My Houzz: Travel, Art and Creative Layering Mix in Vancouver
Personality reigns in this eclectic Canadian waterfront home, thanks to the owners' artistic approach
When couples join their lives and possessions under one roof, their styles don’t always match up. Compromises happen; sometimes arguments ensue and someone is forced to sell their beloved things or bury them in storage. This was not the case for Randy and Heather Zieber, however, who met while traveling through London in 2005 and later married and settled in Vancouver after a three-year long-distance relationship.
Their possessions had just as much in common as they did. Even before they met, they both collected crosses, and they both had a knack for sourcing similar artsy found objects. Their combined style blends various artwork — Randy is an artist — with interesting lighting pieces for a layered, eclectic look. “It was amazing how well it all came together,” says Heather, a stay-at-home mom and part-time masseuse.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Heather and Randy Zieber and their 2-year-old daughter, Zoe
Location: False Creek area of Vancouver
Size: 1,590 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms plus a solarium
Their possessions had just as much in common as they did. Even before they met, they both collected crosses, and they both had a knack for sourcing similar artsy found objects. Their combined style blends various artwork — Randy is an artist — with interesting lighting pieces for a layered, eclectic look. “It was amazing how well it all came together,” says Heather, a stay-at-home mom and part-time masseuse.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Heather and Randy Zieber and their 2-year-old daughter, Zoe
Location: False Creek area of Vancouver
Size: 1,590 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms plus a solarium
Some of the couple's collected crosses are scattered throughout the bedroom.
The large white cross is by New Zealand designer Catherine David. The wood bench was brought back from a trip to France, and the wood pillars on either side of the bed are from India. Wood-framed mirrors from Paris lean against the wall. The largest piece is an antique, hand-carved Indian window frame.
Painting: Sam Lam
The large white cross is by New Zealand designer Catherine David. The wood bench was brought back from a trip to France, and the wood pillars on either side of the bed are from India. Wood-framed mirrors from Paris lean against the wall. The largest piece is an antique, hand-carved Indian window frame.
Painting: Sam Lam
The bright, open-concept living room is decorated in neutral tones. The swivel base chair is a streetside treasure Randy found one day while driving. He replaced the broken legs with the swivel base and switched the cushion for a sheepskin throw.
The 1950s vintage sofa is from Heather's massage clinic. "It used to be the reception chair," she says.
The floor mirror is from the late 1800s. "The gold gilding used to be perfect; it has moved three continents and remained in remarkable condition for nearly two centuries. Now, my child, who has been in the world for two years, has picked a lot of the gilding off," Heather says.
White side table: Alessi
The 1950s vintage sofa is from Heather's massage clinic. "It used to be the reception chair," she says.
The floor mirror is from the late 1800s. "The gold gilding used to be perfect; it has moved three continents and remained in remarkable condition for nearly two centuries. Now, my child, who has been in the world for two years, has picked a lot of the gilding off," Heather says.
White side table: Alessi
The couple draws inspiration from their extensive travels, which put them in touch with other cultures. "We both love design, especially architectural lighting and furniture, and we have built an art collection to personalize our space," Heather says.
A Philippe Starck clear acrylic Louis Ghost Chair commands attention in the living room, but the pair of original 1960s Casalino children's chairs take center stage. The couple purchased them at Pacific Galleries in Seattle; they were Heather's first purchase when she found out she was pregnant.
Storage unit: Expedit, Ikea; pendant: Midsummer, Tord Boontje; artwork above television: Ryland Fortie; black artwork: Yuriko Goon
A Philippe Starck clear acrylic Louis Ghost Chair commands attention in the living room, but the pair of original 1960s Casalino children's chairs take center stage. The couple purchased them at Pacific Galleries in Seattle; they were Heather's first purchase when she found out she was pregnant.
Storage unit: Expedit, Ikea; pendant: Midsummer, Tord Boontje; artwork above television: Ryland Fortie; black artwork: Yuriko Goon
The atomic-era Sputnik floor lamp near the patio entry was an eBay find for $75 Canadian (about U.S.$73).
Randy, who often travels the world in search of unusual stone for everyone from famous sculptors to elementary school kids learning to carve with soapstone, bought the trio of living room coffee tables in India. They were once used as mortars for crushing grains.
Heather found the 7-foot-tall molded polyethylene floor lamp while walking the Vancouver seawall, in what was her first "Dumpster dive," she says. "I saw it in the bin outside a restaurant. It had melted a little on one side, as I guess it was too close to the outdoor propane heaters. I went in and asked the manager if could have it."
She later discovered that the lamp, called the Inout Out, is by Spanish designers Ramón Ubeda and Otto Canalda for Metalarte; it retails for around $2,900 Canadian.
