Home tour: A modern country house in Vancouver with an expansive art-filled garden

While Suffron’s cherished personal passion project included elevating the home’s main level by three metres for flood control, it did not deter Paul Sangha Creative to craft a fluid connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

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“We had to carefully consider how to bring the landscape up to the house in a way that was effortless and harmonious,” recalls Paul Sangha, Principal Landscape Architect and founder of Paul Sangha Creative; whose team spent a year crafting landscape concepts alongside the evolving house design, ensuring a cohesive vision throughout the process.

“We drew inspiration from the Japanese approach of grounding a house within its landscape,” he continues. “Given that the house was positioned significantly higher than the neighbouring ground, we aimed for a lighter feel, and ensured it didn’t become an overwhelming base.”

Through the property’s expansive windows, including the 20-foot high corner windows, the view of the expansive garden beckons: from the evergreen trees along the perimeter structured for privacy; to the multiple layers of species that create visual interest through both foliage texture and seasonal colour.

“Our objective was to harmonise with the equestrian environment and the broader landscape context,” Sangha elaborates. “As we move further into the property, we transition to deciduous trees like Dogwoods and Catalpas, enhancing the layering effect within the property while also permitting winter light to filter through.”

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These characteristic foliage stands out against material choices for the exterior of the home that lean towards simplicity. 

The adaptability and flexibility of concrete plays a central role in moulding not only many durable surfaces, but also offering the advantage of creating broad, visually striking stairs with a floating effect, allowing for a seamless transition from the house to the surrounding landscape. 

Whereas, wood decking creates a carpet-like effect for the various outdoor spaces, as uniform glass tiles provide a delightful splash of colour while maintaining a serene, reflective quality to the water elements of the pools next to carefully placed sculptures, to which Suffron’s husband showcases an exquisite appreciation for.

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Strategically placed lighting then contributes to the harmonious fusion architecture and landscape, emphasising ground-oriented illumination to imbue the garden and accentuates the sculptural elements with a peaceful and tranquil ambiance.

“By focusing on fluidity in terms of movement through the garden, and a sense of seamless connection between indoors and outdoors, we create special moments throughout the garden that capture that sense of place, and ensure that the paths connecting these moments are diverse and full of vitality,” Sangha further reveals. “As you move into the garden, and travel back out, no experience is exactly the same.”

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Playing off Sangha’s curated precision outdoors, Suffron mirrors the same meticulousness for the interiors that blend modern finishes, functionality, and artistic touches. 

“Inspiration for my home comes from diverse sources like movies, fashion, travels, and cultural interpretations,” explains Suffron, who balances motherhood with one or two design projects annually.

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Juxtaposing the simple and monochromatic split-faced granite stone in the exterior are millwork-clad walls on the main floor. The softer colours and textures add warmth and create a subdued backdrop allowing for creative expression through the furnishing and decors; whilst the concrete flooring provides a modern edge to the large exterior stone cladding and expansive windows.

“I cherish integrating these moments into my design, embracing new opportunities and the unexpected yin-and-yang aspect,” the interior designer adds.

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While natural marble and stones decorate countertops and fireplace surrounds, as well as imbuing sleekness into the primary ensuite floor and walls, the home showcases an impressive collection of contemporary art: David LaChapelle’s above the fireplace in the main bedroom, and Jeff Koons’ in the dining room. 

Julie Mehetru’s large pair pieces add character and depth to the sunken living room, where a velvet green custom sunken sofa by WD Western Designers complements the verdant palette from the outside.

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“Suffron and her husband are repeat clients with whom we’ve enjoyed a fruitful collaboration in the past,” concludes Sangha. “[Knowing that] Suffron possesses a remarkable creative vision, our existing collaboration gives us a distinctive edge, leveraging our established history to create something truly exceptional.”

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