City Homes
Sophie Burke Transforms Her Sister’s Home With A New Floor Plan And Scandi Elements
Updated on November 15, 2023
What do you do when the house of your dreams in your ideal neighborhood has the wrong layout? If you’re Vancouver lawyer Amy Campbell, you take a deep breath and call your twin sister, Sophie Burke. The principal of Sophie Burke Design — and H&H’s 2020 Designer of the Year — is a master at blending Scandi style and century Craftsman homes, and she’s also pretty good at knowing what her sister will (and won’t) like. “I completely trusted Sophie to come up with the right look and feel for this house,” says Amy, who lives in the city’s Kits Beach area with her husband and their three teenagers. “We share a similar aesthetic, but I needed some direction.”
The first order of business: letting the light in. The circa-1912, four-bedroom, four-bathroom house had charming original features, but the interior had been chopped up awkwardly during previous renovations. “Our biggest intervention was opening up the spaces and making everything feel more connected,” says Sophie. Working with Jennifer Millar, the firm’s senior designer, Sophie relocated the kitchen to the sunnier south side of the house, and the dining room wall was opened up to join the spaces. On the second floor, the principal bedroom and bathroom were completely reworked, and a series of small rooms in the basement became a more livable space for a laundry zone, mudroom, home office and rec room.
“Our philosophy is always to keep the bones of the house intact and complement it with contemporary furniture and natural materials,” says Sophie. To get the look, heritage details were preserved and, in some cases, restored. Next, modern light fixtures and furniture were layered in for a perfectly understated balance of old and new.
The entry introduces a calm aesthetic with its white envelope and blond wood elements. When it came to the decorating, the Campbells wanted the home to feel fresh yet rooted in its period and neighborhood. They were inspired by the clean lines of Scandinavian design but didn’t want the space to feel cold or empty. Luckily, “West Coast Scandi” is Sophie’s specialty.
The dining room is Amy’s favorite place to be. “I love the pretty panelling and how open it is to the kitchen and living room,” she says. “The big, south-facing window brings in so much light and provides a great view out to the garden and streetscape beyond.” It’s the kind of room that you start your morning in, watching the dogs and cyclists go by, then don’t want to leave. Her sister agrees. “You’re part of it all when you look out of those windows but still in this cosy space,” says Sophie. Cosy, warm and comfortable yet light and bright is how she describes the vibe. “This whole house, it just has such a special, fresh feeling.” The Serge Mouille ceiling lamp is a favorite of the couple’s and was a jumping-off point for the design.
The dining room’s sideboard features a graphic, color-blocked design. It was important that none of the furniture felt overly sleek. “We picked things that are interesting to look at and avoided hard surfaces such as metal and glass,” says Sophie.
Classic furniture pieces in warm wood tones, natural upholstery and buttery leather take centre stage — they were chosen to withstand the test of time. “The modern pieces work because the house has so much original character,” says Sophie. “We’ve created a beautiful contrast.” The Carl Hansen & Søn leather chairs were spotted while travelling; the couple knew they’d be perfect for the living room. A classic white sofa, wood coffee table and striking art complete the look.
Because the kitchen is open to the dining room, the white oak island is designed to look more like a piece of furniture. It’s topped with durable white Corian for a clean look. In the kitchen, flat-front cabinets along with the perimeter marble counters and backsplash are quietly sophisticated, and an extra window adds more light.
Located just off the kitchen, the family room is all about relaxed comfort and connection. “It’s a tight space, but we made it work,” says Sophie. “Amy likes the idea that the kids can hang out in here while she and her husband cook.”
The main-floor powder room is small but perfectly formed, with a modern, pill-shaped mirror, edgy pendant and veined Calacatta Capraia marble vanity.
In the principal bedroom, soft greys and blues create a serene vibe. The bed is designed without a headboard, which adds to the feeling of airiness.
Oversized art and navy blue seating punch up this corner of the principal bedroom.
Clean-lined fixtures, grey stone and creamy penny-round floor tile enhance the Scandi aesthetic in the ensuite.
The book-lined hallway leads to the kids’ bathroom, which has a whitewashed birch plywood vanity and lighting with a pop of mustard.
The lower-level laundry room has plenty of storage and a cabinet style that echoes the kitchen.
A sofa and lounge chairs make the front porch an outdoor room for three seasons.
The crisp, clean-lined exterior is surrounded by mature trees and graceful landscaping.
Homeowner Amy Campbell (left) with sister and designer Sophie Burke.
Ema Peter
House & Home
Sophie Burke