STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM
In North Vancouver’s Lynn Valley neighbourhood, a dark basement previously serving as a rental apartment gets a light and bright family-friendly makeover.
When renovating in stages, most homeowners start on the first floor and work their way up. Yasi and Salman Manki upended – or perhaps down-ended – that expectation by beginning the overhaul of their 2,200-square-foot home in its basement. “It was an apartment when we bought the house,” says Yasi. “But renting it out didn’t appeal to us.” Instead, they imagined the 1,000-square-foot space as a family room to enjoy with their two boys (Asha, 6, and Zayn, 4) and a spiffy spot for family and friends to spend the night. “We envis- ioned something bright, warm and welcoming with a Scandinavian touch,” says Yasi.
To turn that vision into reality, the couple entrusted interior designer Clair Parke, with whom they’ve been friends for almost 10 years. “I intuitively understand their style,” says the designer. But it didn’t take intuition to clock the less-than-desirable state of the space. “It was bad,” says Clair. “There was brown everywhere along with musty worn carpeting, and the bathroom had a turquoise toilet, tub and sink.” Producing Scandi serenity would require more than just a few new furnishings.
Clair oversaw the two-month reboot, which included demolishing the bathroom – ditching its clunky tub in favour of a sleek walk-in shower – and ripping out the kitchen to make way for a home office.
With the new layout established, Clair turned to the finishes and furnishings, starting once again from the ground up. “I chose white oak floors for the living area and bedroom to keep the look light,” she says. “They were my jumping-off point for the whole look of the place.” Bright white walls complete the envelope, which is anything but stark thanks to the furnishings.
“I channelled that spare yet warm Scandi vibe,” says Clair, who layered in textural elements like sheepskin throws, nubby blankets and woven rugs. Pale wood items, such as the entryway bench and the living room’s custom mantel and hearth, keep the palette airy. But it’s not all monotone: “Everywhere you look, there’s a pop of dark grey or black – even if it’s just a hook on a wall – to add a bit of energy,” says the designer.
The Mankis love it so much they’ve hired Clair to revamp their main floor. And now, they can camp out in their snazzy new basement while the design transformation continues onward and upward.