Room of the Week: Joy Chao, John Henshaw Architect

Category: Dining Room

Designer: Joy Chao, John Henshaw Architect

Location: Point Grey, Vancouver

Goal: Two professionals with a teenage son wanted a relaxing space where they could hang out, cook, entertain, and enjoy their ocean view. They also wanted to capture the south-facing sun coming in from the backyard.

Inspiration: “We were inspired by the open space (park and water to the north) right in front of this property,” says interior designer Joy Chao, “and we wanted to take the open feeling throughout the home.”

Breakdown: According to Chao, the blue-gray of English Bay and the neutral tones of nearby Trimble Park were the starting point of creating the look in the dining area. “Architecturally, we created an axis of view from the windows in the living room, through the dining room and onto the south facing backyard through a set of bi-folding doors. The idea is that the water view can be seen even when the client is outdoors in the backyard.” The shelving unit in the background is a custom design by John Henshaw Architect, and houses the homeowner’s extensive Chinese teapot collections. B&B Italia Vol Au Vent dining chairs in Serra fabric tuck nicely into the Natura Boss Executive 2 table from Riva, and an iconic George Nelson Bubble Lamp floats above head. Above a red wood bench (a previous piece of the clients), is a commission by local Chinese artist Yang Zheng Dao.

Tips to Get the Look: “Keep it simple,” Chao says. “Limit the colors and materials used to no more than three to five. However, use materials that are tactile and rich in feeling and look, so that even though the room does not consist multiple elements, it does not feel sparse.”