Decorating & Design
December 28, 2020
This Serene Home Captures The Beauty Of Pacific Northwest Style
What’s more West Coast Canadian than being inspired by the landscape? “I’m very influenced by place,” says Vancouver-based designer Sophie Burke, who was named House & Home‘s Designer of the Year in our December issue. “I work in that Northern palette of cooler blues and grays mixed in with natural wood for warmth.” Her use of organic materials such as Douglas fir and hemlock are often taken directly from the Pacific Northwest. Her designs combine Conran-style modernism with a West Coast spirit, creating a look that feels completely of the moment. “Our spaces don’t look like they come out of a showroom,” says Sophie. “It’s about the mix of layers and a natural, softer palette.”
The Edgemont House in North Vancouver embodies Sophie’s signature traits. It’s a new-build, but the clients — Derick Fluker and Amy Chapman-Fluker — wanted something that felt timeless. “Derick was leaning toward contemporary and Amy wanted traditional,” says Sophie. “In the end, we found a balance.” Sawcut white oak panelling throughout the home is random-matched to add rustic flavor, instead of the more expected slip-match veneer. And even though the home may be compiled of serene spaces, Sophie never loses sight of the living that’s taking place inside, which is, at times, messy and chaotic. “Functionality is really important to me and the firm,” she says. “I have three kids and a dog, and I know they’re doing everything they can to destroy the house, at all times!”
Scroll down to see more of this breezy West Coast home.
The entryway has a showstopping sculptural light fixture. “So many lighting companies are doing fantastic finishes such as burnished brass and blackened steel,” says Sophie.
In the kitchen, a modern vent hood is balanced by farmhouse-style open shelving.
A concrete-look composite island and dark fixtures bring an industrial edge to the space.
The breakfast nook has a solid oak table and durable seating.
A retractable glass wall in the double-height living room overlooks the patio and pool. Built-in niches provide seamless storage — something that Sophie is passionate about.
A soapstone fireplace gives a masculine, weighty feel. “We chose materials that felt like they have longevity and are a little on the rugged side — nothing too petite or precious,” says Sophie.
The dining room features a wet bar and built-in wine fridge.
A Caesarstone bench that matches the kitchen counter is installed in the kids’ bathroom. “This space has to be durable and functional,” says Sophie. “It’s easy to wipe down and the tile covers the whole wall, so wet towels won’t stain anything.”
A mix of woods warms up the principal bedroom.
Marble was taken all the way from the floor to the walls in the serene principal bathroom.
Ema Peter
House & Home December 2020
Sophie Burke; Architecture by Robert Blaney