An elegant, timeless home, built to last through decades of family dinners, and of course, plenty of entertaining this project has proved so popular that it became the basis for Megan Baker’s best-selling Timeless White Kitchen, Interior Finishes Guidebook, which helps homeowners achieve this look in their own home. A natural palette to share with home renovators, this timeless style will suit many families for years to come. Tour this beautiful heritage-inspired home with photos by Janis Nicolay.
From the designer… One of the most important parts of my job as an interior designer is getting to know the homeowners on a personal level so that I can completely customize the design to their needs. With this project, I had the advantage of lifelong insight into the homeowner’s lifestyle, because the client was my mom! Helping her bring her design dreams to life was a once in a lifetime experience, and for that reason, the Timeless New Build will be a forever favourite.
We went through the exact design process I use with any other client, from gathering inspiration and creating 3D renderings, to editing design details for a cohesive home, and finally, selecting every single finish and fixture. The vision all centered around a beautiful kitchen as the heart of the home, so that was where we invested the most time and budget. The ultimate goal: a fresh, bright home with classic details that made it feel like it had always been there.
Creating a timeless design feel for a new build project required a few design tricks. I’ve always found that a variety of hardware adds tons of character to a space, so for this kitchen design, I mixed heritage-inspired cup pulls, cabinet knobs, and overscale appliance pulls all in a fresh polished chrome finish to balance old and new detailing. Adding an ogee edge to the island’s quartz countertop provided another layer of classically inspired interest, as did the white porcelain farmhouse sink. Mixing metals by choosing an antique brass finish for the wall sconces and pendants was another subtle way to make sure the home ages gracefully. True face-framed cabinetry is a classic craftsman kitchen detail, so although its fabrication wasn’t in the budget, I worked with the cabinetmaker to cheat the look by adding extra thick frames around the most important cabinet features: the built-in fridge, and pretty glass panels. It creates a new style with timeless appeal.
I carried this approach into the main bathroom, selecting a luxe freestanding tub with a traditional style and pairing it with an of-the-moment wood beaded chandelier. No bathroom design leaves my studio without a ledge— it’s become a signature! In this case, it was the perfect way to tie the freestanding tub and shower together, adding tidy storage at one end and space for vintage artwork and antique candlesticks at the other. I love adding decorative elements to a bathroom because it warms up the cool tile, making it an inviting place to get ready for the day.
Because the home is located in a small town on Vancouver Island, a lengthy drive and ferry ride away from Vancouver, we had to get creative when it came to sourcing materials. This was all before Zoom meetings were a normal part of a workday! We worked with a number of local suppliers and installers via video call, used online retailers, and drove the tiles onto the ferry ourselves. We were also able to call in a few favours where needed; my husband is an architect, so he designed the exterior, and my uncles installed the flooring and mouldings. Everybody who stopped by the construction site had to put up a few cedar shingles for the siding before they left. This project was truly a family affair.
Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: Megan Baker Interiors · Photography: Janis Nicolay · Kitchen Flooring: Timeless Wood Floors · Millwork: Harbour City Kitchens · Countertops: Hanstone
