Opening Image: Flux Equilibrium by Francesco Locastro

In the spring I received a call from a lovely prospect who Googled me and they needed some help with a house they had recently purchased in North Vancouver. Our conversation went well and I scheduled the Project Consultation, but I don't think I really grasped what they meant by their furnace was in their kitchen. I was thinking an old fashioned stove, but it really turned out to be a mechanical room, yup, right in the kitchen. I recall saying the words "weird" several times only to catch myself and apologize that I didn't mean them but that the house was kinda messed up.

Awesome family, extremely confusing house. As it turns out, it wasn't just the kitchen with the problem. The entire space plan was so misguided over 3 substantial renovations in the last 40 years. The house was crying to be fixed. It is a kaleidoscope of circulation problems, mechanical problems, functional problems, and finishes that are beyond tired.

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Currently the kitchen makes no functional sense, it's extremely wide, and, because it is slab on grade combined with the multiple past renovations, it proved be extremely costly to relocate to another or adjust the structural requirements. So, instead, we opted to build out the storage under the stairs to decrease the traffic flow and shorten the distance between work centres. The pallet is a nod to West Coast Contemporary with a touch of European industrial New York. Douglas Fir, bleached wide plank, white and Racoon Fur strikes again. We love the depth of the blue/grey colour.

The living room will have some minor updates but exposing the brick wood-burning fireplace behind is key - but paint it out. I'm thinking this soot-grey but I think we are all leaning toward a foggy-navy blue. It's still being developed, but headway was certainly made already.

When it came to the Master Bathroom, it is time for a complete renovation. Nothing really connected with anything, but again due to the multiple past renovations it proved impossible to relocate fixtures so we've opted to go for a wet-room. The light fixtures are still being finalized, but the look is a complete transformation and adds a touch of that New York loft feeling the clients are desperately wanting to achieve.

Overall, there are substantial functional changes and many power and lighting adjustments. Many sleek finishes are specified in this home and the aesthetic is simple, sophisticated, edges on industrial, but overall it has a loft-like feeling and we are excited to get started in the coming weeks!

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