My Houzz: Quirky, Colorful Vancouver Heritage Home
Wallpapered stair risers, a striped lime-green ceiling and creative artwork are just the beginning in this designer's 1910 home in Canada
Houzz home tour contributor. I call the rainy coasts of the Pacific Northwest home and couldn't imagine living away from the mountains or ocean. I'm constantly on the fence between city and country. Subsequently, my style varies from clean and contemporary to cabin in the woods. I have a passion for design, photography and the built environment.
Houzz home tour contributor. I call the rainy coasts of the Pacific Northwest... More »
Found treasures inspire designer Jennifer Scott. "Vintage pieces offer so much character, and I love repurposing and reloving an old find," she says. The founder of interior design fashion consulting studio A Good Chick To Know, Scott approaches interior and wardrobe styling projects in the same way — blending vintage with new. Naturally her family home, which dates to the early 20th century, has become a place for her to showcase and experiment with her keen eye and flair for the found.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jennifer and Trevor Scott and their daughter, Sienna
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Size: 1,600 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Built in: 1910
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jennifer and Trevor Scott and their daughter, Sienna
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Size: 1,600 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Built in: 1910
by Megan Buchanan
»
"I'm supernosy and love seeing other people's ideas, so I'm always hitting up open houses even if I'm not in the market," Scott says. She and her family had just sold their previous house and were looking to rent a space in the area for a few years. "Three days after we closed on our previous place, we popped into an open house and bought it," she says. "We knew it would be a lovely place to raise our daughter and spend some time."
by Megan Buchanan
»
The previous homeowners had renovated the main living areas of the house, so when the family moved in, they didn't have to make very many structural changes. "We simply added paint and wallpaper," Scott says. In the front entryway, she chose a bright floral metallic pattern to set the tone for the rest of the house.
Wallpaper: Layers&Layers, Anne Starr Agencies
Wallpaper: Layers&Layers, Anne Starr Agencies
by Megan Buchanan
»
Scott used leftover wallpaper from projects to creatively spruce up the stair risers. She added vintage address numbers as a fun way for her daughter Sienna to interact with the space while she is learning to count.
She's not finished painting and wallpapering. "By the time I finish, I’ll likely want to change it all again," she says. "That’s the trouble with designing homes for a living: I see so many cool concepts and things I want to try, that as soon as I’ve done it I’m ready to move on to the next."
She's not finished painting and wallpapering. "By the time I finish, I’ll likely want to change it all again," she says. "That’s the trouble with designing homes for a living: I see so many cool concepts and things I want to try, that as soon as I’ve done it I’m ready to move on to the next."
by Megan Buchanan
»
"The biggest challenge I faced living in this home was the structured room setup," Scott says. Homes from 1910 tend to have smaller rooms with many walls and doorways, so there were only one or two options for furniture layout. "I have a new idea every week and would love to rearrange the space regularly," she says.
It was a challenge to make the layout work, since their couch or bed could only go in one place. "I compensate for that by constantly swapping out accessories or textiles to change the feel of the room," says Scott.
It was a challenge to make the layout work, since their couch or bed could only go in one place. "I compensate for that by constantly swapping out accessories or textiles to change the feel of the room," says Scott.
by Megan Buchanan
»
In Sienna's bedroom, Scott used a fresh color scheme and painted playful stripes on the ceiling. The sleek wood-frame bed is a Craigslist find, and the mirrored disco ball reflects patterns of light throughout the room.
