Before & After: A Roomy 1970s House Becomes a Modern, Art-Inspired Home for a Family of Three

When Phyllis Lui, principal of Kalu Interiors, stepped into this two-storey, 2,400-square-foot home in Burnaby, B.C., she found herself in the middle of a veritable time capsule.

“The house was built in the 70s and felt like some of the spaces had never been touched,” says the designer. The kitchen was closed off from the rest of the house; dated carpet and orange-hued ceiling panelling ran throughout. To function for the new homeowners—a young family of three; both parents work in finance—Lui reconfigured the floor plan and brought in a fresh material palette.

BEFORE: A Dated 1970s Home

The result is what Lui calls a “hip, contemporary family home with a fun and vibrant undertone to it.” Materials were kept natural and light with accents of gold and black. Harder-wearing materials such as vinyl plank for floor and laminate for cabinets were chosen for durability—important for life with a little one.

AFTER: A Fresh, Modern Renovation

In the kitchen, space was still slightly limited, even with the walls knocked out, so island seating wasn’t an option. Instead, Lui opted for a dining nook/ table extension to accommodate informal meals. Vicostone quartz countertops line the room; the Gibraltar pendants above the island are from Kuzco Lighting, while Tulipe sconces from Maxilite illuminate the sink area. Ames Form Series tile lines the back of the island.

Above the sofa in the living room hangs an oversized Paul Fuentes Pool Panthers print—a piece of art that inspired much of the space’s décor (another Fuentes work hangs in the kitchen). “We ended up pulling colours from the print for the pillows and accessories, which completely changed the vibe and feel of the space,” says Lui. “Up until that point it had been quite neutral and safe.” The sofa is from Van Gogh Designs, topped with West Elm and Anthropologie pillows and paired with Style In Form Finn Sling chairs. A Mattero Lighting fixture adds another pop of art-cool. The floor lamp is from West Elm.

The principal bedroom features a TOV Vivi bed (flanked by West Elm nightstands) in front of a dramatic New Wall Emma Hayes wallpaper. Bedding was sourced from Anthropologie.

One nod to the time-capsule home remains: that wood-slat ceiling in the living and dining area. “It was interesting and we felt that it didn’t need to be changed,” says Lui. It was restained to suit the home’s palette, and the centre beam was painted black. A little bit of history for a space that’s beautifully setting the stage for a family’s bright future.

Project Credits
Designer: Phyllis Lui, Kalu Interiors
Builder: Dan James Construction