Before & After: From a Burnaby Fixer-Upper to a Parisian-Inspired Forever Home

Photos: Ema Peter Photography (Instagram @emaphotographi)

With every patch and repair job, this 1980s home in Burnaby was showing its age—and the young Taiwanese family that owned it was looking for more than a quick fix. And Jaclyn Pett, co-founder and lead designer of Heirloom Projects, could immediately see the potential in the home.

At 4,200 square feet the house had plenty of room to work with, but the original 1980s construction had some structural concerns. And once the renovation started, the extent of the deterioration revealed itself to be worse than first thought. There were problems with exterior water egress and the in-floor heating system in the basement, which had quietly failed.

And the problems didn’t stop there. “There was a crack on the floor where the bay eating area was, but it wasn’t until we demoed everything inside, we saw that crack was actually [the bay] falling away from the house because of rot,” Pett says. The team took the bay wall apart and reframed it to be a flat back to the house, a change that suited the house perfectly. “It’s funny,” Pett says, “when you’re in the home, it’s like it should have always been this way.”

The family wanted to transform their home into a space that blended the elegance of traditional Parisian style with modern convenience; a space that would withstand the test of time. And while the structural problems added a couple of months to the design process, the final result was worth it: a warm, sophisticated Parisian style that blends elements of traditional homes, with celling medallions and dentil mouldings, and modern homes, with contemporary materials like Arabescato Corchia marble and oak hardwoods.

To ensure this luxury would last they added a protective layer on the marble surfaces, selected the most durable hardwood floors and designed an abundance of hidden built-in storage, they produced a house that required minimal upkeep, a priority for the homeowners.

For both Pett and the homeowners, the kitchen is a standout. “It was the perfect marriage of beauty and function,” Pett says, and inspires the wife, who was beginning to fall out of love with cooking, to cook more. The rich brown office—the homeowners have dubbed it the “den”— “feels like a warm hug,” says Pett. The primary ensuite, with its marble finishings, zellige tiles and cream walls, feels like a spa.

The daughters were a part of the process, selecting their own bedroom colours and, as young Swifities, helping to choose minimalistic prints that drew reference to Taylor Swift songs.

Once the drywall was installed, the homeowners stayed out of the home, allowing for a dramatic reveal that was captured on video. The husband was shocked by the transformation of the dining room in particular, while the wife was simply “staring in awe with a big smile,” says Pett.

Pett and Heirloom Projects continue to work with the family, now busy with designing their detached garage, with the homeowners settled in and loving their new space. What started as a deteriorating house is now a lasting, elegant and thoughtful family home.

The Arteriors chandelier sourced from Heirloom Home Shop creates a stunning focal point above the CB2 dining table. Pett says, “I wanted to create a space that welcomed daily family meals but also was polished enough to entertain friends and extended family on holidays and special occasions.” (Photo by Ema Peter)

“Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, we often start our design process there and work our way out. We knew practicality was critical while still capturing an essence of luxury,” Pett says. The practicality is seen through the built-in full-size fridge & freezer, dry food storage drawers and an instant hot water tap. The luxury comes with the black stove with gold accents from iLVE, the long hanging light from Visual Comfort and the Emtek cabinet hardware that add shine to the walls. (Photo by Ema Peter)

The golden light from Visual Comfort and cabinet hardware from Emtek help create warmth in the primary ensuite. Pett says “colour drenched in natural cream (walls, ceiling and cabinetry), we avoided contrast within the space. This allows your eye to be drawn to the marble, stunning zellige tiles, unique mirror and lighting placement.” (Photo by Ema Peter)

The desk and chair from Four Hands, sourced from Heirloom Home Shop sit in front of rich brownstone walls: “you’d never dream of blurring your background on a video call,” says Pett. (Photo by Ema Peter)