Curtains: Stockholm Blad, Ikea
Curtains: Stockholm Blad, Ikea
|
by Megan Buchanan
»
|
| Downstairs, Scott created a playspace for her little one to work on creative projects of her own. The old school desk — now seating an oversize stuffed animal — was a great garage sale score. Shelving: Expedit, Ikea |
|
by Megan Buchanan
»
|
| The living room is the first space that greets visitors entering the home. The playful, styled space is Scott's favorite room in the house. "We have a family room and play area downstairs to keep my husband and daughter happy. I love this space because I get to put my favorite finds and furniture in it," she says. One of Scott's prized home pieces is this France & Son couch. "If ever there was a fire, I guess I can’t really just grab a couch, but that couch would be the first thing I’d get out somehow!" she says. |
by Megan Buchanan
»
With the exception of her daughter’s room, Scott kept the overall color palette for the walls neutral, adding in color through bright vintage art and accessories, like this airplane print. The vintage tan lounge chair is another of Scott's favorite furniture pieces.
by Megan Buchanan
»
The formal living space adjacent to the entry reflects Scott's mix and match design style. "My motto when styling a space is to play with color, scale and pieces you love," she says. "Key pieces showcasing your personality and that have a story are the best way to decorate."
Two stainless shelving units on both sides of the window house a record collection, and a refurbished record player sits on top of an antique trunk. A framed neon pink Elvis print reads, "hunka-hunka-burnin-love."
Two stainless shelving units on both sides of the window house a record collection, and a refurbished record player sits on top of an antique trunk. A framed neon pink Elvis print reads, "hunka-hunka-burnin-love."
by Megan Buchanan
»
by Megan Buchanan
»
Original built-in cabinets with glass doors contrast a modern light fixture in the dining room. Patterned drapes in a citrus hue help to tie in the orange of the pendant lamp.
by Megan Buchanan
»
Scott says she would love to splurge on heated, polished concrete floors throughout the house. Also, while she enjoys her contemporary kitchen, she would love to redesign it in a more industrial style.
by Megan Buchanan
»
The bathroom features a stylish black and white clawfoot tub, original to the home. A graphic shower curtain, cool marble flooring and subway tiles complement the monochromatic color scheme.
|
by Megan Buchanan
»
|
| Scott reinserted a stairway to the basement level to create a larger family room and home office. The space functions as the primary TV and lounge area. Original large-format photographs serve as a focal point in the space above a tufted leather sectional. "The mini Eames-inspired rocker was too cute to resist," says Scott. |
by Megan Buchanan
»
A chandelier, furniture and artwork make the patio feel more like a second living room. The family enjoys evening cocktails and quiet morning coffees out here. The large toucan painting was a surprise find near a Dumpster.
|
by Megan Buchanan
»
|
| Stairs from the patio lead down into a beautiful backyard. Lane access at the back of the home and into the garage is a storage bonus as well as a space to keep the couple's motorcycles. LED wrap lighting illuminates the largest tree in the yard, creating a nice ambience in the evenings. A retreatlike seating area with a water feature was created among the lush bamboo, rhododendrons and wild flowers. "I spent five years in Toronto, and I absolutely missed the natural beauty of Vancouver," Scott says. "I also love the keen, growing art and design culture we have here. There’s such a creative, supportive community of people who want it to grow — it’s inspiring." |
Ideabook updated on June 9, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
http://www.casartcoverings.com/creative.html
- http://www.metropolitandecor.com/Ferm-Living.html
Also,I'm just sick,sick,sick of midcentury modern !
But...not so sure about the garden, looks like it was turned over to another party?
The stair risers are great and Sienna's room is awesome! It's fun to see a quirky un-perfect house on houzz!
I can not even tell you how much I love it. It's magical, heart warming and unusual.
People who can not see how clever everything falls into pieces must not have imagination whatsoever.
If you like dull and cold - no problem...You won't find it here.
You are one lucky family coming home to such a chic yet homey place. This house must be very grateful for making it young again...
Oh and wallpaper in the hall? Spot on...If somebody doesn't like it - I will gladly take it ;)
Some things you simply need to feel. And if you don't - that is totally fine as well.
With design I think it's absolutely normal and common.
There is something that bothers you about this certain arrangement and it is fine - just accept that you dislike it and the fact that others actually connected with it.
Just as you can not tell me exactly what your issue might be with it - I can not tell you exactly what grabbed my heart. (Well I could, but who cares...)
That's really cool actually - otherwise we would live in exactly same houses and we would have to like it...