Sambro Creek

A small wonder tucked away in the forest.

Sambro Creek is a 1,500 square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home tucked into a quiet spot in the woods with distant ocean views.

The homeowners – one an early bird and the other a night owl – both grew up in prairie towns and wanted to build a home to truly enjoy the nature surrounding it. They were drawn to this property for its proximity to the beach, the space for their dog to roam, and the smell of fresh ocean air.

Modern wood-and-black-clad gable house with porch in a forested setting under a blue sky

This modern, energy efficient home features an open-concept, double-height living area and functional kitchen located under the second-floor loft lounge space. Though compact in size, this home is thoughtfully designed to use every square inch of space including a full pantry which fits under the primary staircase.

The Scandinavian-style aesthetic, with white walls, concrete floors and wood accents, creates a beautiful backdrop for the patterns of light and shadow that filter through trees into the home on sunny days. The views of the forest are the true focal point of the space. The premise behind the aesthetic is rugged and natural (rather than cute). The spaces were designed to be uplifting, calm and relaxing.

Bright modern living room with a wood-burning stove, gray sofa, armchair, coffee table, houseplant, and large forest-view windows
Bright modern dining and living room with wood table, chairs, large windows, forest views, blue sofa, fireplace, and indoor plant
Bright modern open-plan living room and kitchen with a wood-burning stove, blue sectional sofa, white cabinets, island seating, pendant lights, and indoor plant.
Modern interior staircase with dark wood steps, black metal railing, exposed beams, and a skylight
Open white door revealing a modern bedroom with a neatly made bed, blue and yellow pillows, ocean artwork, and a potted plant.

Though performance does not quite meet Passive House targets, the home has been expertly designed following Passive House principles, including triple pane PHIUS certified windows from Kohltech, a high performance HRV, and super insulation with R-34 slab, R-31 walls and R-80 for the roof.  

Location: Sambro Creek, Nova Scotia 
Type: New Build High Performance House 
Builder: Sunbuilt Contracting
Windows & Doors: Kohltech, Marvin
Photography: Matthew Rodgers

Modern wood-sided house with large black-framed windows, metal roof, and potted flowers under a blue sky
Modern wood cabin with a deck, outdoor chairs, stacked firewood, and forest trees under a partly cloudy blue sky