This article is from the spring 2025 edition of Coast Life magazine.
Pat de Lyzer says while walking the beach outside her home, she’s often in awe of the view.
“Some mornings when I’m walking my dog down on the beach, I just stand there and it’s like I’ve gone to an art gallery, because every five minutes the sky changes and the clouds change and the colours change,” says Pat. “It’s like somebody just puts up a new painting every five minutes and that natural beauty is overwhelming. And then this morning, for example, I came downstairs—I rise early so it was dark—and I couldn’t understand why it was so bright in the house and it was the moon. The moon lit up the entire room.”
Pat lives in the 1,955-square-foot end unit of a fourplex located on Wakefield Beach Lane, which she purchased with her husband in 2020. She adds, the panoramic view from their large, sundrenched deck is also so spectacular, even reading a book can be difficult.
“I stop reading and just stare at the scenery. We had a very stormy November, which is great when you’re sitting and can watch it come across the water. It’s actually stunning,” Pat says. “The storm action is one of the phenomenal things about the ever-changing sky. It’s lovely, but it can’t be captured on film because I don’t have wonderful photography equipment.”
And, it’s not just sunsets Pat and her family watch from the deck.
“We watch whales and dolphins. We’ve had orcas and gray whales and I’ve been in a kayak when a gray whale went by. That was a little scary, but exciting at the same time because we heard him before we saw him,” says Pat. “And then he came up again. It was amazing.”
Pat admits it would be much harder to move and leave that breathtaking view if it wasn’t for the fact she and her family are moving into a home more suited to their multigenerational needs, just two blocks away.
“We love it here. I love my home, but we’ll still have that beautiful panoramic view.”
And, what’s not to love. Besides the floor-to-ceiling windows, the main level of this unique four-bedroom townhome boasts open-plan living at its best, with exposed wood beams, cozy, stone-faced gas fireplace and a stunning gourmet kitchen Pat re-envisioned herself.
The couple replaced the kitchen cabinets with a more modern, lux version, while adding a sleek waterfall island and a stone countertop backsplash, which rises up to meet the bottom of the cupboards for a seamless look.
The updated appliances are every home cook’s dream and the open concept kitchen, dining area and living room with access to the spacious deck, make it ideal for entertaining family and friends — or baking cookies with the grandkids. They also installed more hardwood for cleaner lines and to add to the casual elegance of the home.
“I describe the look as a modern, coastal vibe,” says Pat.
The couple also updated the three bathrooms by replacing the tile and raising the countertops in the ensuite from 32 inches to 36. Combined with the larger showers they had installed, the washrooms are reminiscent of a luxury hotel.
Pat notes that attention to detail carries throughout the home, even as far as the walk-in closet in the ensuite, which includes professional organizing options. The main bedroom is 400 square feet, offering the same sweeping views as the living area.
Of course, no contemporary home would be complete without smart features, so modern additions to the home include geothermal heating and cooling, a smart thermostat and upgraded alarm system. The couple also installed an electric car charger in the single-car garage, which is also large enough to store toys, such as kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Families needing more space for kayaks also have the option of storing them at the beach, a common practice on the Sunshine Coast, famous for its water and beach access.
Despite the home’s high-end finishings, Pat says it’s really just a comfortable space, where in the summer grandkids are hanging out in their bathing suits and the family barbecues on the deck. Of course, living on the Coast means visitors year-round. Pat says the home was clearly made for such occasions, including what’s been dubbed the den/TV room, which comes complete with a Murphy bed.
“We had 13 people for our Christmas weekend and it was very comfortable,” she says. “It was 11 adults and two teenagers and with the three bathrooms and four bedrooms it worked well. That’s the type of living I like. The more people who come for the weekend, the happier I am.”
Pat notes their family loves to swim at the beach in the summer, especially from a sandbar located off the end of Mason Road. She adds, a bonus of living on the water is that all they have to do in order to check the condition of the ocean before heading out to swim, kayak or paddle board, is take a look out from the deck.
She adds, one of the joys of living on the Coast and in the Wakefield waterfront community, is everyone is so friendly.
“It’s a great community. It’s a nice size. People are so friendly, there is something about coastal people. We still help our neighbors,” says Pat. “And you know, the recent snowstorm was a perfect example. Everybody just checks on everybody and makes sure they have supplies. And people still stop to let somebody cross the street. It’s wonderful.”
Realtor Sue Scott, who is handling the listing on behalf of Engel & Völkers Vancouver, describes the home as a great example of how to successfully update an interior to current design standards and aesthetics.
“The owners have done an amazing job of updating this large end unit to maximize views, design, functionality and storage,” says Scott. “I have loved this award-winning development since its inception — sexy design, beautiful timbers, green, sustainable building standards, all in a fantastic waterfront community with stunning views of the Trail Islands and the whales that frequently pass by. A perfect lock-and-go home for snowbirds, weekenders and digital nomads.”
