The concept for this project began with the stunning coastal view from the building lot, a block from the beach.

The reverse floor plan highlights the view towards the ocean and mountains – placing sleeping on the main floor, the public and entertaining areas above. The top floor lounge serves as an indoor|outdoor entertaining area that takes full advantage of the stunning vista. 

Finishes were chosen that reflect an organic, coastal feel, while maintaining the sophistication desired in an urban home. Wire brushed white oak flooring is light but forgiving, white quartzite in a leathered finish on counters is more casual and more durable than marble yet still provides the lux feeling of natural stone. 

Texture and contrast within the muted palette chosen were important: painted brick against the slim custom white steel staircase that winds like a ribbon from the bottom floor to the top, saw kerfs cut into painted millwork, painted shiplap cladding, sisal rugs, leather cabinet pulls, linen drapery. Windows and doors were lined with ebony stained oak to provide unfussy definition and strong contrast with white walls and millwork in a space where all other trimwork and detail were deliberately eliminated.

From inception this house had an ambitious brief: create a family home equal parts warm, modern light filled ski cabin that also incorporates the best locally sourced materials, natural fabrics, and leading eco friendly standards and building practices. The result is something truly unique: a contemporary family home that incorporates the most innovative building practices without feeling compromised or industrial. For SBD this project represents the evolution of design and architecture at Whistler and was incredible to be a part of. Locally sourced hemlock, whitewashed and used for all interior millwork, along with marble from Vancouver Island creates a soft Scandinavian aesthetic that is still very much West Coast and adds local context to this iconic Canadian location.

One of our challenges was to take a space that is very contemporary with many hard surfaces and make sure that it was still family friendly, cozy, calm and  inviting. On an architectural level, we worked with the builders to create functional details such as solid baseboards and casings concealed to look like seamless drywall returns. Perfect for kids, ski boots, dogs, etc. On a design level we worked to add organic, natural elements through our use of materials and finishes. The den for instance, the one room which has minimal natural light, has grey wool wallpaper on all walls and a built in sofa to ensure it feels comfortable and warm. The powder room and  eating nook and custom bunkbeds are clad in solid hemlock to add warmth and texture. Ceramics from a local designer add an earthy, elemental feel. SBD was involved in every aspect of this design. From the the layout, space planning, staircase and millwork to the bedding, towels, artwork and vases, we were able to execute on a vision of serene simplicity and warmth.

A family home needs to be a functional and hardworking one. Our clients for this renovation had purchased a recently built home that they knew had a location and floor plan that worked well for their family of three young boys. The dark, heavy, traditional and somewhat precious finishes, however, would not. They approached SBD with the task of turning the home into one that felt clean, bright and contemporary, but also functional and warm. The overwrought design elements were stripped from the home, and were replaced by shaker cabinet doors, open shelves, clean fireplace detailing, and practical fixtures and fittings. The kitchen and master ensuite layouts were reworked, providing more efficient spaces for the clients. We came up with a palette of soft greys, punctuated by black for contrast and depth. Natural materials were incorporated to keep things from feeling cold and unwelcoming: a solid wood dining table, solid wood barstools, linens and wools for cushions, bedding and rugs. The result is a home that feels fresh and timeless, and is one that they can live with for years to come.

Our clients approached us after purchasing an entire floor of a new condo building in Vancouver’s Yaletown. Downsizing after 30 years in a single family home, they were looking to create a space that evoked the function and familiarity of a sophisticated, warm home. We began the project with a clean floor plate; only the elevator core and vestibule defined the space, allowing us the ability to configure the full floor to accommodate all of the client’s wishes. The rooms were positioned strategically along the architectural angles, responding to views, natural daylight, and, of course, functionality. His and Hers master ensuites were a priority, for instance. The result is an apartment that meets the homeowner’s social, privacy, and family needs with effortless balance. 

The design brief for the materials played with the tensions of modern highrise city life and the elegance and timelessness of traditional single family home life: herringbone white oak flooring, dark stained wood millwork paired with marble and blackened brass metal hardware, and navy grasscloth and wool wallcoverings which contrast with the brightness of the city and water views. These finishes, along with the elegant lighting and furniture add depth, warmth and texture.

photography by Ema Peter

Our client approached SBD with a simple design brief. He had recently purchased a penthouse apartment in downtown Vancouver and wanted to create a minimalist, gallery-like space to highlight his art collection.  In it’s original state the apartment was dark, chopped up and very dated. We gutted everything, removed an awkward fireplace and replaced it with a dining nook, opened up the kitchen, re-oriented the living room and removed the bedroom closets and replaced them with custom millwork to enlarge the spaces. A palette of white paint, almost white ash floors and walnut joinery create a restrained backdrop for custom furniture made in collaboration with local designers such as Jeff Martin and more international designers such as Mira Nakashima. We have a close working relationship with our builder who was able to execute on our vision of contemporary detailing with drywall reveals, recessed ceiling tracks, trimless lights and flush heating and ventilation grills. The end result is a sophisticated, calm space that has become a retreat for this client from the bustle of the city all around him.

