Boho House

A family home blending warmth and practicality in mid-century inspired aesthetics

Location Varsity, Calgary
Size 1779 sq ft
Status Completed

From the moment you step onto the front pathway, the Boho House showcases its design-focused approach, drawing inspiration from both classic and contemporary home design.

“The most transformative aspect of the renovation was the creation of a spacious and open public area with an expansive vaulted ceiling. This stunning feature makes for an intimate and elegant setting that is perfect for entertaining. The open floor plan of the home seamlessly connects the various living spaces, fostering a sense of flow between rooms. ”

- Mark Erickson

Co-Founder , Studio North

Traditional elements, such as the split-level layout, have been reimagined with modern twists to create an open, welcoming, and versatile living environment that meets the needs of today's lifestyle.

Retro materials and geometric patterns have been thoughtfully integrated, adding character and texture to every corner of the home. The result is a space that effortlessly caters to entertaining, relaxation, and everything in between.

“This home’s era and immaculate condition lent to a design that celebrates unique materials and geometries of its time, while putting a modern twist on them. Rounded edges, woven millwork features, and built in planter spots all create a welcoming, unique, and highly functional space that is one of a kind for any time period.”

- Hayden Pattullo

Digital Design Lead, Studio North

A double-height woven rattan screen greets you to celebrate the passage through all major thresholds in the house. Casting dynamic shadows throughout the day, the screen creates grand welcoming spaces at the front and back doors, as well as unique opportunities for planting and decor.

The split level home is a classic typology seen throughout the Varsity neighbourhood and Calgary as a whole. By vaulting the main space ceiling and differentiating the front cladding materials, we can really express the unique sectional qualities of this housing style on both an aesthetic and a functional level.

On a functional level, the new double height grand space allows clear sightlines throughout the main floor and maximizes light permeability through the home. Aesthetically, the double height space allows you to clearly perceive the different volumes within the home, indicating through colour and scale which are more public gathering spaces and which are more private spaces , as well as celebrating the thresholds between them.

The Boho House material selections strike a delicate balance between playful retro inspiration, modern refined minimalism, and timeless longevity. Key moments throughout the house such as the volume of the upper split level are differentiated with a slight warm colour contrast that plays off the light wood tones of the flooring and screens. The natural woven pattern of the rattan adds a layer of texture to surfaces and screens to create dynamic shadowplay.

The renovation brought a sense of warmth and natural beauty to the space, incorporating materials like rattan rattan, Douglas fir, and white oak . Paired with abundant greenery and natural light , the space now serves as an organic oasis and a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city.

The subdued warm tones throughout are punctuated by the addition of brass fixtures for doors and pulls, as well as a number of subtle tile accents.

The home’s warm and expressive material sensibility carries through to its private spaces as well, with the primary bedroom also adorning a feature rattan millwork wall.