North Vancouver Remodel
In Edgemont, a quiet forested community in North Vancouver, Seattle-based Olson Kundig and local designer Erica Colpitts revitalised a 1950s home for modern living.
With the structure carrying a storied history, the team was careful to explore programming that kept its mid-century bones intact while expanding interior spaces. The once disconnected carport was brought closer to the main house, a mud room now connects to the side entrance and a rear expansion – extending the primary bedroom and kitchen – continues the home’s original lines outward. The entry, marked by a garden path and a weathered steel door, provides a moment of texture and contrast against the pre-weathered Kebony siding.
The clients – a family of four who had relocated from New York City – sought to honour the home’s mid-century character while creating a layout that allowed formerly cut-off spaces to work more efficiently for their needs. “They wanted to be able to connect to the outdoor space more easily,” says Olson Kundig founder and design principal Tom Kundig. Located on a wooded site, the home is surrounded by forest – an element that became central to the design’s evolution.
New, large windows at the front of the home meet slender cruciform steel columns that support both the cantilevered carport and the main living room roof. Though minimal, the columns are structurally robust and complement the home’s existing character. The double-sloped roofline was preserved, with a subtle angle introduced to respond to the carport’s geometry.
Inside, the design team embraced a natural material palette for interiors that feels grounded yet refined. Think Blackened steel and bronze with natural oak floors, a hemlock plank ceiling and “warm whites, heathered oatmeals, cognac-colour leather, dark flax and deep grey” tones, notes interior designer Erica Colpitts. The original walnut bookcase – once dulled by shellac – was stripped back and restored as a focal point. Custom cabinetry and concrete counters in the kitchen add weight and functionality, while the original brick fireplace was restored. In the primary bathroom, hand-formed tile was imported from the Santa Clara 1728 hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.
The spatial configuration was also reimagined to meet the needs of family life. The kitchen was expanded and opened to the dining and living areas, improving flow and making daily routines with two young children more intuitive. The primary suite now includes a walk-in closet and small workspace, oriented toward the forest. The children’s wing features a shared bathroom designed with privacy in mind, incorporating a dual-sink vanity, a separate shower room and private toilet.
“The home now has a relaxed atmosphere with every piece working together to subtly contribute to an air of serenity,” remarks Colpitts. From forest views to beams of light that filter through the trees and into the living room, the experience is one of quiet connection, a home that honours both site and story.
Architecture by Olson Kundig. Interior design by Erica Colpitts Interior Design. Build by Braybrook Projects. Landscape design by Amelia Sullivan. Structural Engineering by Aspect Structural Engineers.
