Most families with young kids accept that “elegance” probably won’t be a part of their vocabulary for a while—raising little ones can be a messy business. But Annaliesse Kelly, principal of AK Design, refuses to concede that elegant design and everyday function have to be mutually exclusive. For clients living in Vancouver’s South Cambie neighbourhood with two children (and an active dog, too!), she turned a 2,728-square-foot home into a serene retreat that can handle the hustle and bustle of a family of four.

Tina Kulic

A hardy area rug anchors the space and provides comfort and visual warmth; sheer curtains gently diffuse the light, but aren’t too precious. In addition to very-wipeable caramel leather chairs, kids can clamber all over the wall-to-wall bench—a piece that contains storage for their toys, too. “We wanted the space to feel like a warm hug amidst the chaos of city life,” writes Kelly. “This home is not just a living space; it’s a sanctuary.”

Project: Everyday Elegance living room
Designer: AK Design
Location: Vancouver

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Stacey McLachlan

Stacey McLachlan

Stacey is a senior editor at Western Living magazine, as well as editor-in-chief of sister publication Vancouver magazine. She loves window shopping on the job: send your home accessories and furniture recommendations over to [email protected]