Designer Ami McKay harnesses and aligns opposing styles with a masterful mix of masculine and feminine.
"She wanted light and pretty. He wanted wood.” That’s how designer Ami McKay describes homeowners Julianne Lee and Scott Schlesier’s vision for their new-build 4,100-square-foot home in Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park neighbourhood.
The couple – he’s a software architect and she co-owns The Last Crumb bakery and café – bought their first house in 2006. It was tougher to update than they’d anticipated, and even after a home renovation was still dark, drafty and out of sync with their maturing lifestyle. “Five years on, we were ready to start a family [their daughter, Hana, is now 2]. We wanted a warm, light-filled home with room to grow. We sold our first place, bought an old knock-down house for lot value and built from scratch,” says Julianne.
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House tour: Soft and sophisticated family home
Open-concept family room
Drapery helps define the family room within the open floor plan design and provides a layer of softness. “With all the tiles in the kitchen, sound can bounce around. Drapes help absorb and diffuse it,” explains Ami.
House tour: Soft and sophisticated family home
Oak ceiling beams
While the dining room’s oak ceiling beams were pricey, designer Ami McKay says it’s an easy look to copy for less: “You could install ones made from a cheaper material, such as MDF.” A round table softens the linear elements in the space, while the filigree pendant light speaks to the pretty look homeowner Julianne Lee desired.
House tour: Soft and sophisticated family home
Striking kitchen
The wood flooring and accents give the otherwise pale kitchen presence,” says Ami. One of the most striking kitchen design elements is above the island. “I call this a reverse coffer. Covering the whole ceiling would have been too busy. Here, it’s a strong backdrop to the sparkly pendant lights.”
House tour: Soft and sophisticated family home
Soft bathroom decor
An upholstered chair in the master bathroom was one of Julianne and Scott’s only requests. It’s away from any water source and adds a soft finishing touch to the cool space.
House tour: Soft and sophisticated family home
Bathroom pendant lights
The pendant light above the bathtub is a departure from a more expected chandelier and doesn’t compete with the leaded-glass windows. Ami says, “There is a lot of sparkle in the master bathroom and lots of strong lines for a good mix of masculine and feminine.”
House tour: Soft and sophisticated family home
Stunning master bathroom
The stunning master bathroom design is a calibration of high and low, running the gamut from Italian marble wall tiles to the vanity mirrors, which came from a big-box store.
House tour: Soft and sophisticated family home
Neutral home decor
To channel Julianne’s vision, Ami kept the palette light and neutral with splashes of colour throughout. “The soft shades create a feminine quality in each room,” she says, “but in a way that feels cool, modern and fresh.”
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