Announcing Our 2019 WL Home of the Year!

Over the last few weeks, you’ve voted. Fifteen homes became five, and now, the final vote are tallied and we have a winner!

Western Living's Home of the Year 2019 is:

€œWhen Minimalism Met Maximalism€

Designer Ben Leavitt of Vancouver's PlaidFox Studio designed the home for himself and his partner, Vishal Anand. Under less skilled hands, the design problem could seem insurmountable: Anand is a staunch minimalist, while Leavitt is all about more, more, more. €œWith my job, I'm constantly inspired,€ says the designer and president of Vancouver's PlaidFox Studio. €œSo I want my home to push my boundaries€”the more colour, the more pattern, the more things€”the better.€ 

It's a gorgeous space that cleverly balances both minimalism and maximalism. The main living space, for example, is quiet and modern, with modest pops of colour in the form of a yellow Bensen wingback, a navy-blue sofa€”and dramatically, a seven-foot terracotta warrior sculpture. €œAlthough at first this room seems ultra-modern, if you look at each of the individual pieces, they are all from different time periods and from different countries,€ says Leavitt. €œIt's a modern take on an eclectic global home.€

Leavitt kept Anand away from the reno until it was complete, so that the space was a surprise to walk in the door. No surprise, however, that he was as delighted with the space as Leavitt was. €œIt was a smart move to keep Vish away during renovations, but the longer that he lives in the house and the longer he spends with me, the more he sometimes says, €˜Do you think we should add a bit more colour?€™ or €˜Do you think we should do this?€™ He's on board for the evolution of our home as much as I am.€

Congrats to Ben Leavitt and PlaidFox Studio for being named the WL Home of the Year for 2019! Scroll through the pics below for a peek at the winning design, and read the whole story here.