Photos: Peek Inside This Elegant Family Home

How designer Victoria Mckenney created a sophisticated, timeless design for a family of four.

In partnership with The owners of this house in Burnaby wanted a home that would have practical and durable materials that could grow with their family, but still have a sophisticated style. “They wanted to build their ‘forever home,'” says interior designer Victoria Mckenney of Enviable Designs. “The clients want to raise their children in the same house as they grow. This home was designed in a way that would make this possible.”Most of the main rooms in the house are long and shallow. This odd shape made placing the furniture a challenge—particularly in the kitchen. Mckenney broke up this space by placing a casual eating area at the end of the kitchen.The warm and bright kitchen is Mckenney’s favorite room in the house. “It’s a space that’s light, but also has a richness,” she says. “The different materials we used give it depth.”The high-end appliances were chosen with a master chef in mind, and the clients love to make use of the entire space. The stainless steel range and oven blend smoothly with the custom cabinetry, granite island and marble backsplash.A set of Nana doors divides the casual space from the more formal dining room. These doors were custom designed with a leaded pattern also seen in the dining room’s millwork.The doors not only fold away, but also have the ability to slide in a flush-mounted track, which allows for as much or as little separation as the clients want. This is a perfect setup for the formal dining room—open the doors, and a dinner party can be twice as large!Large windows let in natural light in most rooms, creating an open and light feel. Mckenney balanced this out with very elegant materials such as marble and walnut. The dining room is a great example of this balance, resulting in a fresh but traditional look.The clients had previously bought a property on Capitol Hill with an amazing view of the city. So when building this home, they wanted something similar. The house was designed so living spaces could take advantage of the city view on the second floor, while all of the bedrooms are on the main floor.To keep the home kid-friendly, Mckenney and her clients chose fabrics that are hardwearing and slightly darker in colour (to hide fingerprints). For contrasting pops of colour, Mckenney found some fun tangerine pillows for the living room.Mckenney also chose a combination of quality products with pieces that are a little less expensive. For example, the carpet in the living room cost less than $200. “There was just no point in investing a ton of money in a carpet that would definitely be ruined in a year,” she says.Mckenney loved working with these clients because they were so receptive to different ideas and colour schemes.Detailed molding throughout the house adds a sense of architectural depth and drama. “The home almost feels European in that sense,” says Mckenney. The master bedroom’s soft palette contrasts with the more traditional structure.The curvy lines of the sink and the modern floral wallpaper give the master bathroom a slightly feminine feel, which is balanced out with a slick grey countertop and crisp white cabinetry.

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