After nine years of teaching in Europe, Asia and the United States, teacher and vice-principal Tara Zielinski returned home to B.C. in 2008 and was ready to nest. Purchasing a charming three-storey heritage townhouse in Vancouver’s beachy Kitsilano neighbourhood, she set out to create her perfect home, starting with the master bedroom decor.

But Tara’s vision for the room raised more than a few eyebrows. “I wanted a French twist on the whole West Coast vibe, which sounds strange, I know,” she says with a laugh. “Living in Europe I fell in love with all the white, grey and pewter tones I saw in the south of France, but I was also so happy to be back home and I wanted to somehow work elements of West Coast design into the mix as well.”


Feminine master bedroom
Casual, natural and beachy, the driftwood wooden bench speaks to the relaxed aesthetic of the West Coast without clashing with the more feminine French touches in the room, such as the delicate lace-trimmed linens (hand-embroidered by her grandmother), mirrored bedside table and curvaceous antiqued white dresser (both not shown).
Get the look
The driftwood table lamp and driftwood pieces hung above the bed echo the au naturel charm of the bench, while the simple colour palette eases the marriage of the two seemingly incompatible styles.

1 Patong Branch table lamp. Urban Barn, $149.
2 Moncton duvet set in white (double/queen). EQ3, $100.
3 Pink sheet set (queen). Home Sense, $70.
4 Norden bench. IKEA, $99.

Colour palette
A calming colour palette will help to achieve the perfect mix of feminine chic and coastal charm.

1 Valspar Polar White, 7003-16 paint.  lowes.ca, prices vary.
2 Valspar Rising Tide, 4008-3A paint . lowes.ca , prices vary.
3 Valspar Champagne Pink, 2004-4C paint. lowes.ca , prices vary.