Houzz Tour: Crisp and Clean for 3 Generations
Bright and classic style with a modern twist sets a lively vibe for an extended family living under one roof
Kelly LaPlante
October 8, 2017
Houzz Contributor
Photos by Tracey Ayton
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their two children and one set of their parents
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
Size: Just under 2,500 square feet (232.2 square meters); six bedrooms, four bathrooms
Designer: Huong Nguyen of The Spotted Frog
General contractor: Strokes Renovation
The backstory: The homeowners purchased a house that would be able to accommodate their family of four plus a set of grandparents to watch the kids while the parents worked during the day.
With three generations under one roof, the owners wanted a space that was bright and airy, exuded classic lines, included some fun trends and was able to withstand the rigors of an active young family.
“This was an extensive renovation with removal of one wall that divided the kitchen from the dining room, says designer Huong Nguyen. “The interior also got all brand-new finishes.”
Living room: In the living room (and, in fact, throughout the entire home) Nguyen used a subtle combination of white, gray and pops of gold.
Paint: Classic Gray (walls) and Chantilly Lace (trim), Benjamin Moore
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their two children and one set of their parents
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
Size: Just under 2,500 square feet (232.2 square meters); six bedrooms, four bathrooms
Designer: Huong Nguyen of The Spotted Frog
General contractor: Strokes Renovation
The backstory: The homeowners purchased a house that would be able to accommodate their family of four plus a set of grandparents to watch the kids while the parents worked during the day.
With three generations under one roof, the owners wanted a space that was bright and airy, exuded classic lines, included some fun trends and was able to withstand the rigors of an active young family.
“This was an extensive renovation with removal of one wall that divided the kitchen from the dining room, says designer Huong Nguyen. “The interior also got all brand-new finishes.”
Living room: In the living room (and, in fact, throughout the entire home) Nguyen used a subtle combination of white, gray and pops of gold.
Paint: Classic Gray (walls) and Chantilly Lace (trim), Benjamin Moore
Fireplace: The husband appreciates a quality video and audio experience and had already invested in some high-end equipment, the components and cords of which the wife preferred not to see. So Nguyen designed a custom built-in that reflected millwork details in the kitchen to hide all of the AV equipment.
Bianca Carrara marble herringbone mosaic tile: GL Stone & Tile; Artwork: Mercana
Bianca Carrara marble herringbone mosaic tile: GL Stone & Tile; Artwork: Mercana
Ceilings: Nguyen and her clients loved the vaulted ceiling in the space. They further enhanced it by adding shiplap and husky beams for character.
Sectional: The custom-made sectional features durable mid-gray velvet upholstery. “As this was the main seating, we picked a mid tone to hide dirt,” Nguyen says. “It’s 100 percent polyester, which means they can spot-clean it.”
Jacob sectional: The Spotted Frog
Sectional: The custom-made sectional features durable mid-gray velvet upholstery. “As this was the main seating, we picked a mid tone to hide dirt,” Nguyen says. “It’s 100 percent polyester, which means they can spot-clean it.”
Jacob sectional: The Spotted Frog
Coffee table: “We needed a round coffee table to break all the linear lines,” Nguyen says. The solid mahogany, hand-carved, delicate fretwork added texture without overwhelming the room.
Noor coffee table: Style In Form; gold hand: Bovi Home; candle and cloche: Voluspa; vase: Torre & Tagus — all items via The Spotted Frog
Noor coffee table: Style In Form; gold hand: Bovi Home; candle and cloche: Voluspa; vase: Torre & Tagus — all items via The Spotted Frog
Dining Area
The knockout: The original home had a separated kitchen and dining room floor plan. Nguyen and her team removed an adjoining wall to create an open plan, allowing the adults to always keep their eyes on the little ones.
Chandelier: “This gorgeous chandelier was truly our jumping-off point for this project,” Nguyen says. “We wanted an overscale, jaw-dropping, unexpected piece that could hold the open concept space while accentuating the vaulted ceiling, without being visually heavy.”
Flooring: gray oak laminate, King of Floors; chandelier: Jacqueline 2-tiered chandelier: Visual Comfort
The knockout: The original home had a separated kitchen and dining room floor plan. Nguyen and her team removed an adjoining wall to create an open plan, allowing the adults to always keep their eyes on the little ones.
Chandelier: “This gorgeous chandelier was truly our jumping-off point for this project,” Nguyen says. “We wanted an overscale, jaw-dropping, unexpected piece that could hold the open concept space while accentuating the vaulted ceiling, without being visually heavy.”
Flooring: gray oak laminate, King of Floors; chandelier: Jacqueline 2-tiered chandelier: Visual Comfort
Dining table: The solid maple dining table is a custom piece made locally in British Columbia. It was purchased for the clients in 2008. For the new space, Nguyen had the table refinished to match the stain of the French vintage-inspired dining chairs.
