Jericho House is a minimal home located in Vancouver, Canada, designed by Sophie Burke Design. This four-bedroom project, located in a well-established neighbourhood and only steps to the beach, was a young family’s ambitious overhaul of a 1912 heritage home. Leaving only the original building profile preserved, extensive improvements to the home included a reconfigured floor plan that opens up the interior and improves spatial connections. Natural light and ocean views are emphasized with new oversized windows and multi-door access to the outdoor living areas.  

SBD’s brief was to design interior spaces that, while sensitive to the heritage and architecture of the home, were modernized and conducive to busy family living. Character details, such as high baseboards and back-band trim were reproduced. Painted and white oak panelling were introduced in key areas and much of the bespoke cabinetry has a modified face frame or a thin shaker door profile, each reflecting a youthful nod to heritage styles. The coffered and painted wood clad ceiling, a design solution necessitated by HVAC runs and a desire to keep ceilings as high as possible, helps to visually connect the living spaces on the main level. A through line of white oak and blackened steel metalwork imbue the home with warmth and tactility, grounding an otherwise clear and crisp palette. 

Impactful lighting selections and modern Scandinavian furnishings gave the home a current yet unpretentious aesthetic. The kitchen is the heart of the main floor living space, but the family has expressed a fondness for the intimate den (designed for the husband of the house) hidden away from the open plan main floor by two pocket doors that disappear behind the kitchen cabinetry. A darker palette, lush textures and snug proportions have made it a family favourite gathering area.