In Progress....

It has been such a busy summer! I have recently completed six different projects in homes across the lower mainland. I just need to find the time to photograph them! Here are a couple of shots of a Dunbar home still under renovation - I have created a mud room/laundry room out of lower level bedroom. I have re-created a master bathroom with more contemporary materials used in a traditonal style and I am still working on three other bathrooms in this home.

Recent Project - Southlands Updated

I finally made it back to take a few more pictures of the Southlands home I completed construction on last year. Furniture has been added, and the family has had time to move back in, digest the changes and start looking forward to a few more finishing touches. Still coming will be drapery, small tables, a large mirror for the entry and a few more accessories. The furniture is a combination of antiques refinished and upholstered and newly collected pieces.

These chairs were custom designed - the seat and back are a large scale modern monochrome floral and the frame is a silvery gold vinyl.

The coffee table was a great find - we needed something large to bring the room together and this mirrored metal piece from Liberty was perfect!

Love the dining room light fixture - black solid shade lined with light gold metal. The table belonged to the client and was refinished along with the chairs which were also reupholstered. I selected a black and white contemporary fabric to tie in with the living room chairs.

The following pictures are of the kitchen. This was fun - the backsplash is a combination of stainless steel and light olive glass elongated subway tile, the counter is Calacutta Gold Marble, the cabinets have a painted finish in cloud white, the floor is limestone which is carried through out the entry, hallway and bathroom as well.

This lower counter surface does double duty - it can be used for baking when needed, but I designed it to be a computer desk on a daily basis. The rollout file drawer is a seperate piece, and the desk was designed like a harvest table and can be moved as well if needed.

Custom doors were created for the entry - they allow light and greenery from the front courtyard to be seen through to the kitchen. The light fixture is blown Murano glass and casts a beautiful patterned shadow across the ceiling in the evening.

The main bathroom was reconfigured to allow for a little more space. The niche where the new vanity and tower are located used to be a closet in the homeowner's son's room. Claiming this space for the bathroom makes it easier for two people to be in there at the same time. The tub was removed and a frameless glass shower put in its place. The limestone from the floor was cut to a small subway for the shower floor and large sheets were used for the walls. The toilet is wall mounted with the tank concealed in the wall - this achieved by framing out the wall a couple of extra inches.

The master bedroom is now a relaxing quiet space thanks to the serene colour scheme. The headboard was custom designed - upholstered in a blue/gray silk dupioni which was then slip covered in a luxurious charcoal light weight wool. This allows the homeowner to have two different looks.

Recent Project - Pied a terre

This is a garden suite in Kitsilano north of 4th. One of three suites in a triplex by Living Ventures. It is just under 600 square feet with ample storage, a great size kitchen, and a murphy bed. Despite its sub grade location, this suite gets tons of light. The warm colours and bold furniture make the space live large.

Recent Project - Triplex on Vancouver Westside

I have been working with Living Ventures on this project since the purchase of the land last year. Starting with the builder and the initial architectural drawings I completed design and specifications for three individual homes. The following pictures are of the South Unit which I also partially staged last week before it goes on the market on Monday.

This is the kitchen - huge kitchen! All the millwork is custom designed for the space, the counters are caesarstone, extra large single sink, 36" wide range, hidden hood fan, etc...

Love this picture - through the back of a Ghost Chair.

Random Light by Mooi

Living room

Powder Room

Master Ensuite

Recent Project - Custom Furniture

One of my favourite parts of my work is creating custom furniture pieces for my clients. Sometimes you just can't find that perfect item in the right size or right fabric/finish. This is where our local and very talented custom furniture builders come in handy! Besides getting exactly what the client is looking for, by custom building you are supporting the local economy and being a little more earth friendly by not shipping from across the country or the globe!

Here is a picture of an ottoman I created for a West Vancouver client's family room. The ottoman is 48" x 60" and upholstered in leather to best withstand the everyday activities of a home with four children. The shelf underneath is perfect for books, magazines and games. Drinks can be set in the center built in tray, and the upholstery is firm enough to set a plate on, yet comfortable enough to grab a seat or put your feet up!

This chaise lounge was custom made for a West Vancouver client's home - I needed a piece that could float in the center of the living room, look good from all sides, and not take up too much space visually. At the same time, it also needed to be comfortable so the correct height and angle of the ends was very important.

This is a walnut entry console designed for a West Vancouver client. The space available for this piece was very specific in its depth and width. The panelling on the walls also determined the best height. Walnut was selected to coordinate with the flooring through out the home.

This is a fabulous love seat! My client had this sitting outside undercover on a lower deck behind her West Vancouver home. I took it to a refinisher and had the frame repaired and refinished a dark chocolate colour, and then to my upholsterer to be recovered in this luxurious smoky purple velvet. Re-upholstering is a great idea if you have a well made piece of furniture - it is possible to really change the look by altering the back, the arms, the cushion style and the legs.

The golden stripe chairs are also custom made - the starting point for this room was the area rug which was already part of my client's collection. I worked with the colours in this rug to create a new look for the room.

Recent Project - False Creek Condo

This is the kitchen in a home I recently completed in False Creek. The owner is thrilled with the results. When she purchased this condo, the kitchen was a galley divided from the rest of the dining and living room with a pass thru window.

The walls were removed, ceilings refinished, new lighting installed, new cabinets, counters, appliances and backsplash. Floors through out were replaced with a beautiful charcoal stained white rift cut oak. All walls were painted - some white (same colour as baseboards) and others dark gray.

This renovation was such a success not only because of the materials selected but also because it met the owner's budget and exceeded her expectations. The cabinets are from Ikea - but are professionally constructed and installed. The cost savings by not ordering custom millwork left more money for the counters and backsplash. The counters are Ceasarstone - concrete colour, and the backsplash is a combination of marble and glass. Taking the backsplash up above the hood fan helps to create a feeling of height in the kitchen.

2008 Project - Southlands home...

Here are a couple of pictures of a Southlands home I have recently finished. The entire main floor was gutted and rebuilt in 7 weeks. I will post more photos when the rooms are complete - the construction is done but we are still waiting on furniture, rugs, lighting and blinds.

This first photo is the front foyer - new doors, side light, limestone flooring, Italian lighting, paint, crown, baseboard, stair rail system...

Here is one picture of the kitchen - linear farm sink, baby chef faucet, calcutta marble counters, glass subway backsplash, shaker cabinets in cloud white.

A couple of pictures of the bathroom... love the limestone, full shower, and the wall hung toilet!

2008 Project - West Vancouver Home

Here are a few pictures of a project I completed in Dundarave. This home was featured in the September issue of BC Home magazine. It is job I completed last year with one of my favorite clients Sue. She and her husband purchased a new condo as an empty concrete shell and I designed the kitchen & bathroom as well as picking all the finishes and working with my client on the furniture!