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The first, most striking feature of the property at 800 Taylor Road on Bowen Island is its sky-high peaked timber frame roof that sits atop 5,349 square feet of custom-built oceanview luxury.

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The second-most impressive elements are the 2,400 square feet of covered decks and patios sprawled over two levels. The main floor’s expansive deck with built-in fireplace and two Bromic built-in heaters, built-in barbecue, bar fridge, counter space and cupboards allow for year-round outdoor entertaining.

Property Watch: Ocean-view Bowen Island home’s expansive decks are perfect for year-round outdoor entertaining Back to video

The third-most striking feature is the 180-degree view over Howe Sound, coastal mountains, and the mainland. The current owners say they often spot surfacing whales and seals, as well as eagles soaring by at eye level.

And then there are the deer who pick their way down from the mountainside behind to nibble the green grass of the property’s front lawn.

What’s inside

The home’s accordion-type door opens up to create a smooth flow from the kitchen and dining room straight out onto the spacious porcelain-tile deck for indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Kitchen amenities include custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, Thermador appliances, a Wolf built-in espresso/coffee unit, a wine fridge and an attached, reclaimed fir six-seat dining table that stays with the house. Another larger dining table made of live edge monkeypod/raintree/suar wood can be negotiated as part of a furniture package.

Spread out over the engineered hickory flooring with radiant heating throughout are four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a living room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace that extends horizontally to accommodate a built-in TV.

The oceanview primary bedroom with patio has a propane fireplace with built-in TV, bright spacious primary ensuite with a large shower, soaker tub, double sinks and, in behind, a roomy walk-in closet.

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The main floor powder room, says listing agent Barry Thomas of West Vancouver’s Macdonald Realty, grabs a lot of attention from potential buyers. “There’s a copper sink and a full, floor-to-ceiling slate wall, which is reversed on the other side going up the stairwell to the loft area, which also features a bedroom and three-piece bathroom.”

Downstairs, two brick walls flank the games room, one surrounding a wood-burning fireplace (the fireplaces in the primary, living room and outdoor entertainment deck are all propane, says Thomas, as Bowen Island doesn’t have natural gas). Both the games room, which features a wet bar, and a bedroom lead out onto the covered flagstone patio where there’s a hot tub and fire pit.

“This home is a vertical two acres on a slope,” says Thomas explaining the lack of a large yard. “It’s primarily about the living space and the outdoor decks and patios. There’s a bit of a grassy area and the flat area of the driveway (with a three-car garage). It’s really about scaling back the gardening component of the lifestyle and having flowerpots and box gardens and really enjoying the entertaining versus becoming a slave to your property. That’s why it’s appealing to empty nesters in particular — they’ve already paid their dues with gardening and landscaping. They like the idea of low maintenance.”

He says what struck him overall about the home is its “sheer magnificence. It’s quite grand. It’s 5,349 square feet with soaring 24-foot timber frame cathedral ceilings, but when you’re in the home it doesn’t feel oversized. It’s quite warm and cosy and has a really lovely feel about it.”

He says that, in addition to interest from empty nesters who value the lower-level guest rooms for visiting family, he’s getting calls from Canadians living in the U.S. who are contemplating a return. “They want to be close to an international airport without necessarily living in Vancouver.”

In the neighbourhood

Built in 2017, the home is in the prestigious Queen Charlotte Heights subdivision, a quiet, scenic hillside above the main harbour on the east side of Bowen Island. It’s a quick 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver.

Amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacy, a new medical centre, and community centre are all in Snug Cove, less than a five-minute drive away.

Private and public schools are nearby, as are a marina and the Bowen Island Golf Club. Plenty of parks, including Crippen Regional Park, Cates Hill Nature Park, and Singing Woods Nature Reserve are a short drive away.

Since Bowen is an island just 12 km long and six km wide with 37 km of coastline, there are, of course, many beaches within a short drive, including Sandy Beach and Pebbly Beach near Snug Cove. September Morn Beach, a popular spot for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding, is just a 20-minute walk away from the property.

Listed for: $3,195,000

Year built: 2017

Type: Four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms

Size: 5,349 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Barry Thomas, Macdonald Realty, West Vancouver