Trade Secrets: A Sweeping Skylight

Designed by Tanja Hinder, Marrimor, and Neil Harper, Frits de Vries Architects

For a tall client, the drop ceiling in this kitchen in Tsawwassen, B.C., felt particularly cramped, so designer Tanja Hinder teamed up with architecture firm Frits de Vries to expand the original skylight to the length of the room. “We wanted to create a connection between the modern house and nature that is ever-present,” says Hinder. Three panels now connect seamlessly in a frame that’s flush with the ceiling; the updated skylight also addresses previous drainage issues and improves the UV protection.

Natural light streams in from above—amplified further by the high-gloss Dekton countertops (installed by Precision Stone Works) and polished concrete floors—to create a space that’s bright and functional enough to carry the handsome dark finishes of the Fusion Woodwork cabinetry.