Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Vancouver Artist's Curious, Collected Home
Family memorabilia and intriguing collections tell a lively story in a Canadian artist's one-bedroom home
‘‘A happy accident and a stroke of luck" is how Vancouver artist Meghan Paterson ended up in the tiny coastal community of Refuge Cove in Canada. Paterson had spent the previous 12 years living primarily in Vancouver and abroad but decided to get back to her Gulf Island roots and accepted a summer painting residency in Refuge Cove. In exchange for the residency, she was to help set up a community gallery for local creatives. With no expectations, she became inspired by the people, location, lifestyle and signage. She created paintings on found objects and titled the finished collection "Safe in Camp".
Refuge Cove ironically led Paterson, who also founded the Beggars Banquet, to find her current house in Vancouver; the homeowner had lived in Refuge Cove during the 1970s. "I wanted it as soon as I walked up to it," Paterson says. "It's sort of in the last bastion of Strathcona [a neighborhood]. The Rogers Sugar Factory is my favorite building in the city, and when I walk out my front door it's the first thing I see, backed by Grouse Mountain. I love old houses and buildings, and I couldn't live in a new place. This house was built in 1904 and has been fully restored to heritage standards. So it's old but new and clean."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Meghan Paterson
Location: Vancouver
Size: 550 square feet; 1 bedroom
That's interesting: Paterson's grandfather is renowned modernist architect Fred Hollingsworth.
Refuge Cove ironically led Paterson, who also founded the Beggars Banquet, to find her current house in Vancouver; the homeowner had lived in Refuge Cove during the 1970s. "I wanted it as soon as I walked up to it," Paterson says. "It's sort of in the last bastion of Strathcona [a neighborhood]. The Rogers Sugar Factory is my favorite building in the city, and when I walk out my front door it's the first thing I see, backed by Grouse Mountain. I love old houses and buildings, and I couldn't live in a new place. This house was built in 1904 and has been fully restored to heritage standards. So it's old but new and clean."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Meghan Paterson
Location: Vancouver
Size: 550 square feet; 1 bedroom
That's interesting: Paterson's grandfather is renowned modernist architect Fred Hollingsworth.
The portrait of actor Bill Murray featured in the gallery wall behind the desk is by artist Jeff Boyes. The framed picture on the desk is of Paterson with her father from when she was 1 year old.
HM: What do you love most about your neighborhood? Any go-to spots in Strathcona?
MP: The neighborhood is great. I run through it and down to the track at Strathcona Park almost every day. Au Petit Chavignol is a great place for a bite and a glass of wine in the evening. Also, the Union Market is my go-to for eggs, milk, bakery and newspapers. I love having a neighborhood market.
HM: What do you love most about your neighborhood? Any go-to spots in Strathcona?
MP: The neighborhood is great. I run through it and down to the track at Strathcona Park almost every day. Au Petit Chavignol is a great place for a bite and a glass of wine in the evening. Also, the Union Market is my go-to for eggs, milk, bakery and newspapers. I love having a neighborhood market.
A snapshot from the dining room shows the view into the kitchen and the bathroom.
HM: If you could splurge on anything for the home, what would it be?
MP: Chairs! I happen to have, like, nine tables but no chairs.
HM: If you could splurge on anything for the home, what would it be?
MP: Chairs! I happen to have, like, nine tables but no chairs.
The upper shelves hold all the glassware. Paterson uses a mobile cabinet (butcher block) to store additional pots and pans; it also provides extra task space.
HM: What was your biggest design dilemma?
MP: The lack of closets and storage space. I have to be creative with where to keep the pots, pans, brooms and all the stuff that usually isn't part of decorating.
HM: What was your biggest design dilemma?
MP: The lack of closets and storage space. I have to be creative with where to keep the pots, pans, brooms and all the stuff that usually isn't part of decorating.
A typewriter from Paterson's mother adds vintage charm to the study.
"I have never owned a television, and I don't have a sofa," says Paterson. Instead of setting up a living room, she bought an old oversized 1960s metal office desk and built a study. She says, "Bookcases full of books and cabinets of curiosities is much more my style."
"I have never owned a television, and I don't have a sofa," says Paterson. Instead of setting up a living room, she bought an old oversized 1960s metal office desk and built a study. She says, "Bookcases full of books and cabinets of curiosities is much more my style."
Paterson's creativity blossomed at a very young age. Growing up in Gooch Island, British Columbia, she was surrounded by nature rather than television and the media. She grew up around art and houses steeped in design, and her grandfather is modernist architect Fred Hollingsworth.
Memorabilia sits atop a shelf in the study.
HM: What's your most prized possession?
MP: My Clarice Cliff Bizarre vase from the house I grew up in and the whale rib I found in Refuge Cove are pretty high up on the list.
Memorabilia sits atop a shelf in the study.
HM: What's your most prized possession?
MP: My Clarice Cliff Bizarre vase from the house I grew up in and the whale rib I found in Refuge Cove are pretty high up on the list.
