LET THERE BE WHITE

With more than 100 windows and dressed in dazzling whites, this Langley, B.C., home basks in brightness and its beautiful surroundings.

2020-06-01 - TEXT CHRISTY WRIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHY TRACEY AYTON

With over 100 windows and dressed in dazzling white, this Langley, B.C., home basks in brightness and its beautiful surroundings.

“I HAVE LIVED WITH MAINLY WHITE INTERIORS FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I REALLY WENT FOR IT ALL THE WAY,”

says Cece Krecsy of the 4,500-square-foot Fort Langley home she shares with her husband Gene.

The charming white shingled abode sits at the end of a quiet street on just more than an acre overlooking the protected natural habitat of the Salmon River. “I found the lot online in 2015 and the timing was right,” says Cece. She and Gene had semi-retired to South Surrey in 2012 but missed Fort Langley, work and family too much to stay away. When she moved back she not only opened Little White House Co., a lifestyle shop and salon café, she also got to work designing a much bigger white house, which she and her husband now call home.

DESIGN Cece Krecsy, Little White House Co.; ARCHITECT, Andy Friesen, Su Casa Design; custom

FLOORING, Brian Myers, 778882-8913; WINDOWS, DOORS, Westeck Windows & Doors; ELECTRICAL, Jamie Isaak, Jameson Electric; LIGHTING, Ocean Pacific Lighting; FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, Florista; PAINT, Chantilly Lace OC-65, Benjamin Moore;

LANDSCAPING, Showcase Landscaping Inc.; exterior potted

PLANTS, Cedar Rim Nursery; front hall RUG, HomeSense;

SECTIONAL, POUFS, COFFEE TABLE, acrylic SIDE TABLE, vintage MIRROR, Little White House Co.; RUG, HomeSense.

“WE HAVE MORE THAN 100 WINDOWS AND VERY FEW ARE DRESSED.” – CECE

“I LOVE BLACK AND WHITE ENAMELWARE – STRAINERS, UTENSILS, JUGS, SALT AND PEPPER CONTAINERS.” – CECE

The natural beauty of the setting was a perfect complement to Cece’s vision for the property: a classic, yet modern five-bedroom country home that would be big enough to welcome their grown children (Natasha, Justina and Stefan) and grandchildren (Charlot, 5, and Theodore, 2), but still cozy enough when it’s just Cece and Gene.

Armed with her own rough design sketches and an extensive list of must-haves covering everything from window seats and a butler’s pantry to a tin roof and welcoming front and back porches, Cece worked closely with architect Andy Friesen, of Su Casa Design, to ensure the new-build seamlessly combined vintage country charm with modern ease.

The balancing magic is in the mashup. This is a home where ceilings of different heights and shapes comingle; where rough-hewn shiplap and decorative French-style panelling cohabit; and where an airy two-storey great room shares the space with small formal sitting and dining rooms. “It was essential to include some formal rooms in the mix,” says Cece. “They’re intimate and feel special, more personal.”

The unifying all-white palette makes a double apron farm sink compatible with a contemporary double-drawer dishwasher. The bevelled subway tiles of the backsplash keep the look classic, and the mix of chrome and porcelain pulls is thoughtful. “My goal was to combine different finishes,” says Cece. “I did all of them in moderation: a little of this and a little of that so as not to date the look in the future.”

Fisher & Paykel white FRIDGE and DISHWASHER, Bertazzoni RANGE, Lucky Appliances; TILES, Wilkinson Tile & Stone.

?? ?? The wide and welcoming front porch was a musthave for designer Cece Krecsy (left). It’s one of the many gathering spots for visiting adult children (including her daughter Natasha Isaak, Little White House Co. business manager) and grandchildren. — The wide and welcoming front porch was a musthave for designer Cece Krecsy (left). It’s one of the many gathering spots for visiting adult children (including her daughter Natasha Isaak, Little White House Co. business manager) and grandchildren.

?? ?? The great room’s living area achieves the contemporary country aesthetic that Cece desired thanks in part to the fireplace’s finishes. “I had it clad with shiplap then dressed it up with large antique corbels that support a modern simple, boxed mantel,” she says. The shiplap lends a linear angle to the fireplace’s double-storey vertical facade, while the seating area is populated by distinctively textured furnishings such as a fluffy rug, leather poufs and nubby throws and cushions. Says Cece: “These add interest, warmth and contrast to the varied whites.” — The great room’s living area achieves the contemporary country aesthetic that Cece desired thanks in part to the fireplace’s finishes. “I had it clad with shiplap then dressed it up with large antique corbels that support a modern simple, boxed mantel,” she says. The shiplap lends a linear angle to the fireplace’s double-storey vertical facade, while the seating area is populated by distinctively textured furnishings such as a fluffy rug, leather poufs and nubby throws and cushions. Says Cece: “These add interest, warmth and contrast to the varied whites.”

The great room’s mix of wooden farm chairs with upholstered ones is intentional. “You can see the harvest table from the front entrance so I chose low-profile seating for the ends of the table to keep the view to the French doors and back garden clear and uninterrupted,” says Cece. Brass accessories, including a vintage ice bucket, infuse sparkle and warmth, and quietly reference finishes in the adjacent living area, including the sectional’s legs. Did you notice the lack of window coverings? “We have more than 100 windows and very few are dressed,” says Cece. “Covering these beautiful big windows would ruin the overall look and feel of the house, as well as the views. I also love the clean look of undressed windows.” TABLE, Renaissance Home; wood Magnolia Home dining CHAIRS, Samuels-Furniture; slipcovered linen CHAIRS, brass ACCESSORIES, DISHES, Little White House Co.