Windsor Street
A Wide Open Kitchen
Nestled in a quant Vancouver neighbourhood, this 100 year old character home needed some major TLC. It had original wiring, needed to be completely re-plumbed and the supporting structure was rotted through in spots. It took months of work to bring this home into the modern era of home efficiency, but that’s exactly what this historic home deserved.
In addition to the structural work needed, the original home also had many separated room and hallways which did the relatively small footprint a major disservice. We immediately got to work removing the walls and hallways to open the space and create more functional floor space within the home.
The kitchen is what benefited most from the new open plan as it was initially closed off to the rest of the home by an old brick fireplace. Opening this allowed us to extend the length of the kitchen to a much more functional size. We installed a new peninsula in a half moon shape and clad it with reeded pieces of solid white oak. The natural variance in the oaks colour brought a beautiful warmth to this textural treat.
We framed the window with open shelving suspended from the ceiling by thin powder-coated steel rods. The backsplash and waterfall were wrapped in a natural Italian marble and the cabinets were finished in a combination of oat coloured matte laminate and white oak veneer. To top off the kitchen we introduced modern lighting, sleek minimalistic hardware, integrated appliances and a clever hidden appliance garage. The marriage of these features and materials culminated in a harmonious blend of old world charm and new world sensibilities that’s sure to have this kitchen well loved for many years to come.
To see more details of this kitchen check out the gallery at the bottom of this page.
A Beautiful Breakfast Nook
When we saw this window lined corner at the back of the kitchen we immediately knew it called for an eat in breakfast nook. A bench beneath the window, perfect for morning coffee.
In true Schédio fashion we wanted this space to serve more than one function so we built hidden storage into the bottom of the banquette seating - Perfect for backup pantry items or storing away those rarely used appliances/holiday serving trays.
We highlighted this beautiful corner with a shallow custom built-in book shelf, a super modern light fixture that balanced the character nature of the home perfectly and roman shades in a soft oatmeal linen.
The final touch was this stunning custom made Schédio table. The pedestal leg has a rounded diamond shape that reflects light in the softest most beautiful way. The top is rectangular with curved edges that perfectly nestled within the breakfast nook.
To see more angles of the breakfast nook and custom table, scroll through the gallery below.
A Brand-new Living Room
While this 100 year old home did initially have a fireplace, it was on a wall that closed off the kitchen from the rest of the space. The homeowners wanted to keep some form of fireplace but agreed the original location was not doing the home any justice. The living room was also initially walled off and a small and extremely awkward hallway blocked off entry to the bedroom and office.
Opening the space allowed us to relocate the fireplace to the living area (instead of the dining room where it was initially situated) and made the space feel so much more spacious. To incorporate more opportunities for seating and of course - storage! - we created a bench/media unit/hearth beneath the fireplace.
Unfortunately when we removed the walls there was ventilation that came through the floor in exactly location where the built-in was to be. It couldn’t be rerouted so we decided to disguise it instead. Carefully cutting narrow strips into the side of the bench and building and internal redirect so the air now comes out the side of the bench. (you can see it in some of the photos if you look closely).
We framed the fireplace with two beautiful sconces that while modern in nature, also had a timeless lantern style element that really suited the history of the home and paired beautifully with the rest of the carefully selected lighting.
Removing the walls exposed a space beneath the stair that had initially been closed off. Rather than cover this area we decided to optimize it (because hello vancouver real estate pricing! - every square inch matters and we’re all about maximizing space for our clients). We got to work and built a clever built in with drawers and doors perfect for a little bar as its easily accessible to the dining area.
We styled the living space with an organically shaped rug in a natural fibre, a bouclé couch, fluted travertine coffee table trio, modern art from Vancouver Art Gallery and stunning sculptural concrete spheres from local artist Steven Shayer - primitive + unbranded.
The outcome is the perfect example an inviting, elevated yet relaxed living space.
Swipe through the images below to see alternative angles of this incredible living space.
A Textural Bathroom
Dreamy layers of micro cement pair harmoniously with handmade tiles in the perfect blush hue bringing this bathroom to life in a way thats both visually interesting and effortlessly relaxing.
We made a custom floating vanity with solid white oak fluting and Italian marble top that echoed the kitchen and elevated the space. Above sits an organically shaped sink and brushed brass wall mounted faucets.
The arched brushed brass mirror coordinates beautifully with the faucets and is a shape we repeated in the shower glass. This repeated shape feels natural and brings a cool and unique look to the bathroom.
As with most bathrooms, optimizing storage was a must, but we also knew the vanity was best served raised off the floor to allow for a more spacious feeling. So we opted for drawers allowing easier access for hard to reach items at the back of the vanity. We also built hidden storage into the wall adjacent the vanity and framed an oversized niche spanning the entire length of the bathroom.
This resulted in a spacious feeling despite the relatively small footprint and still provided a plethora of storage for every day use.
Flip through the image gallery at the bottom of the page to see close up details of this textural wonderland.
A Dreamy Childs Room
Sitting just off the main living space is this adorable child’s bedroom. The clients daughter had outgrown her previous toddler style bedroom and was ready for something to take her through childhood and into adolescence.
We created several mood-boards and allowed her to select the one that resonated with her most. She selected the soft bohemian vibe with layers of texture, and soft pink hues. Always dreaming of a canopy bed, we custom made one for her using white oak dowel and oatmeal coloured natural linen. We even added cute little decorative beads to the cording at each corner for a touch of playful whimsy. She absolutely loves it!
We decided to “colour drench” the entire room continuing the soft pink paint onto the ceiling, trim, doors and millwork. This brought an elevated sweetness to the space that made it feel timeless - something she loves now, but will also work for her for years to come.
Being an avid reader we knew we needed to build something that would grow with this sweet little girl as she continues into grade school. So we hand build her a bookshelf for her collection with an integrated desk and storage for all her prized possessions. We arched the top of each section for an added feminine touch and of course painted it the same soft pink as the rest of the room.
We polished off this adorable sanctuary with a textured rug and chair, an upholstered bed with textured bedding, a reeded white oak side table (a subtle nod to the rest of the white oak reeding in the home) and a playful lamp.
We’re giddy over how cute this bedroom turned out!
Check the gallery below for more pictures.
A Welcoming Entryway
This entryway was a bit tight and initially had zero storage beyond an inefficient coat closet. It also had an awkward setback in the wall and very minimal lighting.
To increase functionality we hand built a bench that’s perfect height to sit and put on or take off shoes. We also added (you guessed it) storage! In this instance opting for deep touch release drawers. - Perfect for scarves, toques, dog leashes and sporting items for easy access as you head out the door.
To soften the space and gently reflect light from the front door window, we curved the edge of the bench and matched that curve radius in the shelving above. Introducing the shelving above had two functions. 1) To create a landing spot for those go too items like mail and keys, and 2) To utilize the otherwise awkward set back of the wall. The shelves are deep where the wall is set back and cut to finish shallower where the wall protrudes. The finished result is a streamline set of shelves that are seamless and highly functional.
We leaned into the curved detailed and echoed it in a half moon shaped custom made mirror we had made. It fit perfectly between the bench seat and the staircase to the second level. It’s also the perfect location for checking yourself out as you head out the door and reflected the light from the front door window in a super romantic way.
On the adjacent wall to the shelving we build a custom closet that included integrated drawers for easy shoe access, a backpack nook with hooks and double layer hanging rod for coats. For a cohesive look we finished it in white oak veneer to match the millwork throughout the rest of the home and adorned it with organically shaped solid brass hardware.
To see close-ups of this inviting entryway swipe through the images below.
