Hill House by MLS Architects

Readers can now look forward to another weekly House & Home blog — this one highlights designers, decorators and architects from Canada and around the world. This week we highlight an award-winning duo in the Maritimes — Brian MacKay-Lyons and Talbot Sweetapple of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects. H&H featured the well-known firm in the past, but I thought I’d share another project of theirs:

Set atop a hill in South Shore, Nova Scotia, the firm designed this modern home for a landscape photographer. As described on the MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple site, “[The house] is a camera — a landscape and weather-viewing instrument that crops views [and] watches the changing light, weather and seasons that turn around it.”

Skipping upper cabinets in the kitchen-living area left room for stunning picture windows, framing a true panoramic display of nature. They remind me of the ones in Suzanne Dimma’s cottage. The “X” architectural detail, which acts as an airy room divider, is used outdoors, too.

The windows extend around the open-concept room, showcasing beautiful evergreens and ocean blues. While I oft prefer colourful walls, plush rugs and more traditional style, the minimalistic look of this home’s interior really showcases an appreciation for its surroundings. The designers used locally sourced materials, too.

See more photos from this hilltop house and other homes by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects at Mlsarchitects.ca. Do you have a favourite designer, decorator or architect you’d like to see featured on houseandhome.com? Tell us in the comments below!

Photo credits:
MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects