Arthur Erickson designed Vancouver’s iconic Waterfall building back in 1996, intending each unit to be a “blank palette” for future residents. So, when interior designer Stephanie Brown and her family moved in 25 years later—just in time for the Christmas season—the industrial loft’s sweeping double-height ceilings provided plenty of opportunity for holiday decor. One of the first items on the wish list was an extra-tall Christmas tree. “You have to think big, and really take advantage of that volume,” says Brown. Filling the cavernous, pragmatic space with warmth, texture and character became a personal project for Christmas and beyond.

To transform the loft’s original grey kitchen into a room fit for lively family gatherings and building gingerbread houses (seven-year-old Claire has mom’s design eye), Brown refaced the cabinets in a stained Douglas fir and replaced the dark backsplash with a leathered off-white marble. “You can feel the veins and see the texture in it; it’s very muted and soft,” says the designer. Exposed shelving creates an airy vibe while a custom kitchen island hides away the clutter. “The previous owners had a bar table there, but we need the storage—we’re a family, we have stuff,” Brown says with a laugh. For the holiday season, Vancouver-based Anna Lambert of Nevefloral decked out the staircase with earthy, organic greenery. “I wanted a more modern take on the traditional garland, with neutral tones,” says Brown.

A Case for Florals
Nevefloral’s Anna Lambert dressed the stairway in a garland made from ferns and Leyland cypress, as well as dried gypsophila, mosses and alliums. Photo by Phil Crozier

The extra-tall tree embraces a warm neutrality, too: velvet and paper-mâché ornaments are muted but tactile, and decorative candlesticks bring on the nostalgia. The tree’s placement allows it to be seen from every angle—cuddled up on the custom Ffabb Home sofa, looking over the second-floor railing, seated at the carefully set dining table. “Even though it’s an industrial loft, I just can’t get away from brass accents,” says Brown, noting that her cutlery from The Cross completes the holiday table­scape (plates from Fable, serving bowls from Obakki and a handmade vase from Provide sit atop a linen tablecloth).

The loft has been renovated into a welcoming, serene home base, but the designer and daughter Claire spend much of the holiday season out of the house: holiday ice-skating, tickets to Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker and stays at the homes of extended family make up many of winter’s short days. Still, decorating for the season is essential. “We’re not always home right at Christmas, so it’s nice to have a pretty, enjoyable backdrop for the times that we are here,” Brown explains.

Well Stocked
When designer Stephanie Brown put in her order for her custom Ffabb sofa, founder Celina Dalrymple (one of our 2024 Furniture Designers of the Year) threw in a set of stockings made from the sofa’s fabric offcuts. “She is so creative and so generous,” Brown says. Photo by Phil Crozier

So while her seasonal decor leans more subtle, it’s still special. Collapsible paper honeycomb trees line the shelves in the home’s flex space, and wreaths (also designed by Nevefloral) are placed above the bed in the primary bedroom and over the console in the loft’s entrance. The latter welcomes in both guests and the home’s residents; Brown describes the floating millwork table as a “landing spot” with a drawer for each family member.

Want more festive ideas? Check out this Victoria holiday home decked out in festive cheer (and Christmas trees).

While the home is clean lines, understated elegance and modern elements aplenty, the family’s old Christmas tree (from the pre-loft times) hasn’t been forgotten. Each year it gets a place of honour in Claire’s room, where design sensibilities lean a tad bolder. “She’s a maximalist, and loves all the colour and all the things,” says Brown. “We let her go to town in her bedroom… it’s a colour explosion in there.”

Mother and daughter may have different preferences, but both are happy to fill their space with holiday decor that brings them joy, whether that’s in bright, glittery baubles or more pared-down, soft details… like stockings that match the sofa. Celina Dalrymple of Ffabb surprised Brown with the beautiful creations that now hang on the kitchen wall; they’re made from leftover fabric. To the designer, they’re a Christmas miracle: “Stockings that totally match the decor? Awesome.”

Continue for More Photos of the Holiday Transformation…

Keep It Natural
“I have minimalist tendencies personally, so our home is very neutral and very calming,” says the designer. Instead of decking the halls the old-fashioned way, she gravitates toward unexpected seasonal touches like mosses and unusual dried florals in her garlands and wreaths. Photo by Phil Crozier
Made for Entertaining
To warm up the kitchen, Brown refaced the cabinets in stained Douglas fir, and the backsplash is now a leathered off-white marble. A former bar table was replaced with a new custom kitchen island. Photo by Phil Crozier
Tried and True
A perk of being an interior designer is that you’re always shopping for home furnishings—so when it came time to choose a pendant light for the loft, Brown was ready. “I’ve always had my eye on these Flos pendant lights; we’ve used them in other projects,” she says. Photo by Phil Crozier
“Even though it’s an industrial loft, I just can’t get away from brass accents.” Photo by Phil Crozier
Festive Fix
For a more vintage look, the designer ordered candle holders to clip onto the Christmas tree, but wasn’t happy when the package arrived: “They were the gaudiest faux brass, so I was like, ‘Okay, Claire, we have a craft!’” Brown recalls. She and her seven-year-old repainted the clips in a metallic bronze. Photo by Phil Crozier
The stockings hung under the staircase match the living room sofa. Photo by Phil Crozier
Purrfect Place
Sarah the cat finds a cozy spot in the flex room, where honeycomb trees line the shelves. Photo by Phil Crozier
Quiet Palette
A quiet wreath from Nevefloral hangs above a CB2 bed in the primary bedroom, which Brown had reupholstered. Photo by Phil Crozier

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Arthur Erickson-designed loft features many of the materials and designs the late architect was celebrated for, like board-formed concrete and floor-to-ceiling glazing. This photo also features artwork by multi-disciplinary artist Scott Morgan (10,000 Years – Birth Suite 4 Unique silver Suryagram) and ceramicist Andrea Copp‘s stoneware piece
The Kiss. Both available at Provide. Photo by Phil Crozier

 

This holiday home story was originally published in the November/December 2024 print issue of Western Living magazine.