Tucked inside the picturesque neighborhood of Pemberton Heights, North Vancouver, this cozy "Home on the Heights" home inspires the perfect blend of modern functionality and timeless design using folding glass doors and windows by NanaWall. This home renovation and near-custom build by women-led and Indigenous-owned design firm Oliver Simon Design, brought to life with the help of Kennedy Construction, showcases an extraordinary transformation. Once a dated, single-family home, the property was reinvented into a spacious, contemporary haven for a growing family. Read on to discover the meticulous design approach and renovation process that not only optimized the layout but also incorporated innovative design elements for seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Breathe New Life into a Dated Home with Folding Glass Doors and Windows
The initial step in this extensive home renovation was to extend the back of the house, significantly increasing square footage and living space. The main floor was envisioned to be light-filled and open, with the kitchen and family room overlooking the south facing backyard. Folding glass doors, complemented by aluminum clad folding windows, ensured a cohesive look throughout the home while enhancing energy efficiency and functionality. The full-scale home renovation overhauled most of the home including plumbing, lighting, tiles, and flooring in addition to custom millwork, finishings, furnishings, window treatments, and décor. To achieve a more spacious and open feel, the interior walls were removed, and the ceiling was raised. This allowed for the concealment of the HVAC system, resulting in an expansive family living space that feels both airy and inviting. Upstairs, in the primary suite, significant layout changes included the addition of a primary ensuite and a balcony off the bedroom. By cleverly combining two upstairs bedrooms into one expansive primary suite, the design team created a luxurious and spacious bedroom retreat for the homeowners.
Kitchen Redesign: Creating a Culinary Oasis
At the heart of the home lies the redesigned L-shaped kitchen with a centralized kitchen island resting in contrast with the perimeter for a modern design. Aluminum clad folding glass doors and windows allow for expansive views, more natural daylight, and fresh air, transforming everyday activities like cooking into a more enjoyable experience. Custom cabinetry, finished with seamless oak wood, adds a touch of natural elegance. Brass fixtures, a black farmhouse sink, and black quartz countertops enhance the kitchen's modern aesthetic. The addition of handmade backsplash tiles provides a unique, artisanal touch, creating a perfect balance between contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship.
Enhancing Versatility and Storage Space with Style
The modern kitchen addition was designed with a built-in desk hub with a framed bulletin board for family scheduling and a coffee station for barista-level beverages to add functionality and at-home comforts. The home renovation also focused on maximizing storage space with pull-out shelves, deep drawers, and pantry organizers. The exposed garage was enclosed to create additional usable space as well as more storage, ensuring that every inch of the home is utilized efficiently. Oliver Simon Design spent two years bringing this amazing vision to life right down to the custom millwork, thoughtful finishings, wallpaper, art, and decor.
Designing a Dream Outdoor Kitchen and Dining Area
In addition to the seamless connection between indoor and outdoor areas, a standout feature of the kitchen renovation is the folding pass-through window for convenient and functional al-fresco dining experiences. An outdoor kitchen with a built-in BBQ and smoker and a separate formal outdoor dining area with resilient all-weather furniture create a perfect environment for hosting gatherings. This design enhances the flow between the kitchen and the outdoor living spaces, making it effortless to serve guests while keeping the conversation going. The increased countertop space provided by this window allows for additional outdoor seating, ideal when entertaining or enjoying a quiet breakfast in the morning.
Achieving the Goal of Bridging Indoor and Outdoor Living
One of the standout features of this home renovation was the incorporation of folding glass walls and a pass-through window in the kitchen, allowing for easy interaction between the kitchen and the outdoor dining spaces, especially when entertaining. This design enhances the flow between the kitchen and the outdoor living spaces, including the outdoor BBQ and smoker, making it effortless to serve guests while keeping the conversation going. The increased countertop space provided by this window allows for additional outdoor seating, ideal when entertaining or enjoying a quiet breakfast in the morning. The cozy, furnished, all-season outdoor area was designed to reflect the family's lifestyle, with distinct zones for various activities such as cooking, entertaining, eating, playing with the kids, and relaxing. A large glass-topped pergola provides a covered seating area with a natural gas fire pit, allowing the family to enjoy the outdoor space in all weather conditions.
Prioritizing Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Sustainability was a key focus in the home renovation. The introduction of eco-friendly oak flooring, a new air-to-air heat pump system with HRV, and thermally rated folding glass systems significantly improved the home's energy efficiency. The existing concrete foundation was retained and extended only as required to limit the carbon footprint. The folding aluminum-clad wood windows and doors were thoughtfully selected to match the home’s aesthetic, for a modern yet timeless design. These energy-efficient systems help control energy transfer to maintain comfortable temperatures, reduce energy consumption, noise, and to harness the power of natural daylight and fresh air. NanaWall offers sustainably harvested wood options and a myriad of design, color and material options, including wood choices for wood and clad projects. Choose from FSC-certified Sapeli Mahogany, Pine, Oak, Western Hemlock, Meranti, and specialty woods, or sustainable water-based finishing options.
A Dream Home Realized Using Innovative Design
The kitchen design with folding glass windows perfectly complements the main level's folding glass doors, offering a cohesive design and enhanced functionality. The 4-panel folding glass door system incorporated into the exterior opening, creates an opening approximately 13' wide and 7' 5.75" in height, providing an expansive entryway designed for outward opening, with stainless steel and titanium black finishes. For the doors, a low-profile saddle sill in a dark bronze anodized finish ensures a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. For the 3-panel folding kitchen window system, the opening spans 7' in width and 4' 6.875" in height paired with a raised sill. Crafted from European oak with a clear sand-sealed finish, both systems feature an installation in dark bronze anodized finish. The windows are double-glazed with low-E insulated tempered glass, offering energy efficiency and enhanced thermal performance.
(Images courtesy of Janis Nicolay Photography)
Final Thoughts
Completely transformed from a dated and cramped house into a spacious, modern abode, this North Vancouver home perfectly suits the needs of a growing family with a passion for hosting. The seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living spaces, combined with thoughtful design elements and sustainability design, has resulted in a home that is not only beautiful but also functional and efficient. Let us help you discover and enhance your home’s hidden strengths, creating spaces that truly fit your needs and style. Whether you're looking to optimize your layout, incorporate modern functionality, or create seamless indoor-outdoor living, NanaWall Systems can bring your vision to life.
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