This new construction home is in the Government Road neighborhood of Burnaby, B.C. “The street that is an interesting mix of older homes and new builds, with each house really having its own character,” designer Laura Drake tells us. “When the clients first approached me, they asked for modern farmhouse, but this home is really in the city, so the concept evolved throughout the design process.”
The family of five had previously resided in a very contemporary space, and their hope was that their new home would feel more welcoming and inviting. And with three kids, there is a lot of coming and going so durability of materials would be paramount.
Budget was also a top consideration. “This really isn’t a small house so the cost per square foot of each of the materials needed to stay in check,” Laura explains. “The key to keeping it all looking elevated was making sure that every selection (regardless of cost) was being pulled from the same color palette. We used warm white, rich wood, soft gray and off-black everywhere throughout the home, including the furnishing.”
In the end, it is nearly indistinguishable which spaces are high and which are low—a mix Laura intentionally created to feel cohesive. “If a lot could be gained by spending more, like custom millwork, that was the choice but if we could get comparable quality and style for less, we went that way, which we did with the tile throughout and the countertops in the secondary spaces,” she says. As for style? “I think where we landed is more ‘classic through a modern lens.’”
