Personal Space: Herschel Co-Founder Lyndon Cormack Has a Cabin for a Home Office and a Trailer for a Guesthouse

Lyndon Cormack is no stranger to entertaining—and apparently that runs in the family. The co-founder of Herschel Supply Co. warns us that the day before our shoot (at the mid-point of sweltering summer) his teen daughters had thrown a daytime dock party, “so things might be a bit messy.”

The home—by the way—is not at all “messy.” It’s tidy, but it’s also eclectic, and not lacking for personality. As Cormack would say, it’s lived-in. Bright pops of colour decorate the main house—hundreds upon hundreds of Bocci light fixtures, some hanging fibre art fixtures, brightly coloured rugs laid upon the slate tiles. The home is fashionable, and it’s functional. And we couldn’t expect any less from Cormack, who built an entire brand around utility with style. “I mean, I’m very used to my own house,” Cormack laughs. “But when people come over it’s like—‘What is this place?’ There’s something about it that makes people stop.”

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In fact, he’d loved the home years before he bought it from goldsmith Susan MacDonald—he’d been a guest at the annual Woodlands Regatta hosted on the property. The gathering has been going strong for more than 115 years in this small, forest-wrapped cove of around 80 homes. “[Susan] was very involved in the build,” Cormack says—the artist had added a welding studio and quirky, one-of-a-kind design flourishes throughout the home. “When I bought it, I saw artistry already embedded.”

So when Cormack purchased the home for his family 11 years ago, instead of gutting the space, he leaned into a concept he returns to often in design: layering. “I didn’t want to erase what was here,” he says. “I wanted to add to it.” That meant decor, but also expanding the property, like creating a cabin-like personal workspace and a homey guest trailer. “This might not be my house forever, but whoever owns it next will add their own layer. That’s what makes a space evolve.

PHOTOS: Inside Lyndon Cormack’s Personal Workspace and Decked-Out Trailer

Working It

The home office, which is a separate structure just steps from his house and trailer, is an intentional escape. “It’s still close, but it lets me leave the house,” he says. “I built a fireplace in here. It is pretty amazing: a crackling wood fireplace. It’s all cozy and warm. When I get on Zoom calls, quite often people think I have a fake background.”

 

All Aflame

Fire is one of Cormack’s key motifs. “We burn through seven cords of wood a year,” he says. “We have fires on in the mornings and at night, and we burn lots of wood, and it’s just this house that is glowing with crackling wood all the time… I think that the nature part of me is like: start a little fire in the morning when the kids are getting ready for school. It’s kind of my ideal life.”

READ MORE: Inside Sculptor Marie Khouri’s Home Studio and Gallery

Well Worn

Cormack ordered two matching 1970s leather chairs from 1stDibs, an online marketplace for luxury antiques and furniture. He wanted to make sure the chairs, which came from Italy, had already been well-loved. “I was drawn to the kind of patina that tells a story, something that already had a life before it landed here.”

Trailer Park Boy

What’s new on the sprawling four-acre property is the recently built guest and office area, anchored by a 1953 Spartanette trailer, once the most luxurious trailer you could buy, Cormack says. “Made by aircraft manufacturers after World War Two, it’s fascinating to see how that craftsmanship transitioned into something for everyday enjoyment,” says Cormack. His version now acts as a cozy, mid-century guest space, complete with—of course—architectural Bocci lighting in the bathroom, a lounge and sleeping quarters.

Shine a Light

Bocci light fixtures can be found in almost every corner of the house, and Cormack says there are more than 300 of the colourful bulbs at this point. It helps that Cormack is friends with Bocci founders Omer Arbel and Randy Bishop, the creative forces behind the lighting empire.

Rinse and Repeat

“I love design rigour,” Cormack says. “If you love a material, use it. Repeat it. It creates familiarity.” Clear cedar wraps not only the decks surrounding the trailer, but also the sauna, ceramic studio and, partially, the fences. The effect: a unified identity that makes this multi-structure property feel whole.

READ MORE: Meg and Steve Hübert Hand-Painted the Tiles in Their Kitchen

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Lyndon Cormack’s Favourite Deep Cove Haunts

Being in close proximity to Deep Cove is certainly a plus for  Lyndon Cormack, whose  waterfront abode connects easily to the main strip of the town. A bonus? He doesn’t even have to drive to get there. He just jumps on his boat from the 1,600-square-foot deepwater dock and heads “downtown.”

A’hoy

Admittedly, Cormack is a co-owner of the building that houses A’hoy, and it’s another spot where he shows off his excellent taste. “We sell everything from Pendleton towels to Aesop soap,” he says. You’ll also find table and homeware, decor and, of course, some Herschel Supply Co. goods. 4391 Gallant Ave., ahoygoods.com

Honey’s

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This buzzy, homey café serving up housemade brunch and lunch (or even simple coffee and doughnuts to go) has been a Deep Cove neighbourhood staple since 1996, and Cormack has found himself here more than a few times—often stuck in the lineup out the door. Locals know it’s worth the wait. 4373 Gallant Ave., honeydoughnuts.com

Dip Co. Sandwich

You won’t find a better (or more “monster”) lunch in the Lower Mainland, and Cormack is a fan of these hefty Italian-style sandwiches. Sure, they might run you up to $20, but the Delicioco (Italian mortadella and Florence salami, ricotta cheese sauce and greens) is just the beginning of this stacked menu.  4381 Gallant Ave., dip-co.ca