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TOP & BOTTOM LEFT: The 3,000-square-foot high-rise condo
adjacent to Stanley Park in Vancouver warranted a complete
makeover of the builder's conventional plan and finishes.
Stripped to the studs and rearranged, the final contemporary
concept includes design elements that complement the
juxtaposition of the wide-board rustic flooring with gallery-like
white walls. Soft custom carpeting, Italian furnishings, and
the owner's own art collection provide artistic punctuation.
FACING PAGE TOP: White window casings become virtual
picture frames for the views throughout. The living room
vistas, in particular, are dramatic with minimal casing and
baseboards. Motorized blinds on all the windows add to
minimalist aesthetic while providing privacy and making it
easy to open the room up to natural light. A gas fireplace that
seems to float in space adds a surrealist aesthetic.
FACING PAGE BOTTOM: Instead of a traditional breakfast table,
Luxford created a "chat space" with four modern swivel chairs
surrounding a low coffee table, offering a place to sit and keep
the chef company or for quiet reflection while admiring the view.
Custom European cabinetry includes subtle reflective finishes
that visually expand the kitchen. The space also illustrates
Luxford's strongly held belief that lighting should be integral
to the initial design. "Lighting is the key to mood and function,"
she says. "It is huge in how you feel in a room."
Photographs by Ema Peter
"Most people understand,
on a deeper level, that the
home they reside in affects
their hearts and minds. A
good architect makes them
aware of how a house feels,
how it lives, rather than just
how it looks."
–Lee Luxford
