Houzz Tour: Open, Airy Canadian Bauhaus Home
Built for entertaining and maximizing natural light, an Edmonton home incorporates sunrooms, screens and easy access to the outdoors
Every aspect of this home's design was molded around views, slope and natural light, says Paul Whincup of Habitat Studio & Workshop. The homeowners, a couple with a college-age son, wanted a house that would be entertainment friendly, with a distinct indoor-outdoor feel. And they got it. See how sun, color and fun fill every room, from the generous open kitchen, flexible floor plan and corner sunrooms to the stunning three-story staircase that ties everything together.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their college-age son
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Size: 4,510 square feet
That's interesting: The clients had their eye on this plot for years.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their college-age son
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Size: 4,510 square feet
That's interesting: The clients had their eye on this plot for years.
The hood fan retracts into the ceiling, allowing the kitchen to feel more open to the family room and dining room. The kitchen also has access to a deck and an adjacent sunroom, increasing the flow of light.
A stunning custom-designed three-story wood staircase artistically ties the whole house together. Glass railings, integrated wood screens and artisan hand-carved stone accents make it a true work of art. A bubble glass chandelier provides light and draws the eye up and down, and a large skylight over the center of the stairwell provides central light for all three floors.
Whincup and his team emphasized natural light as much as possible. South-facing windows were installed where they made sense, and north-facing windows provide gentler, more indirect light. The large and small windows in the living room (shown) allow light to filter in from different directions without becoming overwhelming.
Wall paint: Surf Blue, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Surf Blue, Benjamin Moore
Having ample space to entertain was important to the clients. Whincup and his team designed the main floor so that each room had the option of feeling open or private. Colored walls determine different spaces by function, but open hallways and wooden screens allow light and noise to filter through.
Green wall covering: imported silk wallpaper; wall paint: Rumba Orange, Benjamin Moore
Green wall covering: imported silk wallpaper; wall paint: Rumba Orange, Benjamin Moore
The clients did a lot of traveling and had acquired many of these beautifully hand-carved wooden screens over the years. In the dining room, two privacy screens were installed on a sliding system.
Corner sunrooms have retractable screens that allow them to be open or closed off from the main floor. When the screens are pulled back, light floods the interior of the house.
The outdoor deck and corner sunroom are Whincup's favorite spaces in the home. The easy access to the kitchen makes it easy to cook outside on the barbecue and contributes to the indoor-outdoor feel.
The outdoor deck and corner sunroom are Whincup's favorite spaces in the home. The easy access to the kitchen makes it easy to cook outside on the barbecue and contributes to the indoor-outdoor feel.
A casual TV room sits just off the outdoor living space on the main floor. The couch has informal cushions that can be pulled apart and rearranged as needed. The TV is in a custom-built cabinet, integrated with the wooden screens seen throughout the rest of the house.
The clients had a very specific idea of what they wanted this house to look like in terms of materials and colors, and the firm took direction from them on many occasions. "They have great taste and ideas," says Whincup. "It was a pleasure working with them."
Wall paint: Smoked Oyster, Benjamin Moore
The clients had a very specific idea of what they wanted this house to look like in terms of materials and colors, and the firm took direction from them on many occasions. "They have great taste and ideas," says Whincup. "It was a pleasure working with them."
Wall paint: Smoked Oyster, Benjamin Moore
Unique glass tiles were installed on the bathroom wall dividing the shower and the toilet. A bold mosaic green wall extends through to the shower.
Wall tile: Sicis Glimmer; floor and wall tile: Augusto travertine
Wall tile: Sicis Glimmer; floor and wall tile: Augusto travertine
Ecofriendly elements were emphasized throughout the home's construction and design. Insulation in the walls — particularly in the basement and the attic — helps maintain the home's temperature. Triple-glazed argon windows optimize passive solar light, and a rainwater capture and reuse system helps with the water supply. A high-efficiency furnace and hot-water tank warm the house.
A transparent eating bar is made out of acrylic for easy cleanup, and a butcher block island countertop eliminates the need for cutting boards.
Counters: Labradorite Blue Austral granite; flooring: Augusto travertine; cabinetry: custom cherry, Zebra Cabinets