A Hamptons-Inspired Home on Canada’s West Coast

Photos by Janis Nicolay

The obvious aesthetic choice for a waterfront home here in B.C. is one that leans West Coast Modern—but Karly MacLeod found herself working with a different sort of regional inspiration when she took on a 2,500-square-foot, four-bedroom new build in Port Moody for a family with a more traditional design sensibility.

The principal of Vancouver-based Karly Kristina Design and co-stylist Darcelle Chow worked with architect Phase One Design and builder Marcraft Homes to bring Hamptons’ vibes to West Vancouver.

Though the architectural floor plans were ultra-modern, MacLeod brought in details galore to imbue the space with a sense of history—from the outside in. “Adding exterior finishes such as shingles and natural stone, architectural faux beams, an array of decorative lighting and details to the railing and windows all helped tone down the modernism and allowed the character the shine through,” she explains.

The dream for the homeowners was a sense of ‘casual elegance’: something luxurious yet comfortable, where entertaining and lazy Sundays can be enjoyed in equal measure. Beautiful shiplap details and wainscotting bring a level of texture and warmth; wallpaper and lighting selections layer in even more character.

The home had a reverse floor plan—guests enter upstairs and make their way to communal spaces on the bottom floor—so it was important to MacLeod to somehow create an inviting experience for guests to move from the top floor down, without invading the homeowners’ private spaces. She installed sconces on each landing and staircase runner, and filled a planter with lush greenery at the  bottom of the staircase. “Looking down from above, it’s captivating,” says MacLeod.

The materials bring a sense of nautical elegance. On the upper floor, things are light and airy, keeping the view as the main focal point, with a timeless nautical-blue couch sectional from Sofa Works. A wool area rug from Serena & Lily gives off the perfect cozy and homey vibe the living room deserves, adding warmth and texture to the space. Sconces from BA Robinson flank the TV.

In the primary bedroom, greens and corals exude a romantic luxury (the custom headboard is by Mike Anderson Furniture and Custom Millwork); the terrazzo floors in the ensuite nod to the sandy beaches just out the door. Here, a pop-up TV allows for unobstructed views when the homeowners aren’t binging a show. (Watching TV in bed was high on the clients’ wish list, and MacLeod was only happy to oblige: “Function and beauty are two equally important factors when it comes to achieving great design.”)

The kitchen was done in all white, so as not to distract from the view. (The layout here was even reconfigured from the original floorpans to make sure no one’s back is really ever to the ocean vistas.) But the space is anything but plain: a natural wood island, textured square tiles from Ann Sacks and a custom blue Caliber range add chic visual interest.

In the basement, wood panelling is just one of the organic elements that tie in to the seaside scene outside; MacLeod calls the space “an entertainers dream,” thanks to the NanaWalls that open the room up to the patio outside. The patio is really where the Hamptons influence shines brightest, with beautiful wicker pendants that sway in the ocean breeze.

It’s not the only folding door in the home—the ensuite features one too, right beside the freestanding tub. “The homeowners can have a bath directly on the deck, on the edge of the ocean,” says MacLeod. “Does it get any more blissful than that?”