Inside a Kitsilano Craftsman That Hides a Warm, Modern Interior

Luxury doesn’t have to shout. From the outside, this 1929 home near Vancouver’s seawall is classic Craftsman appeal: wide eaves, a generous porch and a low-pitched roof that fits right into its Kitsilano locale. But inside, the 3,000-square-foot home quietly reveals itself as a minimalist, highly personal retreat with warmth and subtle custom touches.

“The clients loved the idea of having a really traditional Craftsman exterior,” says designer Chad Falkenberg of Falken Reynolds, the firm tasked with renovating this charming home. “For the interior, they wanted it to be modern and very warm, but also very different from the outside.”

Rather than chasing trends, Falkenberg and Falken Reynolds’ co-principal Kelly Reynolds focused on intention—what works for the clients. “Functionality for us is always where we start,” says Reynolds. The result is a design tailored to the family’s routines: it’s calm and under-stated, but unmistakably theirs.

A Craftsman shell, a minimalist heart

After reworking the layout to open up the main floor and bring in more natural light, the team turned to quiet customizations. The kitchen features durable Corian countertops and integrated grommets in the appliance garage to hide messy wires. Along the west wall, light oak cabinetry conceals the fridge, pantry and that appliance garage, framed like furniture to avoid overpowering the room. The fridge and freezer handles are custom carved from that same frame, moulded to fit the human hand after two rounds of mock-ups. In the adjacent dining area, a built-in banquette and square pedestal table (custom-made by Vancouver’s Origins) create space for guests and growing kids.

Hidden doors and smarter storage

Nearby, oak millwork in the living room hides a passage to the study and powder room, with a trackless sliding door that disappears into the cabinetry when open. “We liked the idea of having almost two doors to the powder room,” explains Falkenberg. “So if they have guests, you feel a little bit more removed and private.”

Down the hall, the refreshed mud room turns utility into something playful. The expanded space includes pull-out shoe trays, drying closets, dedicated cubbies for each family member and moveable, magnetic coat pegs arranged in a tidy grid.

READ MORE: 7 Spaces with Smart and Sexy Storage Solutions

A landscape that feels like the coast

Upstairs, the kids’ bedrooms overlook a green roof above the garage, designed for stormwater management and as a habitat for pollinators. In summer, it blooms with vegetation. “It almost feels like they’re in a field in their bedroom,” Falkenberg notes.

The green roof is part of a quietly considered landscape from Donohoe Living Landscapes, who worked with Architek to install it. “We wanted to have a naturalized aesthetic,” says principal Ryan Donohoe. “The idea was to go with something that was more a coastal theme.” That thread carries into the gravel garden, with native plants like camas and kinnikinnick, and other coastal-inspired species. On the periphery, yellow cedar fencing and larger shrubbery like Pacific arbutus provide soft screening from neighbours.

At the entrances, Cambrian basalt boulders anchor the home to its setting, while Rocky Mountain granite, placed just above finished grade, adds an organic touch. “It gives you that feeling like when you’re walking down a beach,” says Donohoe.

But one detail near the front steps is what clearly captures the play between natural and refined: a carved feature boulder holding a stainless-steel address sign with integrated lighting. Beside it, a driftwood log offers a spot to sit and take in the view toward the water and mountains.

One palette, a thousand quiet alignments

Despite the many custom details inside and out, it’s the visual continuity that Falkenberg is most proud of. Oak wainscoting and wall panelling nod to the home’s heritage and tie back to the same rich, mid-toned wood used throughout—on the dining chairs, kitchen cabinetry, ceiling panels and more. “We wanted the foundation of the palette to be very neutral, very easy to change and adapt as the clients’ tastes change,” explains Falkenberg.

Coordinating wood tones wasn’t easy. “It’s easy to get the first sample right, but then whoever comes next in the process has to match the original,” laughs Falkenberg. “It feels peaceful because the palette is so tight.”

Subtle alignments also bring harmony to the design. On the main floor, the upper edges of the windows, cabinets, shelving and TV wall all follow the same horizontal reference line. “That line brings everything together,” says Falkenberg. “But you don’t necessarily know what it is. I love little details like that.”

Almost a century since it was first built, it’s now a home that honours its past, present and place. “The homeowners loved the idea that the house could only be in Vancouver,” says Falkenberg. “They really embraced that from the beginning, and that was our driver all the way through.”

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Chad and Kelly’s Local Favourites

For breakfast: “Tableau on Melville Street in Vancouver: nothing beats their proper French omelette.”

READ MORE: Where to Find the Best Brunch in Vancouver

For lunch: “Vancouver’s Le Petit Crepe on Pender at Thurlow offers simple, clean crepes served up by a super friendly owner/operator.”

For dinner: “Jos Pizza in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour is always filled with people from the neighbourhood and feels like a true “local.” And the wood-fired pizza is completely authentic Italian.”

For coffee: “Pallet Coffee Roasters on Melville Street offers a casual West Coast vibe with “business lunch” efficiency for the downtown crowd.”

READ MORE: Design Crush: Vancouver’s Newest Pallet Coffee is the Roastest with the Mostest

For design shopping: “Inform in Vancouver: it’s not just great furniture, but also design talks, window installations celebrating designers from near and far and a great bookshop.”

For a local getaway: “Tofino: by the time we arrive, our shoulders have dropped and we breathe in the salty Pacific air to recharge.”

READ MORE: Local Getaway Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Spa in Tofino, B.C.

…And one spot more folks should know about: “Harmony Donut Shop in North Vancouver: you can watch them being made! Cash or debit is always a good sign they are focused on quality not quantity.”