East Coast Traditional Meets West Coast Modern
A designer blends styles to create inviting interiors in a home on Canada’s Newfoundland island
These homeowners appreciated the traditional architectural style of their hometown of St. John’s, a centuries-old city on Newfoundland island, in Canada’s easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador. But they had lived for years in Vancouver, British Columbia, where they had grown to love the more streamlined style of Canada’s west coast. After they returned to St. John’s and were ready to remodel their home there, they sought out North Vancouver designer Lori Steeves, whom they knew through family and friends. Steeves visited their home at the start of the project and then worked with them remotely.
“They had loved their time in Vancouver and really connected to a lot of the more streamlined design style there,” Steeves says. “They were keen to have some west coast influence in the new design for their home.” The wife also adored the gardens surrounding the house and wanted them to play a central role in the design. She hoped to highlight views and bring the outdoors in through color and pattern. Steeves responded with a transitional approach that blends colorful, traditional Newfoundland elements with neutral, streamlined Vancouver influences and nature-inspired details.
“They had loved their time in Vancouver and really connected to a lot of the more streamlined design style there,” Steeves says. “They were keen to have some west coast influence in the new design for their home.” The wife also adored the gardens surrounding the house and wanted them to play a central role in the design. She hoped to highlight views and bring the outdoors in through color and pattern. Steeves responded with a transitional approach that blends colorful, traditional Newfoundland elements with neutral, streamlined Vancouver influences and nature-inspired details.
Before Photo
Before: On the opposite side of the front entry door, this area reflected the home’s previous renovation from about 20 years ago. “It was a lovely remodel,” Steeves says. “It simply had been a long time and needed freshening up.”
Spaces such as the kitchen and bathrooms were taken down to the studs, while rooms like the dining room and piano room received cosmetic refreshes.
Spaces such as the kitchen and bathrooms were taken down to the studs, while rooms like the dining room and piano room received cosmetic refreshes.
After: This view helps orient the layout. The back entry sits at the far end of the hallway, while the dining room is accessed through an opening to the left of the console table. Two openings lead to the kitchen — one to the right of the console and another farther down the hall. The latter is new and significantly improved circulation throughout the home.
New white oak flooring runs continuously through the house, creating a lighter, more cohesive look. Its pale tone also allowed Steeves to layer in additional wood finishes without visual heaviness. She further brightened the space by updating the staircase, including the newel post, handrail, risers, treads and runner.
Showcasing the homeowners’ art collection, which features works from across Canada, was another design priority. The piece seen here is by a Quebecois artist, and Steeves echoed its tones with a rust-colored bench placed beneath the console table.
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New white oak flooring runs continuously through the house, creating a lighter, more cohesive look. Its pale tone also allowed Steeves to layer in additional wood finishes without visual heaviness. She further brightened the space by updating the staircase, including the newel post, handrail, risers, treads and runner.
Showcasing the homeowners’ art collection, which features works from across Canada, was another design priority. The piece seen here is by a Quebecois artist, and Steeves echoed its tones with a rust-colored bench placed beneath the console table.
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Directly across from the console table is the formal living room. “Most Newfoundlanders are not that formal,” Steeves says. “They tend to hang out in the kitchen more than in a traditional living room.” With that in mind, she reimagined the space as a piano room to accommodate the homeowners’ existing instrument.
Picture-frame millwork and botanical drapes introduce traditional character in the piano room. Steeves also varied the white oak flooring here, laying it in a herringbone pattern inspired by classic Parisian apartments, which also informed the millwork design.
With those traditional foundations in place, the designer layered in modern elements, including a tulip end table, an Art Deco-inspired chandelier and an amorphous loveseat and ottoman. The finishing touch is a contemporary artwork by a Newfoundland artist, adding a strong sense of place.
With those traditional foundations in place, the designer layered in modern elements, including a tulip end table, an Art Deco-inspired chandelier and an amorphous loveseat and ottoman. The finishing touch is a contemporary artwork by a Newfoundland artist, adding a strong sense of place.
Because the homeowners love to entertain, the dining room plays a key role. Steeves replaced a tall storage piece with a lower, horizontal buffet, opening the wall to display another favorite artwork from the owners’ collection, a painting by Peterborough, Ontario, artist Peter Rotter. “Getting rid of the large storage piece made the room feel more spacious and less formal,” Steeves says.
