March 22, 2026 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
BETWEEN HOUSE and GARDEN
A modern farmhouse shaped by landscape and continuity.
words Noah Mercer
photos Ema Peter
Set within a residential pocket of North Vancouver, this project begins with a simple move: bringing together two neighbouring plots into a single, continuous landscape.
What emerges is less a house, more a sequence — a main residence, a pool house and a greenhouse, held together by a garden that quietly does most of the work. The architecture follows a modern farmhouse language, but without leaning on nostalgia. It stays restrained, letting material and proportion carry the space.
The landscape is not an addition here. It’s the structure.
INTERIORS THAT HOLD THEIR TONE
The interiors, designed by HB Design, led by Jennifer Heffel and Shannon Bradner, are built around a palette that feels grounded rather than styled.
Neutral tones drawn from the surroundings sit alongside darker accents. Nothing feels overly composed. Wood, porcelain tile and quartzite are layered in a way that softens the architecture without diluting it. Storage is absorbed into the structure through custom millwork, keeping the spaces calm and uncluttered.
Light is handled carefully. It’s not treated as a feature, but as something that moves across surfaces during the day, changing how materials read. Decorative lighting appears in moments, but never insists on itself. There’s a clear intention here: to create interiors that support daily life without constantly announcing their presence.
A LANDSCAPE THAT STAYS OPEN
The landscape, designed by Donohoe Living Landscapes under Ryan Donohoe, sets the rhythm of the project.
There’s a precise structure to it — paths, terraces and screening elements are all carefully placed — but the planting is allowed to loosen over time. Japanese maples form a light canopy, while grasses and perennials fill in gradually, softening edges and creating depth.
Around the pool, the atmosphere shifts. The space opens up, becoming more informal, more social. It’s easy to imagine it in use — doors open, movement flowing between inside and out.
What stands out, though, is the decision not to close everything off. Parts of the landscape remain accessible — laneway gardens, planting corridors, even the greenhouse. It’s a subtle move, but it changes the character of the project. The garden doesn’t separate; it connects.
BUILT WITH A LONG VIEW
The build, led by Meister Construction and Gordon Gildemeister, brings a certain clarity to the project. The approach is straightforward: protect the design intent, and make sure it holds up over time.
Materials are chosen with that in mind. Brick, wood and metal are used in a way that feels familiar, but slightly reworked — lighter, more open. Large glazed areas balance the solidity, keeping the house from feeling heavy.
A HOUSE THAT SETTLES IN
What stays with you is not a single gesture, but the overall balance. Architecture, interiors and landscape read as one idea — not forced, not over-resolved. There’s enough structure to hold it together, and enough looseness to let it evolve.
It’s not a house trying to stand out. It’s one that settles in — into its site, into its neighbourhood, and into the routines of the people living there.
SOURCES
Selected pieces include works by Flexform, B&B Italia, Poliform, &Tradition, Bocci and Apparatus, among others.
