Step Inside a West Coast Artist’s Eclectic Family Home

“Our house is best defined as a modern farmhouse,” says Michael. “I wanted to add elements that mixed styles and didn’t follow a prescribed design.” The garage door in particular is an interesting contemporary counterpoint to the exterior’s barn-style feel.

The electric-yellow front door is a nod to the family’s favourite vacation spot. Michael says, “We love the mid-century aesthetic of Palm Springs and I wanted to bring a bit of that home and capture the feeling of being on vacation in a sunny place.”

The comfy living area is capped off with a playful accessory. “I found the ‘S’ on eBay,” says Michael. “It’s wired into the house and when lit it casts a moody-blue light over the room.” Below, IKEA shelves and cabinets provide a practical perch for the TV and places to display books and mementos.

An Eames chair and Arco lamp reference Michael’s affinity for mid-century modern style and furnish a perfect place to read in the living room.

Artistic finds, including this black and white bottle by a local Vancouver artist, enliven the book shelf. The novel beneath the painting may have been chosen for a thoughtful play on words and image.

Furnishings with meaning, like these thrift-shop trunks, are layered throughout the space. “I got the chest in when I was in university and the suitcase was a wedding present,” says Michael. Their natural patina is a rich foil to the colourful patchwork stool and side table.

A simple dining table, made from locally sourced barn wood by Tsawwassen-based artist Yorke Graham, lets other pieces shine. “The chairs and chandelier add a modern element,” says Michael, “and the art is an original from Toronto artist Christine Flynn.”

The dining room chandelier was a splurge that Michael had to have. “I saw it on the TV show The Voice and went online to hunt it down.”

An unexpected floor clock cozies up this corner of the dining room. “I’ve always wanted a grandfather clock and love that this one is a modern twist in terms of design but still ticks and has the old-sounding chimes of a vintage model.”

Bright orange accessories (and real life ‘props’ like a bowl of oranges) feel dramatic and fun in the mostly white kitchen. Michael found the arrow light on Etsy; it was a budget-friendly alternative to the vintage styles he had been sourcing.

“I think of lighting as art,” says Michael. “I didn’t want standard globe pendants here, and Ann and I love how these add a graphic element. They may not be in style forever, but they can be easily changed and weren’t too expensive.”

The blackboard door isn’t just a graphic face. “We use it regularly whether for shopping lists, birthday wishes or messages for each other.”

“Life happens in the kitchen,” says Michael, pictured here with his wife Ann and their daughter Kaya, 12, and son Zane, 9. “That’s why you can never have an island too big. I’d go even bigger if we ever build again – but don’t tell Ann!”

This tiny space in the kitchen is a powerhouse of ingenious storage. “We wanted a pantry and place for the computer but didn’t have a lot of room. I saw this idea of pipe-and-plank shelving online and borrowed it.” It and the sliding door were built by artist Yorke Graham who also designed the family’s dining room table.

Not a neglected area for dropping off keys, the entryway beguiles with a mix of new furnishings, antiques (like the vintage violin hung like art) and souvenirs. “We picked up the punched metal floor lamp while on vacation in Mexico. It creates a cool effect when it’s lit up at night.”

The light box above the stairs is an unlikely homage. “I was a huge fan of the TV show Three’s Company as a kid and they had this poster in their apartment. I wanted to find a fun way to bring it into our house.”

Artwork transforms a hallway from merely functional to interesting and gallery-like. “The piece at the end is one of my favourites. It’s by American artist Andy Curlowe.” An antique crate, bottle and jar serve as interesting counterpoints to the modern art.

This area overlooks the living room and is testament to savvy budgeting: the shelves are IKEA vs. built-ins and the antique chair was a thrift shop find from Seattle. That left room for the splurge-worthy painting by Signe Grushovenko.

This piano, which belonged to Ann’s mother, has pride of place in the house. “We designed this space especially for it,” says Michael. Well-edited accessories, including the cuckoo clock, add interest without detracting from this family heirloom.

Moroccan tiles feel upscale and bohemian in the main floor powder room. Their intricate design is complemented by the mirror’s frame, and both are tempered by the simple wooden vanity and vessel sink.

This corner of the powder room fends off an expected towel rack with a whimsical, wall-mounted hook. The gold-framed drawings add energy to the tiny room by layering in a more traditional and elegant look.

Michael’s fearless approach to decorating is evident in the master bedroom. “I think every item in here can be considered a different style, but I feel like if you stick to what you like, everything falls into place.” The best advice? “Don’t be afraid of making a mistake.”

“I like to incorporate a bit of wood into every room,” says Michael. The master bedroom’s pendant light does just that and quietly references the hardwood flooring found on the first floor. Its curvy shape is a visual foil to the bedroom’s mostly straight lines.

The oversized honeycomb floor tiles and the colourful artwork, which Michael created, keep the eye moving around this otherwise simple ensuite bathroom. Smoky glass pendants stand out in the white colour scheme and softly illuminate his-and-hers sinks.

Kaya’s bedroom is a medley of magical colours and patterns thanks to the bedding and cushions, along with a bold pendant light from IKEA. The artwork is actually a picture Michael took, mounted on a board and resined. “It’s a snap of the family at Disneyland on the teacup ride that captures a great moment we had together.”

This IKEA hanging chair in Kaya’s bedroom doesn’t take up any floor space and is surprisingly comfortable – it’s one of her favourite spots to read.

Done with playtime, Sonny, the family’s beloved pug, waits to be let back inside.

This conversation-piece chair from Urban Barn sits on the covered patio at the back of the house year-round. It injects a sense of whimsy and colour and is one of Zane’s preferred perches.

More visual display than patio seating, these wooden chairs were found in an antique shop and were originally from a little theatre on Vancouver Island. “I just love the way they look here,” says Michael. The thoroughly new ram’s head keeps things interesting.

Michael’s self-contained studio feels connected to the house in part by its matching yellow door and the adjacent cedar-clad outdoor shower stall. The fun dog sculpture is crafted from old fire extinguishers.

“We live five minutes from the beach so built an outdoor shower where we could easily rinse off the sand and salt water.” Its design is so enticing that it’s used for more than post-coast visits. “It’s just fun showering outside, and we find we use this all the time.” The shoe towel rack, bought at Anthropologie about 15 years ago, looks vintage.

The west-facing backyard is bathed in natural light, a perk even on cloudy BC days. Michael says the family spends as much time as possible outdoors and the covered patio, with its string lights and comfy chairs, makes it that much easier.