Rooms with a view and space to spare. Layout of Evelyn allows for larger furnishings.

Michelle Hopkins, Special to The Province

January 22, 2012

West Vancouver is known for its many large executive-style homes. So when interior designer Rachel Martinuk conceptualized the vignette for the Onni Group’s newest development, Evelyn, it was with local downsizer in mind.

“Knowing that our buyers would be moving out of larger homes with furniture to suit, we deliberately chose large-scale furniture to fit within the space,” says Onni Group’s Martinuk. “We also anticipated that our buyers currently own an eclectic of mix of timeless pieces that they have collected over their lives. The accessorizing of the vignette attempted to mirror what their own heirlooms might be.”

When it comes to downsizing, Martinuk went for a more “Zen-like” atmosphere. Rather than fill a space with furniture, art-work, accessories and objects at every turn, she kept the furnishings at a minimum to create a more sophisticated, refined and mature look.

She went on to say that the more upscale homes are often the ones that incorporate elegant pieces, keep clutter to a minimum and exude light and airy interiors – in short, where less is more.

Meanwhile, since West Vancouver is known for its stunning vistas, all the Evelyn homes will face south, slanting towards the sun and the views, and surrounded by green space. Trails through the grounds will lead residents to Park Royal shopping centre below.

Evelyn is also within walking distance to Ambleside and the sea-wall, with easy access to the Lions Gate Bridge, the Upper Levels Highway and Cypress Mountain.

Rather than decorate the vignette to be in harmony with the exterior, Martinuk chose to let the art communicate the landscapes.

“The Ronin Boyle Resin prints (from Hambleton’s), to me, are inspired by the views of the ocean on the grey West Coast,” Mar-tinuk says. “A number of the art pieces used are actually reproductions, not original canvasses. This was achieved by utilizing a new technique of applying resin to printed images that is done within the production house, under the advisement of the original artist.”

This technique allowed Mar-tinuk to give the impression of original art at a more affordable cost.

Read more: https://www.theprovince.com/life/Rooms+with+view+space+spare/6033989/story.html#ixzz1kKbUwkd5