8 Homes with Gorgeous Archways

Whether browsing real estate listings or flipping through the pages of Western Living, curved doorways immediately capture my attention. I am obsessed with this architectural feature and rightfully so, I think. Archways not only add visual interest, but also a touch of softness and elegance to a space—and designers and homeowners are embracing them more and more.

Curve Appeal

Curved doorways can be found throughout this circa-1979 five-level split—and while several of them are original to the home, designer Brianna Hughes also added some new ones to the mix. “There’s a lot of detail and colour and different eras in the house, but there’s a consistent softness to it,” she says. See the before and after renovation photos.

Brick House

Inspired by London row houses and New York brownstones, this Vancouver home features an industrial-style archway. The authentic weathered bricks were sourced by Adera Stone from a decommissioned chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. Explore the rest of this residence designed by Howard Airy and Alanna Johnstone.

Book Smart

Instead of standard doorways, stone-like Roman arches divide the rooms in this condo—and owner Kate Horsman made the most of it. She filled the shelves around the central archway with a collection of books and eclectic treasures, including an E.T. doll, action figures and a David Bowie candle. Check out the rest of this Railtown retreat.

Frame Work

As if an archway wouldn’t be pretty enough on its own, designer Nancy Surby used this one to frame a spectacular staircase. “You have to stand back in different points of the house to see what views are available and how you can experience that space from each view,” she says. “We wanted to create little pockets of experiences in unexpected places all over.” Learn more about this look.

Door to Door

This 4,000-square-foot home perfectly blends modern and classical styles, thanks to a clean black-and-white palette and details such as the plaster hood fan, reeded glass doors and curved entranceways. Step inside this Ayshea Mojadidi-designed Vancouver home.

Soft Spot

With light woods, creams and lots of round edges, Studio North gave this Calgary home a warm, cozy and downright soothing vibe. Furniture trims, arched doorways and the curve of the expansive vaulted ceiling all create a soft, smoothing effect that fosters a sense of calm. Find out why this home is a WL Design 25 winner.

Prep Talk

Kelsey Grose of Farmer’s Daughter Interiors was challenged with making this kitchen more efficient for a busy family with teens, and this prep space ended up being the perfect solution. The arched doorway makes it all the more charming. Get more trade secrets from this kitchen.

Story Time

While the rest of this Paul Lavoie and Julie Lanctot-designed home was inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the library was modelled after a setting from the Harry Potter series: Dumbledore’s office. The room is complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a custom phoenix chandelier, but the arched doorways alone are enough to make you feel as if you’ve stepped inside Hogwarts. Go down the rabbit hole to the Wonderland House.