The Inlet – Custom Oceanfront Home in Chemainus

Set along the shoreline in Chemainus, The Inlet is a timeless oceanfront residence designed to feel both grounded and expansive.

Before construction began, the original home on the property was carefully removed, making way for a new custom residence shaped around the shoreline, the views, and the family’s vision for coming home.

The completed 3,733-square-foot home is designed around its connection to the water. Expansive windows frame views across Stuart Channel, while open living spaces, warm natural finishes and generous outdoor areas create a home that feels relaxed, refined and distinctly West Coast.

With five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a main-floor primary suite, office, gym and rec room, The Inlet was designed to balance everyday family life with space for gathering and entertaining.

A Coastal Home Designed for Connection

The main floor is organized around a generous living, dining, and kitchen area that opens to outdoor spaces on both sides of the home. Large windows and patio doors bring natural light into the heart of the home while creating a strong visual connection to the waterfront setting.

The primary bedroom suite is located on the main floor, offering a private retreat with a walk-in closet and ensuite. Nearby, the living room, dining area, and kitchen create a warm central gathering space, while the office, laundry, entry foyer, and attached garage support the practical rhythm of daily life.

A series of open patios, covered patios, and a covered entry create layered outdoor living spaces, offering places to gather, relax, and take in the coastal surroundings throughout the seasons.

Oceanfront Living in Chemainus

The Inlet sits on an oceanfront property fronting Stuart Channel, with the broader Salish Sea beyond. The site has private foreshore frontage and private moorage, making the home especially connected to its waterfront setting.

This is a home designed to belong to the coast. Its form, materials, and layout work together to create a sense of permanence, a home that feels settled into the land while still opening outward to the view.

Timeless West Coast Character

The exterior design combines classic coastal forms with durable West Coast materials. The plans include standing seam metal roofing, fibre cement lap siding, fibre cement shingle, fibre cement panels, stone veneer with stone cap, painted wood detailing, timber posts, and T&G wood soffits. Together, these elements give the home a timeless, substantial feel while maintaining a refined coastal character.

The varied rooflines, gable details, covered outdoor areas, and stone accents help create a residence that feels both elegant and approachable, a true oceanfront family home.

Designed for Family and Guests

The second floor includes four additional bedrooms, including a guest room with its own guest bath, plus a rec room, main bath, storage, and a long hall with a window seat. This upper level gives the home flexibility for family, guests, and quiet retreat spaces, while keeping the main floor focused on gathering, views, and everyday living.

From the main-floor primary suite to the upstairs guest spaces, The Inlet is designed to feel welcoming at every scale, whether it is a quiet morning by the water or a full house of family and friends.

Front exterior of The Inlet custom home in Chemainus

Aerial view of The Inlet custom home overlooking the ocean in Chemainus

The Inlet oceanfront custom home in Chemainus, BC at sunset

Three-car garage and modern exterior of The Inlet custom home

Aerial view of The Inlet and its waterfront setting in Chemainus

Covered front entry of The Inlet custom home in Chemainus

Open-concept great room and custom kitchen overlooking the ocean

Covered outdoor living area with wood ceiling at The Inlet

Custom kitchen with wood island, white cabinetry and ocean views

Custom wood and white kitchen with ocean views at The Inlet

Front entrance with lots of natural light, wood flooring and glass doors.

Outdoor patio with large sliding glass doors at The Inlet

Custom wood and white kitchen cabinetry with large centre island

Custom beverage bar with wood cabinetry, floating shelves and tile backsplash

Ocean views through large black-framed windows in The Inlet kitchen

Great room with stone fireplace, custom built-ins and ocean view

Expansive upper-level deck with glass railings overlooking the ocean and surrounding islands.

Bright waterfront bedroom with large black-framed windows overlooking the ocean and surrounding trees.

Custom staircase with oak handrails, black metal balusters and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling window.

Primary ensuite with freestanding tub, black-framed window, glass shower and brass pendant light.

Light-filled primary bathroom with skylights, freestanding tub, glass shower and natural wood double vanity.

Modern waterfront custom home with contrasting white and dark siding, multiple gables and expansive windows.

Finished garage with black glass-panel doors, polished concrete floor and views toward the waterfront.

Bright secondary bathroom with white vanity, stone-look tile, bathtub and black-framed window.

Sculptural pendant lights, round brass mirror and glossy dark tile create a dramatic powder room.

Aerial view of a waterfront property with a custom home, rocky shoreline, private dock and surrounding forest.

Black-framed awning window set into white board-and-batten siding beneath a warm wood soffit.

Natural wood double vanity with dark countertop, black fixtures and an oversized wall mirror.

Rustic live-edge wood mantel against large-format dark stone fireplace tile in a modern waterfront home.

Moody powder room featuring a floor-to-ceiling mountain landscape mural in soft blue and sunset tones.

Large black-framed sliding glass doors frame an expansive ocean view from inside the waterfront home.

Vancouver island custom home design rendering

Large family home on Vancouver Island rendering

Thinking about building a custom home on Vancouver Island?

The Inlet is an example of what can happen when thoughtful design, careful planning and experienced construction come together around an exceptional property.

Whether you’re building on the waterfront, an acreage or a challenging site, our team can help guide your project from the earliest planning stages through construction and completion.

Start a conversation about your custom home → Contact us today.

Project Highlights

Location: Chemainus / North Cowichan, BC
Project Type: Custom oceanfront luxury home
Living Area: 3,733 sq. ft.
Garage: 956 sq. ft.
Total Building Area: 4,689 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3.5
Key Features: Oceanfront property, Salish Sea views, Stuart Channel frontage, private moorage, main-floor primary suite, open-concept living, gym space, office, rec room, covered patio, open patios, attached garage, timeless West Coast exterior
Hashtag: #TheInletCustomHome