Chairs: LH Imports
Chairs: LH Imports
Kitchen
Counter stools: With space between the peninsula and dining table at a premium, Nguyen needed to find compact backless counter stools that would tuck in neatly under the counter. The stools she found online “for a steal” were bar height, but the silhouette was perfect. So Nguyen had them cut down to size.
Pendant lights: To complement the dramatic chandelier without sacrificing too much attention, the pendants were kept simple, with gold to carry through the theme.
Pendant lights: Crate & Barrel
Counter stools: With space between the peninsula and dining table at a premium, Nguyen needed to find compact backless counter stools that would tuck in neatly under the counter. The stools she found online “for a steal” were bar height, but the silhouette was perfect. So Nguyen had them cut down to size.
Pendant lights: To complement the dramatic chandelier without sacrificing too much attention, the pendants were kept simple, with gold to carry through the theme.
Pendant lights: Crate & Barrel
The clients wanted a predominantly white classic kitchen with a modern twist.
Flooring: Porcelain marble-look tile, GL Stone & Tile
Flooring: Porcelain marble-look tile, GL Stone & Tile
Cabinetry: Across from the sink, stained gray custom cabinetry with Shaker fronts and integrated refrigeration goes all the way to the ceiling.
Custom cabinetry: Strokes Renovations
Custom cabinetry: Strokes Renovations
Backsplash: Amid Bianca Carrara marble subway tile, a water-jet cut mosaic Carrara marble inset backsplash with pencil trim creates a focal point above the range.
Tile and pencil trim: GL Stone & Tile
Tile and pencil trim: GL Stone & Tile
Escape: The wife wanted a retreat for reading a book or drinking a glass of wine, so a sunny nook in the kitchen was designated just for her. “The wing-back armchair is a cheeky nod to the queen of the home,” Nguyen says.
Caesar armchair: The Spotted Frog
Caesar armchair: The Spotted Frog
Mudroom: “In this small space we didn’t have the luxury of a separate mudroom,” Nguyen says, “but the main access is actually from the back of the house where the kitchen is.” To support this entrance, custom mudroom cabinetry was built for storage with a beadboard back detail.
Gold hooks: Lee Valley Hardware
Gold hooks: Lee Valley Hardware
Guest bathroom: Since the kids also use the guest bath, Nguyen and the homeowners opted for a more dynamic look, adding navy blue into the scheme of white, light gray and gold. The floor is porcelain hex tile that looks like marble.
Custom cabinetry: Strokes Renovations; porcelain marble-like hex mosaic tile, 4 inches: Ames Tile & Stone; white beveled subway tile: GL Stone & Tile
Custom cabinetry: Strokes Renovations; porcelain marble-like hex mosaic tile, 4 inches: Ames Tile & Stone; white beveled subway tile: GL Stone & Tile
Master bedroom: Using the same colors as the rest of the house, Nguyen put an extra emphasis on romance in the master bedroom. A gold chandelier hangs over a custom solid maple bed and nightstands.
Wallpaper: Crown Wallpaper; toss cushions and chunky knit throw: Indaba; Gold Bling chandelier: Robert Abbey; custom solid maple nightstands and mission-style bed; marble table lamps: West Elm
Wallpaper: Crown Wallpaper; toss cushions and chunky knit throw: Indaba; Gold Bling chandelier: Robert Abbey; custom solid maple nightstands and mission-style bed; marble table lamps: West Elm
Ikea hack: “The Pax closet was a budget-saving solution from Ikea,” Nguyen says. “We had our contractors frame it in and trim it out for a high-end look.”
Master bathroom: In the master bath, elements such as plumbing, venting, electrical and a window could not be moved. The clients wanted more closed storage and were willing to forgo countertop space for it. Nguyen’s team built a custom cabinet that achieved that goal.
With no space for wall sconces or hanging pendants, an LED backlit mirror serves as its own lighting source.
Bianca Carrara flower-patterned mosaic tile: GL Stone & Tile
Bianca Carrara flower-patterned mosaic tile: GL Stone & Tile
Boy’s nursery: A slight departure from the main scheme of the home, black was added to the boy’s room for a more graphic approach.
Wallpaper: Anewall
Wallpaper: Anewall
Girl’s nursery: Here, Nguyen amplified the traditional French vintage style with a hint of pink, while sticking to the main color scheme.
Wallpaper: Anewall; beaded chandelier: Pottery Barn Kids; furniture: Lussobaby; paint: April Pink, Benjamin Moore
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Wallpaper: Anewall; beaded chandelier: Pottery Barn Kids; furniture: Lussobaby; paint: April Pink, Benjamin Moore
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Beautiful. I love the color scheme. The whites and grays are so soothing. Well done!
So much white, so little time.