Homes
French hues of champagne and cognac underline this Vancouver home by Kelly Deck Design
JUN 28, 2023 | By Aanya Jain
With the sea and the mountains on either side, sprawling across 8,400 sq ft in Vancouver, is this newly built 3 storey residence. Primarily following a palette of warm neutrals, black, rust and cognac, the home is layered in comfort and luxury. Influenced by Parisian design, the team at Kelly Deck Design made classic choices like black and white floors, wood accents, elegant mouldings and stylish works of art.
Delicately Parisian
The family of 7 with children ranging 6 years to 21 years had a clear inspiring vision. With their interests in art, music and adventure, they wanted their home to follow a minimal Parisian theme. A simple description, the inviting and cosy home evolved to be more traditional than minimal. “They wanted the blend of old and new that our firm thrives on creating” explains Kelly Deck.
Contemporary approach, Traditional home
Materials and colours play a strong and important role in this residence. Enter into a foyer with a sleek fireplace, wood ceiling and cosy seating area. With romance at the forefront, the foyer was designed to be intimate using a wooden ceiling and the moodiness is reflected through contemporary art pieces. “His” and “Hers” offices bookend the foyer to accurately reflect the individual personalities of the couple. “His” space is painted the darkest shade of burgundy with masculine pieces of furniture, while “Hers” is a complete contrast with white walls and organic furniture.
Considering the expanse of this residence, it is a wonder it does not feel heavy and dark. This is perhaps owing to the choice of paint throughout the home, giving it a light and fresh feel. Further inside, the home opens up to a double height living room, dubbed “The Great Room”. The piece de resistance here is the antique limestone fireplace. Weighing over 1000 kilos, the fireplace came with troubles during installation, but added so much presence to the room that all these hindrances were forgotten. Picked out from the hues of the fireplace are the fabrics upholstering the furniture in this space.
Adjoining the great room is the kitchen, anchored by a black island and accented by retro pendant lights. The kitchen is conjoined with a butler’s pantry that provides ample storage for the large family. Beyond this is a mudroom which houses the sports gear, bags and coats for this family with 5 children. Typically, homes of this scale have a formal and informal dining area. The designer, in conjunction with the family, thought it better to have a singular, intimate dining room. Engulfed in floor to ceiling windows, the dining room is rich with tradition thanks to a dark wallpaper that plays off the colours in the great room. Unlacquered brass fixtures and hardware in the butler’s pantry allow time to patina them, adding to the timeless quality of the spaces.
A stairwell filled with light leads upstairs to a bridge passing over the great room. Occupying one side of the first floor is the principal suite. Taking notes from the linen coloured marble in its ensuite, the primary bedroom is awash in white fabrics and wood. Emulating a quiet and serene atmosphere, the space is given a slight masculine feel with a tinge of grey-blue in the furnishings.
The other side of the first floor is dedicated to 4 of 5 childrens’ bedrooms. The lower level houses the oldest child’s bedroom and the recreational activities. These include a theatre, bar, games room, gym and spa, opening onto a pool and cabana.
A homely haven
The strong narrative is carried out to the finest of details, be it the cornices or shape of tile. The designers were able to do this and more. The tricky request to include a hidden staircase from “His” study to the primary suite on the upper floor was fulfilled by smartly hiding the entrance through a bookcase and wall panelling.
An exciting and compelling vision combined with the home owner’s ease of understanding design, brought out the finesse in this residence. Describing the spaces as “warm, authentic and unpretentious”, the designers at Kelly Deck Design have ensured that it embodies the vision set out for it.