All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

Cambria Butlers Pantry
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a farmhouse sink and beaded inset cabinets

Magnolia is inspired by the influential Moderne and Streamlined movement in Colonial Revival architecture that was being practiced in Los Angeles in the late 1920s and 1930s by such architects as Paul Williams and James Dolena and their counterparts further east, including David Adler in Chicago and John Staub in Texas. The house is built around a center hall plan, where the two-story stair hall works as a skylit atrium to bring light deep into the interior. The formal and family rooms are organized around this central feature. The exterior is sheathed in white-painted brick with accents of simplified classical columns and moldings in keeping with streamlined influences.

Beautiful and practical kitchen
Example of a large classic open concept kitchen design in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

1950's mid-century modern beach house built by architect Richard Leitch in Carpinteria, California. Leitch built two one-story adjacent homes on the property which made for the perfect space to share seaside with family. In 2016, Emily restored the homes with a goal of melding past and present. Emily kept the beloved simple mid-century atmosphere while enhancing it with interiors that were beachy and fun yet durable and practical. The project also required complete re-landscaping by adding a variety of beautiful grasses and drought tolerant plants, extensive decking, fire pits, and repaving the driveway with cement and brick.

1950's mid-century modern beach house built by architect Richard Leitch in Carpinteria, California. Leitch built two one-story adjacent homes on the property which made for the perfect space to share seaside with family. In 2016, Emily restored the homes with a goal of melding past and present. Emily kept the beloved simple mid-century atmosphere while enhancing it with interiors that were beachy and fun yet durable and practical. The project also required complete re-landscaping by adding a variety of beautiful grasses and drought tolerant plants, extensive decking, fire pits, and repaving the driveway with cement and brick.

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

All aspects of the building are meticulously designed, specified, detailed, & crafted to be both stylistically appropriate and reflect building best practices. The materials palette of hand-molded brick, thick profile siding, exposed timber framing & rafters, double-hung windows, and operable louvered shutters is borrowed from the neighborhood's existing stock of mid-century craftsman ranch houses.

The existing family room was very large with a lot of wasted space. We borrowed about 38" of space to accommodate for the new pathway between the kitchen and mudroom. Shrinking the family room made it feel more cozy and practical. Photo Credit: Mike Irby

The Sundance Mantel Shelf captures the raw and rustic nature of a beam that has a story. This product is composed of Alder planks with a weathered texture and a glaze finish. This product is commonly used as a floating shelf where practical. Kit includes everything you need to attach to studs for a seamless and easy installation.

Function Basement Design
Cottage basement photo in Chicago

Rachel Kay - Applebox Imaging This model home is in a community at the foot of the Texas Hill Country. The setting is bucolic and appeals to families as well as active adults – the target market for this model home. The builder, Brookfield Residential, offers four distinct styles of homes, one of which is the Modern Farmhouse. The design is focused on blending modern trends with traditional farmhouse characteristics. Traditional farmhouse interiors were simple and practical. Walls were often whitewashed wood, white or light paint. Hardwood floors were lightly stained and varnished for a natural look. Bringing exterior siding and board and batten inside gives dimension and interest to white walls. A barn door opens into a study niche at the entry and the popped-up ceiling is enhanced with board and batten. The most popular features of this home include the open floor plan, large kitchen that opens to the great room and outdoor covered patio and the master suite with over-sized shower and walk-in closet. The lines between indoor and outdoor are blurred by the nano sliding doors that open up the house to the back porch.