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A Lively Family Home In Calgary Inspired By Coastal Sunsets
Photography by Eymeric Widling
House Tours
A Lively Family Home In Calgary Inspired By Coastal Sunsets
Inspired by golden sunsets and warm, open spaces, this Calgary home has a fresh presence that’s family-friendly, functional and fun.
Designer Louis Duncan-He believes good design needs an element of soul that only the client can add. When he first saw this traditional 4,200-square-foot abode, that soul was clearly missing. “The couple that lives here is full of life,” says Louis. “They have two small children, a lively art collection, and they love colour, but you wouldn’t have known it from their home’s dated layout and beige walls.”
During an extensive design briefing, the couple revealed their love of beaches and that ignited the designer’s inspiration. “I started with the idea of a sunset and envisioned a natural aesthetic that blended transitional coastal vibes with vibrant, fun colour,” says Louis, the president and creative director of Louis Duncan-He Designs. He, along with designer Alycia Stiebritz, tackled the dated floor plan with renovations that included expanding the size of the kitchen, adding hardwood floors throughout, and creating a designated play area for the kids.
Throughout the new space, Louis’s decorative interventions unfold like a kaleidoscope of personality, from whimsical lighting and spirited wallpaper to colourful paintings from the couple’s collection. He says, “I’m so thrilled we were able to create the serene, beachy feeling the owners love, while still injecting so much of their personality.”
New classic
COUNTERTOPS, BACKSPLASH, Cosentino. DRAPERY, Sonata Design. Kelly Wearstler ISLAND PENDANT, CF Interiors. MILLWORK, Casa Flores. STOOLS, Modern Sense Furniture.
“This is a traditional home, so I chose a clean Shaker profile for the kitchen cabinetry,” says Louis. “It feels streamlined and bright, but still timeless.” He contrasted painted maple uppers with warm oak millwork and played up its organic feel in the island’s bespoke fluting details. “I wanted to pepper rounded, organic shapes throughout to add interest and break up all the straight lines.” A dramatic pendant light continues the look, and its golden hue, along with the watery blue fabric on the stools, speaks to the coastal vibe.
All in the mix
DINING TABLE, Essentials For Living. DINING CHAIRS, Trica Furniture.
The open plan of the kitchen and dining room informed Louis’s design choices. “I layered in slightly different wood tones in the dining area,” he says. “It’s a great way to create interest while still ensuring there’s cohesion between the two spaces.” Architectural details on the dining table’s pedestals are an injection of character that’s bolstered by the playful midcentury-inspired light fixture.
“Sheer drapery is a fun way to tame the more ‘serious’ nature of white walls.”
Gathering Place
CHANDELIER, SCONCES, Light House Co. ARMCHAIRS, COFFEE TABLE, Four Hands. SOFA, Bernhardt. POUFS, Article. WALLPAPER, Phillip Jeffries. RUG, West Elm.
In the living room, Louis installed wall panelling that multitasks. “It beautifully adds dimension to the room, without filling up the walls, and it nicely frames the artwork,” he says. The fireplace is flanked by floating shelves that echo the kitchen’s oak cabinetry and showcase some of the owners’ favourite things. The walls behind them feature pale blue ombré wallpaper that lends depth and is a subtle nod to the beach. A mix of furniture shapes feels dynamic yet still cohesive.
Viewing gallery
CHANDELIER, Eurofase. SCONCES, Light House Co.
“The upstairs hallway was inspired by an art gallery, with the owners’ paintings on each of the walls,” says Louis. “There was very little light here, so I added the alabaster pendant light and the wall sconces. I love how their organic shapes continue the coastal references.” He painted the staircase’s original dark wood posts and railings and kept the wrought-iron spindles. “I always love keeping in some original details.”
Secret Garden
MURAL, Munks and Me. BED, West Elm. BEDSIDE TABLE, Crate & Barrel. BEDSIDE LAMP, Pottery Barn Kids. POUF, Wayfair. RUG, Jaipur Living.
When Louis heard that the daughter wanted her bedroom to be an enchanted garden, he ran with it. “I chose this pretty floral mural that’s very fun but also elegant,” he says. The rounded headboard, curvy stool and artwork are playful without being childish. “I think it’s important to add details like these into children’s rooms so the design can grow with the child.”
“This whimsical bedroom encourages the imagination and invites creative expression.”
Sweet slumber
WALLPAPER, Phillip Jeffries. SCONCES, Light House Co. BED, Sunpan. BEDSIDE TABLES, West Elm. ARMCHAIR, Nuevo Living. PEDESTAL TABLE, Four Hands. RUG, Jaipur Living.
The primary bedroom dives into the coastal aesthetic with watery blue wallpaper and a soft sandy palette. Louis added panelling here to create a sophisticated effect that’s tempered by the bold bed. “It offers a more handsome presence, especially with the airy sconces, and I like that balance between masculine and feminine energy.” Coverings for the arched window proved tricky, so Louis kept it simple. “A clean white channel rod all the way across was a beautiful way to frame it,” he says. The addition of an armchair was practical and Louis calls it “a great cozy moment.”
“The owners wanted their bedroom to be a real sanctuary – an everyday getaway with a boutique-hotel feeling.”
Beautifully bespoke
SCONCES, Light House Co. COUNTERTOP, SHOWER WALL TILE, Cosentino. SHOWER FLOOR TILE, Julian Tile.
Louis created an arched doorway for the couple’s ensuite bathroom. “The owners loved the idea of it and it’s a nice way to reference the bedroom window,” he says. “It’s little design details like this that create cohesion.” He repeated the kitchen’s white oak cabinetry in the bathroom and custom-designed one mirror to tuck in under the angles without drawing attention to them. The shower is finished with Dekton, a nonporous material that looks like marble. Black hardware imparts a fresh, casual vibe.
Blue notes
WALLPAPER, Emma Hayes. PENDANT, Hudson Valley Lighting Group. FLOOR TILE, Garden State Tiles.
“The powder room just feels happy,” says Louis. “The fun floor tiles are whimsical and soften some of the more sophisticated design details.” The nautical colour palette and striking wallpaper have a playful vibrance, while the bold floor tiles are carried down the hall. Louis designed another arched doorway for this space and continued its curves in the built-in storage unit. “This millwork leads into the living room, so I wanted a smooth visual transition,” he says.
“This playful powder room is a powerhouse of coastal-chic looks.”
Fresh & Fabulous
BACKSPLASH, Daltile. FLOOR TILE, Wayfair.
A storage room in the basement was given a brilliant reboot and now serves as a stylish laundry room. Louis says: “The owners wanted to feel happy when doing laundry, so I had some real fun with the pale blue millwork and patterned floor tiles. And the scalloped backsplash is in keeping with the sense of the coast.”
Child's play
WALLPAPER, Hovia. BOOKCASES, IKEA. LOUNGERS, Pottery Barn Teen. PENDANTS, FLOWER RUG, West Elm. RAINBOW RUG, ART TABLE, Pottery Barn Kids. CHAIRS, Crate & Barrel.
The basement playroom brims with creative style. “I wanted to create a space that was a bit of an enchanted wonderland for the kids,” says Louis, who used colourful rugs to define the room’s zones. “There’s a mini living room and then an art station. The kids love to create and paint, so I wanted this space to be super inviting for them to do just that.” Colour-blocked chairs beckon and a feature wall lets the kids display their artwork. The sunset-inspired wallpaper and cloudlike pendants further the beachy brief.
“The kids are at that stage where they’re really creative and want to express themselves, so the playroom had to reflect that.”
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