed, large glass doors, and windows showing a scenic outdoor view of trees and fields.
Bright corner of a room with a large window, wooden floor, a bookshelf with plants and books, a round rattan chair with a cushion, a small side table, an orange pouf, and a section of staircase with a wooden handrail and black balusters.