The Hippie House
West Vancouver, BC
When Joanne and Terry moved into their West Vancouver home, they arrived with far more than furniture. Over decades of travel, music, art-making, collecting, entertaining and raising a family, they had built a life rich with stories, rituals and treasured objects. Their previous home reflected this beautifully: layered, eclectic and deeply personal. Their new house, while generous in scale, had yet to find its soul.
Rather than pursuing a particular style, we set out to create a home that felt as though it had evolved naturally over time. One that could hold their collections, celebrate their creativity, and reflect the lives they had spent fifty years building together. The result is a home filled with colour, texture, craftsmanship and surprise; a home where books, music, artwork and meaningful objects sit comfortably alongside everyday life, and where every room tells a part of Joanne and Terry's story.
We wanted the house to reveal itself gradually. From the front door, there are small hints of what lies beyond: colour, artwork, collected objects and well-worn rugs. Nothing is fully visible at first, but there is enough to make you want to keep moving through the house. By the time the view opens up, it already feels as though you've been invited into someone's story.
The kitchen was designed around Joanne. She loves to cook, entertain and collect beautiful things, so hiding everything away never felt quite right. Open shelves display favourite ceramics and everyday pieces, and a custom stain glass piece filters light into the room and adds a little theatre to daily life.
The former eating area was transformed into a breakfast nook the front garden. We were immediately drawn to the quality of light in this part of the house and wanted to create a space that celebrated it. Wrapped in patterned wallpaper and filled with natural light throughout the day, it has become a favourite spot for morning coffee, reading, working, or simply watching the garden change with the seasons.
We spent a great deal of time discussing the fireplace. The blue tile ultimately won everyone over; its colour and movement reminded us of the ocean just beyond the windows. Terry swims every day and it felt like a lovely way to bring a little of that ritual into the room. The fireplace now anchors the space, surrounded by books, plants, artwork and the ever-changing view outside.
The red wall came early and stayed throughout the project. We loved it from the start. It gives Joanne and Terry's artwork, plants and collections something to play against and brings a wonderful warmth to the room, especially during the darker months of the year.
Terry and Joanne own hundreds of books and records, so it felt only right to create a dedicated place to enjoy them. The proscenium gives the room a sense of occasion and transforms an open nook into a cozy retreat. Wrapped in grasscloth, warm wood tones and soft light, it quickly became everyone's favourite room in the house.
Millwork - Gimli Wood + Steel Co.
Photography - Janis Nicolay
Not every room needs to take itself too seriously. The powder room was our opportunity to embrace colour, pattern and a little bit of mischief. Wrapped in a mural wallpaper and layered with collected art and objects, it feels like a tiny world of its own.