The dining table leans traditional in its wood tone, while its clean lines feel modern. Contemporary dining chairs are soft and comfortable, and along with the brass ring chandelier, they introduce graceful curves to the space.
Aside from new flooring, the updates here were largely cosmetic. Steeves added warm gray drapes with trim detailing, extending them above the transoms and hanging the rods just below the crown molding to emphasize the room’s high ceilings.
The dining table leans traditional in its wood tone, while its clean lines feel modern. Contemporary dining chairs are soft and comfortable, and along with the brass ring chandelier, they introduce graceful curves to the space.
Aside from new flooring, the updates here were largely cosmetic. Steeves added warm gray drapes with trim detailing, extending them above the transoms and hanging the rods just below the crown molding to emphasize the room’s high ceilings.
This butler’s pantry connects the dining room to the kitchen. “My client absolutely loved the color green and we used it wherever we could,” Steeves says. “We color-drenched the pantry in a beautiful mossy green.”
On the ceiling, ceramic tiles mimic the look of traditional patinated tin. Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash add organic color and movement that pair beautifully with the nature-inspired green paint. A seeded glass globe lantern and cabinet lighting create a moody, dramatic atmosphere. The space also includes a wine fridge, bar sink and second dishwasher.
“This was also the first place where we introduced copper,” on the faucet and cabinet hardware, Steeves says. “We repeated the copper in the kitchen and mixed metals, including bronze, brass, chrome and stainless steel, throughout the house.”
6 Ways to Color-Drench Your Living Space
On the ceiling, ceramic tiles mimic the look of traditional patinated tin. Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash add organic color and movement that pair beautifully with the nature-inspired green paint. A seeded glass globe lantern and cabinet lighting create a moody, dramatic atmosphere. The space also includes a wine fridge, bar sink and second dishwasher.
“This was also the first place where we introduced copper,” on the faucet and cabinet hardware, Steeves says. “We repeated the copper in the kitchen and mixed metals, including bronze, brass, chrome and stainless steel, throughout the house.”
6 Ways to Color-Drench Your Living Space
Before Photo
Before: The kitchen had its charms, but posts around the island made it feel closed off from the great room. With the casual way the homeowners like to entertain, they preferred the two spaces to be fully open. Access to the laundry room and mudroom, located off a corner of the kitchen, was also awkward.
After: Removing the posts, headers and soffits around the island allowed Steeves to open the kitchen to the great room. “This got rid of the heaviness in the kitchen,” she says. A new structural beam concealed above the ceiling made the change possible.
The island now clearly defines the boundary between the two rooms. A new opening in the back right corner provides easy access to the laundry room, mudroom entry and backyard, significantly improving circulation in the home.
On the seating side of the island, reeded paneled doors feature touch-latch hardware. Reeding is a detail Steeves used throughout the house to create cohesion. Local company CherryNook made the custom cabinetry.
The island now clearly defines the boundary between the two rooms. A new opening in the back right corner provides easy access to the laundry room, mudroom entry and backyard, significantly improving circulation in the home.
On the seating side of the island, reeded paneled doors feature touch-latch hardware. Reeding is a detail Steeves used throughout the house to create cohesion. Local company CherryNook made the custom cabinetry.
In the kitchen, Steeves mixed white and wood tones along with multiple metals. The oak island, stained walnut, contrasts subtly with the white oak flooring. A matching band on the custom vent hood and the shelves flanking it echo the island finish. Oil-rubbed bronze hardware ties together the white and wood cabinetry. “We used bronze on the door hardware and some light fixtures throughout the house to create a cohesive feeling,” Steeves says.
Achieving a transitional look required selectively layering in strong traditional elements. One standout example is the copper pendant lighting over the island. “My clients fell in love with the antique look and old-world feel of these,” the designer says. “One thing that was great about having such a roomy house was that we could sprinkle in lots of different metals and wood tones.”
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Achieving a transitional look required selectively layering in strong traditional elements. One standout example is the copper pendant lighting over the island. “My clients fell in love with the antique look and old-world feel of these,” the designer says. “One thing that was great about having such a roomy house was that we could sprinkle in lots of different metals and wood tones.”