This 1927 craftsman heritage home in West Vancouver presented numerous design challenges. The clients had fallen in love with this eccentric traditional family home and wanted to make it work for their young family and for their contemporary design aesthetic. They did not want to lose the character elements of the home yet at the same time didn’t want to feel like they were living in the past. Added to this were the heritage guidelines that specified the features and details that needed to be preserved and protected. The clients first priority was to lighten and brighten the space. Out came the dark slate flooring from a bad 90’s renovation and the dark brick chimney that came up through the middle of the kitchen, restricting both light and flow. Bathrooms were gutted and redone in a style that was updated and yet sympathetic to the age of the home in a palette of white, grey, black and brass.  The kitchen was reworked and now includes a computer station and eating nook which ensure that it is incredibly functional for the needs of a young family. Openings and doorways were widened to let natural light flow through the house. Combined with light oak floors and lots of white paint the end result is lighter, simpler and far more contemporary. Added to this base is contemporary furniture, select vintage classics and simple millwork seamlessly blending the traditional and contemporary. This home had been languishing for decades and it was rewarding to see how Vancouver’s historical homes can be brought to life and protected and and still be contemporary.

This home was built for clients who were love skiing and the outdoors and were wanting to create a stylish yet practical family retreat where they could relax and entertain their friends and family. Working with the clients, we wanted to create a contemporary alpine aesthetic that moves away from the orange and yellow tones found in natural fir and hemlock so often used in Whistler. Instead we worked with our finishers to find grey tones for flooring and hemlock cladding that feels softer and more current.  Certain feature areas are darker and moodier, for example the powder room, clad in a smoked oak finish.

We focused on finding the balance between rustic and modern to create a look and feel that would be practical for a family. Millwork and architectural details are contemporary with crisp drywall returns for the windows and flat panel millwork. These are balanced with more rustic elements in the lighting and furniture. Natural materials lend warmth and texture: local Squamish stone, fir, hemlock, white oak, limestone, linens and wools. The result is a home that is inviting and beautiful in a rugged kind of way.

TurF is a studio, shop, kitchen + coffee bar. TurF was born on the foundation of all the things the owners love: healthy food, thoughtful apparel, a conscious sweat, the best coffee and building community. We designed TurF to allow the Vancouver community to come together to appreciate all of these things in one unique space. 

Misch is a high-end women's clothing store in Vancouver. After a highly successful 10 years in business we were asked to re-do the store's interior. We chose to panel all of the walls with a European feeling panel moulding which we then painted grey to create a soft but sophisticated background for the clothing. Brass and marble details highlight this concept. 

This project was completed for a family who bought an older heritage house that had had many renovations over the years. The house was gutted, new bedrooms and bathrooms added, rooms opened up to create better flow, and a generally more cohesive and contemporary look was integrated throughout with a black and white colour scheme. A mix of modern and mid-century furniture was used to create a timeless look. 

Press: This home was featured in Canadian House and Home

This home is on one of the top floors of a large tower in downtown Vancouver. The clients wanted to create a space that had warmth and personality with places for them to display the objects and artwork that they have collected in their travels. We took a fairly cold shell and added wood panelling, grasscloth, and custom millwork to give the space it's character. Particular attention was paid to the detailing of the millwork. We have discreet inset LED lighting, integrated handles and small metal or glass inserts to hold items in place.Crisp contemporary furnishings mixed with a few timeless pieces such as the Serge Mouille floor lamp complete the look. 

This home on Vancouver's West side plays the balance between modern and traditional. With a mandate by the city for the exterior of the house to fit in with the character of the neighbourhood, we decided that the 'envelope' details should follow suit, and that we would play off of those more traditional details by injecting a more contemporary aesthetic with cleaner lines for the interior millwork and furnishings. At the same time we wanted the home to feel warm and not too serious for this young family. 

Press: The kitchen was featured in Western Living magazine

This loft in downtown Vancouver hadn't been updated since the 80's. Our client loved the brick and the wood windows and beams but the brown carpet, tired wood kitchen and aging fixtures badly needed to go. We worked to honour the industrial feel of the space but 

We were asked by Inform Interiors (a contemporary furniture showroom in Vancouver) to create a vignette in their front window. After a recent visit to Amsterdam we were inspired to create a town home space with a small courtyard to embody the feeling of city living. We wanted to incorporate some older elements and sourced the antique fireplace surround locally. The tall black windows on either side create the indoor outdoor feeling. 

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This 1940's home overlooking Douglas Park in Vancouver, was badly in need of a renovation when the new owners purchased it from the original owners who had lived in it for over 60 years. Our team was brought in to design and project manage the job. We chose to retain as many of the beautiful heritage details as we could - for example, the leaded glass windows and original fireplace surround in the office add enormous character to the room. We balanced these heritage elements throughout the house with contemporary furnishings and light fixtures to create a modern eclectic aesthetic that works really well for a young family.

This 1930's family home in Vancouver was completely gutted and redesigned to create much better flow and sense of space as well as increased functionality for a busy family of five. A fourth bedroom and second bathroom were added upstairs, as well as a family room and eating room off the newly enlarged kitchen. The dark and musty basement was opened up and turned into a mudroom, large rec room, laundry and guest bedroom. The house is now bright, airy and thoroughly modern. This home was featured in Style At Home.

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In this custom home we chose to balance the traditional exterior with a more contemporary interior. 

This home in Whistler, BC was created for a family who love skiing and the outdoors and wanted a home that felt cozy and relatively fuss free. We used lots of natural materials for the finishings - whitewashed Douglas Fir cladding for feature walls, natural stone for floors and the fireplace surround, wool for carpets, and linen for upholstery and curtains.