A house in good hands

In traditional decorating there's a fine line between classic and contrived. It's something the Europeans seem to know almost instinctively. Think of a typical Parisian apartment or a grand British country house. The decor is timeless yet fresh; polished yet unpretentious. This Vancouver Arts and Crafts style home evokes a similar easy elegance, and like the best traditional decorating, it isn't based on furnishings that are so safe they're boring, or paint colours that perfectly match fabrics. The spark comes directly from the personality and passions of the owners.

This home is one of distinction, with inlaid hardwood floors, exquisite mouldings, wood panelling and leaded glass windows (all original features), and though the homeowners, who've raised six children (now adults) here over 25 years, have decorated with furnishings of equally high calibre, they've also instilled the rooms with a spirit of spontaneity. One owner characterizes the style as “eclectic,” but eclectic-elegant might be more accurate. “I don't put things together in a calculated way, that's why our house is a little bit of this and a little bit of that,” she explains.

The “this and that” of which she speaks, however, are often fine antiques that both husband and wife have a passion for. “We love old stuff, we're antique freaks,” they say. “But we're not building collections. If we see something we like, we get it.” The resulting look is evocative of a European country house, where treasures of different periods and gathered from near and far mix easily and are at home among the classic architectural elements.

It's a timeless look – the antithesis of trendy – that doesn't need a makeover every few years. White paint, for instance, has been a mainstay since day one. “The house is a bit dark,” says the homeowner, pointing out features like the fir-panelled family room. “I can't stand gloomy, so we did gallons and gallons of white paint when we moved in. I have white walls, sofas, chairs – everything is white, white, white.”

ELEGANT DISPLAY 101
• Mix casual linen-covered cushions together with pillows covered in luxurious fabrics such as silk and velvet.
• No longer passé, copper and brass accessories should be displayed en masse for a stylish eclectic look.
• Complement an ornate mantelpiece with a grouping of simple brass candlesticks with clean lines