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Here’s a view from the kitchen through the butler’s pantry to the dining room. The Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash are both durable and elegant. “It has beautiful veining that’s subtle and adds warmth,” Steeves says.
Two appliance garages flank the range alcove. One is for small appliances and the other is for charging electronics. “The charging cabinet also serves as the home information center,” Steeves says.
Two appliance garages flank the range alcove. One is for small appliances and the other is for charging electronics. “The charging cabinet also serves as the home information center,” Steeves says.
The kitchen already had a light-filled breakfast nook. “There are such beautiful views out to the garden here that we used a lot of restraint,” Steeves says. “We didn’t want to distract from those views. We used lighter tones on the table and chairs to maintain a summery feel in here year-round.”
Here’s a look at how the kitchen and great room relate to each other. The homeowners’ love of the garden guided the layout, with views taking priority. Even when the landscape is blanketed in snow, the warmth Steeves layered into the interiors keeps the home feeling cozy.
Creating intimacy in such a large space required thoughtful scaling. “In a big space with a high ceiling, hanging a chandelier in the middle of the room will bring that ceiling down to a more intimate scale,” Steeves says. “I also recommended large-scale pieces. We used two full-size sofas and a large coffee table to fill the space, as well as a big area carpet.”
Creating intimacy in such a large space required thoughtful scaling. “In a big space with a high ceiling, hanging a chandelier in the middle of the room will bring that ceiling down to a more intimate scale,” Steeves says. “I also recommended large-scale pieces. We used two full-size sofas and a large coffee table to fill the space, as well as a big area carpet.”
Before Photo
Before: The existing gas fireplace surround felt out of scale to the room’s soaring ceilings.
After: The new cast-stone fireplace better suits the room’s proportions. “Besides the view out the windows, this is the main feature of the great room,” Steeves says. “It has a beautiful Belgian farmhouse feel, and the custom overmantel that tapers toward the top adds a French feel. The fireplace is an element that adds a traditional east coast feel to the room.”
Cast-stone fireplace surround: Emberley Fireplace
Cast-stone fireplace surround: Emberley Fireplace
A custom media console on the left has a west coast sensibility. Crafted by the same cabinetmaker who built the kitchen cabinetry, it features reeded doors that echo the island detailing. The artwork above is a Frame TV; when not in use, it displays a custom painting inspired by garden colors.
The new kitchen opening also improved access to the fully remodeled mudroom entry, designed to withstand harsh winters. The herringbone pattern porcelain tile floor is durable, and the polypropylene rug has a forgiving pattern.
A built-in bench provides a place to remove boots and shoes, with a drawer below that conceals pet bowls. On the left, open lockers hold outerwear, with shoe cubbies beneath. On the right, built-ins house coat closets and a full-size panel-front refrigerator.
While the room is highly functional, it’s also very pretty. A Roman shade adds a botanical pattern, while rosemary-painted cabinetry reinforces the green palette. Warm wood accents in the lockers and a black-painted door introduce the crisp, modern feel the homeowners wanted.
A built-in bench provides a place to remove boots and shoes, with a drawer below that conceals pet bowls. On the left, open lockers hold outerwear, with shoe cubbies beneath. On the right, built-ins house coat closets and a full-size panel-front refrigerator.
While the room is highly functional, it’s also very pretty. A Roman shade adds a botanical pattern, while rosemary-painted cabinetry reinforces the green palette. Warm wood accents in the lockers and a black-painted door introduce the crisp, modern feel the homeowners wanted.
In the laundry room, Steeves incorporated more of the wife’s favorite color. “These mini subway tiles have a beautiful reactive glaze that gives them a bit of color variation,” she says.
The room includes a sink for handwashing and stain treatment, a hanging rod for air drying and ample cabinet storage. “I just love a pretty, functional space like this one,” the designer says.
The room includes a sink for handwashing and stain treatment, a hanging rod for air drying and ample cabinet storage. “I just love a pretty, functional space like this one,” the designer says.
Cole & Son’s Hummingbirds wallpaper turns the powder room into a garden moment, while shiplap wainscoting adds clean-lined traditional character.
Reeded detailing appears again on the white oak vanity drawers. “This reeding is smaller and finer than the reeding in the kitchen and great room,” Steeves says. She also repeated the kitchen’s Taj Mahal quartzite on the counter and backsplash. The backsplash’s ogee silhouette gives the vanity a furniture-like feel.
