Details are the keystone to design, the heart of a space and the refined elements that take a room to its full potential. While we often sneak a peek into the full extent of beautiful spaces for My Digs, this month launches a series of home tours of some of Vancouver's most design savvy boutique owners. Within this, we can focus on the details of design, rather than simply the design as a whole. By featuring the people behind the shops that provide Vancouverites with stunning accent pieces and accessories, we get a glimpse into how the pros are living, loving and showcasing the collections they carry; it's an opportunity for us to see how they are creating the details of their homes, and a chance to take away insider design tips for our own spaces from the industry forerunners.
Rashell Gouwenberg, one half of the design duo behind local luxury boutique Peridot Decorative Homeware, is our first industry feature. With a clear penchant for all things elegantly glamorous, Rashell's style has gained much media attention, most notably this months Style At Home magazine; her stunning (and sprawling!) abode just outside the city is an ultimately chic representation of how a new build can evoke the charm of an upscale traditional manor while maintaining a modern meets feminine edge.
While I was enamoured with the grace with which Rashell and her husband designed the structural elements of their home, it was truly the details of the décor that caught my attention. I frequent Rashell's South Granville gem of a boutique, Peridot, for both my clients and my own home and I loved seeing some of the pieces from the shop used in her own space – one of my favourite aspects of My Digs is the opportunity to see how others interpret and feature their treasures.
I definitely took some inspiration from Rashell's styling and thought it would be an opportunity for us all to see how to pull together the statement details of a room. Stay tuned next month as I'll be featuring the stylish digs of Rashell's business partner in crime, Leah Balderson.
WHAT IS IT:
A custom-built 3,400-square-foot East Coast shingle-style home on five acres just outside Vancouver, in Langley.
OCCUPANTS:
Myself, my husband and our golden-doodle Jackson.
MAJOR SELLING FEATURE:
The charming property – it's the kind of place you visit and never want to leave… like a vacation on Martha's Vineyard. It's exactly what we were looking for in a location for our home. As you approach the property there is a long white wood fence is lined with old growth trees, and as you curve down the long driveway to the house we have a pond, lush rose and peony gardens, fruit trees, as well as a cabin for guests. We fell in love with the property and knew right away that our dream of building a East Coast shingle-style home would suit perfect.
FIRST THING WE CONSIDERED WHEN DESIGNING THE HOUSE:
We built our house from the ground up, so every consideration – from structure to final details – was impactful to the feel of the home.
FEATURE WE BRAG ABOUT:
Our ensuite. I wanted our bathroom to feel like we were visiting a luxury hotel so we lined the floor and walls with marble, set a tub in the centre with oversized lighting above.
THE ONE CONVERSATION PIECE:
Our lighting! Leah, my business partner in Peridot, and I were so excited to choose the lighting that we had already started selecting our picks during the framing stage. For me, lighting is the jewelry of the home so it was an important stage in the design. In terms of style, our home has a very traditional charm from the outside but has modern finishes on the interior to create balance and a well-rounded décor.
THE DÉCOR:
Every element of our decor received thoughtful attention; working within the design industry I am acutely aware of how important the details are to the feel of a home, so it was key for us to choose carefully right down to the little finishes. We mixed modern with traditional to create a space that felt luxurious but extremely comfortable, a combination that suited us and our style. Our palette is very neutral – creams, whites, grey, taupe, putty, brass and silver. Due to the chic neutral nature of our colour ways, it was important to layer: it's the layering of the neutrals in a variety of textures and finishes that pull it all together for a beautiful overall design. With a light backdrop, our accessories became features: we love our art collection, which includes pieces from Kim Johnston, local favourite Miriam Aroeste as well as equestrian artist Carmen Lali. I included a blend of antiques and modern classics for our decorative collectables – I travel a lot with my horses, so I pick up equestrian antiques and love introducing them into our decor; however, I am also obsessed with Kelly Wearstler – I have always loved her bold designs with her edgy California girl meets sophisticated luxury vibe. I treasure her pieces and am honoured that we carry her collection in our boutique. This blend of antiques with modern is what makes the space work for us.
FAVOURITE HOUSE ACTIVITY:
Entertaining! We love hosting cocktail parties, family dinners and summer bonfires.
