Berkley House

A mid-century interior renovation, taking a tired inefficient house with good bones to a contemporary home on another level.

In a market trending towards disposable fixtures and finishes, where it has become commonplace to demolish to make way for the latest trend, RSAAW’s renovation ensured the home stayed rooted to its origin, simply adapting to perform to superior efficiency levels and to accommodate future generations of family life.

The family wanted to preserve and enhance the Californian-style atmosphere of their two-level home while adapting to the reality of the Canadian climate. RSAAW achieved this by completely replacing all insulation, installing triple glazing throughout, and making use of energy efficient heating systems. The sense of space is greatly augmented by vaulting the ceilings throughout the main floor and adding skylights and oversized glazing units with views of the North Vancouver greenery in the garden and beyond, filling the home with light even on overcast days.

A previously inaccessible attic space becomes a children’s paradise with ample storage space. The two main floors are opened up by a new atrium space anchored by a monumental double height bookcase. At the lower level circulation is improved by taking out the former mechanical room and creating a hallway allowing fluid access to all areas. Resilient tile flooring downstairs allows the family to enter the home worry-free after outdoor activities, while upstairs the sense of light, warmth and space is amplified by threshold-free light oak flooring, shadow-line walls, and streamlined cabinetry.