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See How One Designer Blends East And West Coast Aesthetics In This Newfoundland Home
Photography by Provoke Studios
House Tours
See How One Designer Blends East And West Coast Aesthetics In This Newfoundland Home
Hailing from the East Coast, Vancouver-based designer Lori Steeves was the perfect fit to take on a marriage of bi-coastal aesthetics.
Despite both drawing inspiration from their seaside surroundings, Canadian coastal design could not be more different. “East has a more traditional vibe while West has a more streamlined aesthetic,” says Lori Steeves, designer and the founder of Simply Home Decorating in Vancouver.
When Lori signed on to update a 1950s-era home in St. John’s, Newfoundland, she was tasked with marrying together these two visions. The homeowners, East Coasters who lived in B.C. for some time before returning home, wanted to bring West Coast design style into their home. Lori—who flew the Eastern coop herself decades ago—was the perfect person for the job. Her goal was to update and improve functionality without fully gutting the home, while infusing opposing design styles. The trick? “It’s about creating consistency and harmony,” she says.
Photography by Provoke Studios
After a leak in a second-floor bathroom in 2021, the family of three started looking at their home through new eyes. They found that they only used two of the three bedrooms. Lori blended the two backyard-facing rooms to boost the primary square footage, resulting in a spacious bedroom with a cozy lounge space. Having only blocked off one doorway in the process, the room can easily convert back into two bedrooms should the family decide to sell in the future.
Photography by Provoke Studios
While the reno began on the upper level, Lori kept certain threads in mind that she could later pull on for the main floor. She reflected the herringbone flooring and an earthy colour palette downstairs. Formal panel mouldings in the living room and on the staircase are classically elegant, while relaxed and simple forms ground the design. “The family room and kitchen are the most important rooms in the home,” says Lori. “They really set the tone for everything.”
Photography by Provoke Studios
Artwork was also an important throughline in Lori’s design. A forested snowscape in oranges, whites, and greys hangs in the dining room beside the oversized table (which features a quietly playful grain pattern). Lori repeated these orangey hues in the front entryway. “Referencing colours through the spaces makes the artwork feel like it belongs,” she says.
Photography by Provoke Studios
Another strategy to integrate different design styles is to repeat forms. “It can be something as subtle as the round chandelier in the dining room and a round table in the dinette,” says Lori. Guests likely won’t perceive these design decisions, but they create a subconscious consistency throughout the home.
Lori also infused a variety of natural materials into the home, including quartzite, wool carpets, and linen drapery, all nods to the relaxed West Coast style.
Photography by Provoke Studios
While the homeowners were on the same page about blending traditional and contemporary styles, varying visions can often be a game of give-and-take. In a mixed-aesthetic home, a closed-off room like a bathroom or office is a great place to lean harder in one direction.
“If you’re going to go a little further in one direction, do it in a room that isn’t quite as connected to others,” says Lori. “It won’t affect how you experience spaces that are open to each other.”
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