Reeded detailing appears again on the white oak vanity drawers. “This reeding is smaller and finer than the reeding in the kitchen and great room,” Steeves says. She also repeated the kitchen’s Taj Mahal quartzite on the counter and backsplash. The backsplash’s ogee silhouette gives the vanity a furniture-like feel.
Before Photo
Before: Although there was a primary bedroom suite on the main floor, the homeowners used it as a guest suite. They preferred the second floor, which originally held three small bedrooms.
Ready for a true primary retreat, the couple combined two of the upstairs bedrooms by removing the back wall of one.
Ready for a true primary retreat, the couple combined two of the upstairs bedrooms by removing the back wall of one.
After: Steeves proposed a two-sided fireplace to define both a sleeping area and a library-sitting space within the new primary suite. The former back wall now serves as the fireplace wall. “I was careful to keep this convertible so that if they wanted to fill in the sides and get that third bedroom back for resale someday they could,” the designer says.
The fireplace has a Carrara marble surround laid in a herringbone pattern. The millwork wraps all four sides of the thick wall, visually linking the two spaces.
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The fireplace has a Carrara marble surround laid in a herringbone pattern. The millwork wraps all four sides of the thick wall, visually linking the two spaces.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
Herringbone appears again in the library area rug. “My clients had these chairs and we reupholstered them in this fantastic velvet fabric that has such an interesting pattern to it,” Steeves says. “I had a custom ottoman made in a coordinating tweed fabric.”
Arched built-ins introduce softness and traditional charm. Sage green paint inside the shelves contrasts with the lighter palette of the room and highlights the displayed objects.
Arched built-ins introduce softness and traditional charm. Sage green paint inside the shelves contrasts with the lighter palette of the room and highlights the displayed objects.
The primary bedroom itself is cozy and efficient, with space for the bed, nightstands, reading lamps and ample circulation. Steeves brought in more green hues through the bedding and accessories.
Before Photo
Before: The bathroom had a corner tub with an oversize surround and a double vanity crowded against it.
After: Steeves replaced the tub with a freestanding model that bridges east coast tradition and west coast modernism. Overhead, a glass chandelier resembling floating bubbles adds a playful note. “I love to incorporate a whimsical touch like this here and there,” Steeves says.
“The wife wanted warmth throughout the home and did not like the idea of an all-white bathroom that would feel sterile,” she says. “The wood-look porcelain floor tiles were critical in creating that warmth.” Laid in a chevron pattern, the tiles subtly reference the home’s recurring herringbone motif.
“The wife wanted warmth throughout the home and did not like the idea of an all-white bathroom that would feel sterile,” she says. “The wood-look porcelain floor tiles were critical in creating that warmth.” Laid in a chevron pattern, the tiles subtly reference the home’s recurring herringbone motif.
Before Photo
Before: Existing French doors in the bathroom once opened to the homeowners’ former bedroom and were no longer needed.
After: With this as the bathroom’s sole storage area, Steeves added a central tower. The mirrors combine traditional wood elements with clean lines, reinforcing warmth and balance.
Wallpaper adds another layer of green and garden inspiration. Made of vinyl, it’s durable enough to handle moisture. “My clients really wanted to bring green into the house,” Steeves says. “I don’t get to work with green a lot and this turned out to be one of my favorite projects because of it.”
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Wallpaper adds another layer of green and garden inspiration. Made of vinyl, it’s durable enough to handle moisture. “My clients really wanted to bring green into the house,” Steeves says. “I don’t get to work with green a lot and this turned out to be one of my favorite projects because of it.”
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a son in college
Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Size: 3,400 square feet (316 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating
Severe weather was another influence on the home’s design, particularly in two entry spaces. This one, the formal front entry that serves as a buffer to the weather, is a perfect example of the east coast-west coast mix.
A classic marble mosaic floor that can stand up to wet boots, a traditional botanical wallpaper that brings the garden indoors and paneling that complements the existing door all reinforce the home’s traditional roots.
Other elements lean modern. “The bench is a modern take on spindle style,” Steeves says. “The lantern light is more modern, and while the flooring is in a traditional mosaic pattern, the marble colors are unconventional.”
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