Heather found the 7-foot-tall molded polyethylene floor lamp while walking the Vancouver seawall, in what was her first "Dumpster dive," she says. "I saw it in the bin outside a restaurant. It had melted a little on one side, as I guess it was too close to the outdoor propane heaters. I went in and asked the manager if could have it."
She later discovered that the lamp, called the Inout Out, is by Spanish designers Ramón Ubeda and Otto Canalda for Metalarte; it retails for around $2,900 Canadian.
Randy works in a building with more than 100 artist studios, and according to Heather, "he is always finding random, unusual things." For example, in the dining room, Randy added antlers to a fake head as a playful take on taxidermy.
Surrounding the repurposed sewing table from France is a chair collection from Versailles. The chairs have the original stamp 'CFV' from Versailles Railway Station and cost $400 Canadian each (about U.S.$393). Randy made both the ambient and decorative lighting fixtures. The corner floor lamp is made of stacked lampshades, illuminated by low-watt bulbs for a soft glow.
The texture in the wall painting, by Wayne Coryell, is meant to look like the skin of a drum.
Surrounding the repurposed sewing table from France is a chair collection from Versailles. The chairs have the original stamp 'CFV' from Versailles Railway Station and cost $400 Canadian each (about U.S.$393). Randy made both the ambient and decorative lighting fixtures. The corner floor lamp is made of stacked lampshades, illuminated by low-watt bulbs for a soft glow.
The texture in the wall painting, by Wayne Coryell, is meant to look like the skin of a drum.
The unique mice figurine centerpiece was purchased in Vancouver and is from the set of the movie Cats and Dogs.
Ancient Chinese family portrait wall hangings purchased on eBay line a hallway that leads to the solarium.
The Ziebers use the solarium as their art gallery. A zinc table found at an old candle factory in Vancouver displays a collection of ephemera, like skulls and scupltures. "It has a nice patina from all the wax drippings, and it's interesting how the word "salvage" is stamped on the front," Heather says.
LED rope lighting was bent to form the word "love." "We just bought it by the meter at Canadian Tire and used good old sticky tape and a couple of nails to hold it up," Heather says. Randy's sculptures and paintings, plus artwork by friend and favorite local artist Sarah Gee Miler, also fill out the space.
LED rope lighting was bent to form the word "love." "We just bought it by the meter at Canadian Tire and used good old sticky tape and a couple of nails to hold it up," Heather says. Randy's sculptures and paintings, plus artwork by friend and favorite local artist Sarah Gee Miler, also fill out the space.
The couple's two-year-old daughter, Zoe, explores the solarium on a birthday present from Mom and Dad: a Vespa-inspired bike from Chapters.
The large black armchair to the right was purchased in town but once was used on the set of the movie Fantastic Four.
The bold blue and black print is a 1960s Marimekko fabric stretched on canvas. Randy, who once lived and studied in Japan, painted the framed Japanese-style brush paintings.
The large black armchair to the right was purchased in town but once was used on the set of the movie Fantastic Four.
The bold blue and black print is a 1960s Marimekko fabric stretched on canvas. Randy, who once lived and studied in Japan, painted the framed Japanese-style brush paintings.
More collections are displayed at the top of the staircase. A credenza from India displays various 1960s glass pieces. Randy painted the portrait of Heather based on her passport photo.
The stairwell gallery wall features the work of Australian artist Emma Magenta, whose beginnings tell a fun tale. "The artist used to doodle on scraps of paper while working at a bookstore in Sydney," Heather says. "The owners thought the drawings were charming and let her hang them on the walls of their store. To their surprise, people kept asking to buy them. She became quite famous, and the doodles quite expensive."
The stairwell gallery wall features the work of Australian artist Emma Magenta, whose beginnings tell a fun tale. "The artist used to doodle on scraps of paper while working at a bookstore in Sydney," Heather says. "The owners thought the drawings were charming and let her hang them on the walls of their store. To their surprise, people kept asking to buy them. She became quite famous, and the doodles quite expensive."
Zoe’s bedroom is the first room the couple worked on. "Getting ready for her to arrive in this world, we wanted her to be surrounded by a collection of pretty yet quirky things," Heather says. Disco balls beside the bed in assorted sizes add sparkle and a sense of whimsy alongside the sheer white bed canopy.
The headboard was found at a metal recycling yard, where Randy usually finds pieces for his lighting designs.
Bed canopy: Ozzie Mozzie; floor lamp: Pacific Galleries
The headboard was found at a metal recycling yard, where Randy usually finds pieces for his lighting designs.
Bed canopy: Ozzie Mozzie; floor lamp: Pacific Galleries
"Love is what brought me to Vancouver," Heather says.
Figurative painting: Eve Leader, purchased at the Eastside Culture Crawl