When most BC residents hear “beach home” they envision a vacation property somewhere along the California coast or maybe even in Hawaii. But in reality, the Greater Vancouver area boasts a large number of oceanfront properties, from Kitsilano and Point Grey to West Van and Tsawwassen and beyond. While proximity to the sea is the largest part of the allure, older properties that have persisted along our shores for decades are often in need of an aesthetic and functional upgrade. As a homeowner searching an interior designer for a beach house you’re among them. You’ll be pleased to know you have just found the most qualified firm in the area to get the job done. Please read ahead to learn more.

Why Consider Calvert Design Studio to Manage the Interior Design of Your Greater Vancouver Beach House

Interior Architecture Expertise for Structural Upgrades

Homeowners in search of a beach house interior designer are in reality seeking the services of an interior architect. Why is the latter more appropriate to your needs?

Older beach houses in the region were not built with expansive windows, nor skylights. Instead they were constructed more like traditional cabins and cottages that you find in the woods. This is frustrating for homeowners who want to enjoy the view of the beach and body of water before them. It also thwarts desires to leverage natural light and reduce reliance on interior lighting. A standard interior designer cannot do anything about this problem, whereas an interior architect can. With our background in interior architecture and general contracting (view more here) and current partnerships with the city’s top subcontractors we are qualified to oversee structural upgrades such as window (and skylight) additions and expansions. If you really want something dramatic we can also take on the project management of wall removals in addition to expansions to make room for beach house sunrooms or solariums.

Access to Materials to Protect Against Salty Air

There’s nothing like waking up to the subtle scent of saltwater in the air, right? Well, many of the structures in your home may not think so. While this issue is certainly most threatening to home exteriors, it can be a problem for those who like to leave the windows and doors open (which is common among beach house homeowners) or for houses with poor exterior facing wall cladding and/or roof insulation.

Over time, the mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl) has a negative impact on certain metals and can even alter wood structures. Heavy concentrations of salt can even impact interior paint (resulting in peeling and fading) when compared to properties not settled along Vancouver’s inlets. This degradation on home interior structure surfaces is slow but gradual, which is likely why you didn’t notice potential for an issue when you first took possession of the home. If you want to protect the integrity of your beach house interior, choose a designer who has international access to materials and finishes that are ideal for flooring, stairways, cabinets, trim (etc.) that are most exposed to salty air. Calvert Design Studio is that firm. View more on this below.

Access to Materials for Natural Beachfront Aesthetics

Above we discussed interior design + architectural enhancements that improve functional elements of your property’s interior. But a big part of what brought you here is the fact that you want an aesthetic upgrade.

Looking around the other homes along the beachfront, you have come to know what you don’t want. Many have gone all-in on the beach house “vibe” adorning their interiors with the standard nautical blue and adding accents that are more appropriate to the cabin interior of a two-masted schooner. Now if that floats your boat, that’s totally fine. However, modern beach houses are instead graced with organic tones and textures that are more natural to their environment. Calvert Design Studio has partnerships with global manufacturers and suppliers from Mexico to the Mediterranean and beyond. This provides our clients (yourself included) with fabrics, glass, metals, natural stone, textiles, woods, and composites that other interior designers in Vancouver, BC, and Canada do not have access to.

Contact Calvert Design Studio for your FREE 20-minute phone consultation regarding the interior design of your beach house.