Decorating & Design
March 2, 2020
This Tudor-Style Home Hadn’t Been Renovated Since The 1980s!
The 1980s were heady years. The illustrious houses in John Hughes movies didn’t quite look like the place that West Vancouver homeowners Kelly Bremner and her husband, Darcy Taylor, bought in 2003, though. Theirs was a 1980s, Tudor-style developer house — the “dog on the block,” says Kelly. But, at 3,400 square feet, it more than fit their needs as a young couple.
Kelly reached out to Greer Nelson and Jamie Hamilton of Oliver Simon Design to get the job done. The designers led a yearlong overhaul of the house, with the first order of business being to brighten it up. The resulting shell was a clean white space that allowed the designers to focus on contemporary furniture and finishes, layering in texture for warmth and adding strategic pops of color with art. There’s a Scandinavian simplicity to the finished home, but it doesn’t conform to a Nordic sense of rigor. “We were lucky with Kelly,” says Greer. “She came to the table with special pieces of art that became focal points.”
Scroll down to tour this light and lively family home!
Homeowners Kelly and Darcy with their kids Emilia, 14, and Anderson, 11, in the newly renovated living room. Tiered nesting coffee tables in smoked drift oak add a Danish vibe while a concrete fireplace keeps the room elegant without being overly formal.
The homeowners have collected art from all over the world. The dining area’s focal point naturally rests on Woman of the Joseon Dynasty Series #1 by Korean artist Chong-il Woo.
“We like to create a little bit of open shelving for clients to express their creativity,” says Greer of the kitchen’s cubbies.
The family room’s comfy seating makes it a popular room to hang out in.
The stairs were updated with black iron detailing and glass railings.
In the kids’ bathroom, an expansive mirror and sleek countertop are clean-lined and elegant.
Jamie and Greer added a luxe freestanding tub for a spa-like vibe in the ensuite bathroom.
“The principal bedroom was a real puzzle,” says Jamie. “Its layout was wacky, so we had to spend some time figuring it out. We ended up creating a new walk-in closet in a different place.”
Janis Nicolay
House & Home February 2020
Jamie Hamilton and Greer Nelson, Oliver Simon Design