This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Design ideas for a small contemporary open plan dining in London with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen/dining combo in London with white walls and grey floor.

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in London with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and vaulted.

Open floor plan living. Photo: Jeffrey Totaro.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Philadelphia with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

In the dining area, our joiners created the bespoke storage cupboards and corner bench framing the Isidore Leroy wallpaper in a colour scheme matching the coloured appliances and other displayed items.

The Big Bang dining table is based on our classic Vega table, but with a surprising new twist. Big Bang is extendable to accommodate more guests, with center storage for two fold-out butterfly table leaves, tucked out of sight. Collapsed, Big Bang measures 50”x50” to accommodate daily life in our client’s small dining nook, but expands to either 72” or 94” when needed. Big Bang was originally commissioned in white oak, but is available in all of our solid wood materials. Several coats of hand-applied clear finish accentuate Big Bangs natural wood surface & add a layer of extra protection. The Big Bang is a physical theory that describes how the universe… and this table, expanded. Material: White Oak Collapsed Dimensions: 50”L x 50”W x 30”H Extendable Dimensions: (1) 72" or (2) 94" Tabletop thickness: 1.5” Finish: Natural clear coat Build & Interior design by SD Design Studio, Furnishings by Casa Fox Studio, captured by Nader Essa Photography.

Création d'une verrière en chêne en verre, sur mesure, après démolition d'un cloison séparative classique en placoplâtre, création de meubles de rangement en partie basse. La verrière est en chêne massif, avec 2 portes coulissantes centrales et 2 parties fixes latérales, au-dessus des 2 meubles bas de rangements.

Photo of a large beach style kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

This casita was completely renovated from floor to ceiling in preparation of Airbnb short term romantic getaways. The color palette of teal green, blue and white was brought to life with curated antiques that were stripped of their dark stain colors, collected fine linens, fine plaster wall finishes, authentic Turkish rugs, antique and custom light fixtures, original oil paintings and moorish chevron tile and Moroccan pattern choices.

Interior Design By Designer and Broker Jessica Koltun Home | Selling Dallas Texas
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional dining room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

One of our favorite parts of the design is the gallery wall that we curated above our staircase. We filled almost every inch of the wall, and that’s the only place we have personal photos in the whole home. Today, it’s full of pictures from our wedding and honeymoon, but over time we can swap the frames out so it’s ever-evolving.

This condo was a blank slate. All new furnishings and decor. And how fun is it to get light fixtures installed into a stretched ceiling? I think the electrician is still cursing at us. This is the view from the front entry into the dining room.

Rénovation complète d'une maison en bordure du Parc de Sceaux. Dans la salle à manger, un placard de rangement a été incrusté afin de faire parti de la pièce. Avec ses niches en bois et ses façades couleur Mangue, le placard habille la pièce et la vivifie. Dans celui-ci il y a des tiroirs et des étagères sur une profondeur de 45cm.

The open and informal dining area is separated from the family room by a built-in buffet counter. High ceilings, tall windows and transom glass expand the room to an outside patio and bring in tons of light. Understated natural finishes bring the outdoors inside.

Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean dining room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Ship Lap Ceiling, Exposed beams Minwax Ebony. Walls Benjamin Moore Alabaster
Photo of a mid-sized country open plan dining in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Design ideas for a large transitional separate dining room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and wood.

Key decor elements include: Henry Dining table by Egg Collective, Ch20 Elbow chairs by Hans Wegner, Bana triple vase from Horne, Brass candlesticks from Skultuna, Agnes 10 light chandelier powder coated in black and brass finish by Lindsey Adelman from Roll and Hill