The artwork hanging in the study is from Paterson's "Safe in Camp" collection. This painting is by Toronto artist André Ethier.
HM: Do you have a favorite artist?
MP: Egon Schiele is my all-time favorite painter alongside John Waterhouse. I have always loved the myths and stories he illustrated through paintings. Also, still lifes from the Dutch Renaissance — the objects laden with meaning, the impermanence of life and so on, all serve as art inspiration for me.
HM: Do you have a favorite artist?
MP: Egon Schiele is my all-time favorite painter alongside John Waterhouse. I have always loved the myths and stories he illustrated through paintings. Also, still lifes from the Dutch Renaissance — the objects laden with meaning, the impermanence of life and so on, all serve as art inspiration for me.
Paterson's original artwork is nestled among her collection of books.
HM: What are you working on now?
MP: I am working on a new art project but prefer to keep it under wraps for now.
HM: What are you working on now?
MP: I am working on a new art project but prefer to keep it under wraps for now.
Paterson spends most of her home time at the kitchen table. "I work from there; I read the paper there; I eat there; I drink wine with friends there. It's that place in my house," she says.
In lieu of a pendant light, Paterson strung glass hearts from the ceiling. The Denmark flag is a souvenir from her time spent in Copenhagen, which also happens to color coordinate with her artwork gallery wall. The wood table and chairs are vintage.
In lieu of a pendant light, Paterson strung glass hearts from the ceiling. The Denmark flag is a souvenir from her time spent in Copenhagen, which also happens to color coordinate with her artwork gallery wall. The wood table and chairs are vintage.
The brick wall is a nice detail in the dining room and features a painting from what Paterson calls (tongue in cheek) "a violent point in my art career." The collection consisted of brass knuckles, a butterfly knife, a broken bottle and a toothbrush shiv. The framed type print is from an art show but is actually a Pink Floyd lyric from the song "One of These Days." Paterson says, "It's a good use of phthalo blue."
HM: What's your design philosophy?
MP: I like being around familiar objects, things I've collected through my life so far. I like paintings hung in a salon style and objects in groupings. Your home and the things in it should tell your story.
Collage screen print: artist Office Supplies Inc.
MP: I like being around familiar objects, things I've collected through my life so far. I like paintings hung in a salon style and objects in groupings. Your home and the things in it should tell your story.
Collage screen print: artist Office Supplies Inc.
A notable piece from Paterson's "Safe In Camp" collection is this self-portrait hanging in the entryway. "It marks a very important change in my life and work. I wanted to keep it as a reflection," she says.
Paterson is known for her ability to portray the essence of character in her subjects. There are layers of emotion and thought behind every brushstroke. The rich tones and thoughtful details combine to convey a sense that Paterson is filtering her own personal experiences through her artwork.
Paterson is known for her ability to portray the essence of character in her subjects. There are layers of emotion and thought behind every brushstroke. The rich tones and thoughtful details combine to convey a sense that Paterson is filtering her own personal experiences through her artwork.
In the bathroom, a collection of first aid kits is mounted on the wall. Paterson has been collecting these kits for quite some time, finding most of them at flea markets and antiques shops. Paterson says, "When you start collecting things, people start finding them for you." Some actually still have medical supplies in them, but Paterson jokes, "No morphine left, I'm afraid."
Research and collecting trips help Paterson seek ideas and subjects for her artwork. In turn she has accumulated ephemera that she displays throughout the house.
Paterson is also the founder of and curator for Beggars Banquet, a monthly pop-up flea market in Vancouver, which is her favorite place to shop for her home. The slogan is "a discerning selection of quality goods," she says, "and it's a great place to find unique pieces and antiques at really great prices." The event recently expanded to be hosted every other month in Portland, Oregon.
Paterson is also the founder of and curator for Beggars Banquet, a monthly pop-up flea market in Vancouver, which is her favorite place to shop for her home. The slogan is "a discerning selection of quality goods," she says, "and it's a great place to find unique pieces and antiques at really great prices." The event recently expanded to be hosted every other month in Portland, Oregon.
Here is another one of Paterson's curious collections. She describes it as "the creepy marionette hands."
"I am not particularly religious, but I just love Mexican Catholic iconography," says Paterson.
The bedroom is a tight fit, with a king-size bed filling most of the space. However, it is very bright and has a higher than average ceiling, which makes it feel less encapsulated. "I really love my king-size bed," Paterson says. "Sometimes I sleep sideways just because I can."
Blanket: Pendleton
The bedroom is a tight fit, with a king-size bed filling most of the space. However, it is very bright and has a higher than average ceiling, which makes it feel less encapsulated. "I really love my king-size bed," Paterson says. "Sometimes I sleep sideways just because I can."
Blanket: Pendleton
Heather Merenda: Who are your neighbors?
Meghan Paterson: The homeowner is an established artist named Liz Magor, and my dear friend Lindsay lives next door. All three of the red heritage homes in a row are inhabited by interesting people involved in the arts.