UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Home Renovation & Second-Story Addition — British Properties, West Vancouver
BRITISH PROPERTIES, WEST VANCOUVER, BC
This West Vancouver home has a story. The homeowners purchased the property while living overseas, rented it for years, and always planned to return — and transform it into their family’s forever home. That time has come. What was once a rancher, partially expanded over the years, is now being completely reimagined into a modern Zen living space that blends West Coast architecture with warm, functional family design.
THE PROJECT
A Home Designed for How a Family Actually Lives
The brief was clear: generous family gathering spaces, an open layout that encourages connection, and a design that captures the best of West Vancouver’s natural surroundings. The redesign increases the home’s livable area, enhances its value, and creates spaces that didn’t exist before — including direct access to the backyard and sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.
TYPE OF PROJECT: Home Renovation & Second-Story Addition
LOCATION: British Properties, West Vancouver, BC
DESIGNER: Nisha MacNeil, Lead Designer, Kerr Design Build
INTERIOR DESIGN: Jaycie Dotin, Interior Designer, Kerr Design Build
STATUS: Under Construction
ARTICLE: Turning a Home into Modern Zen Living in West Vancouver
What’s Being Built
– New second-story addition for expanded family living
– Open-concept great room combining kitchen, dining, and family living with backyard access
– Relocated staircase with vaulted ceiling, skylights, and rear-facing windows overlooking the trees
– Seamless indoor–outdoor connection with new French doors and low sills
– Reoriented floor plan for better flow and balance
Modern Zen Meets West Coast Warmth
The design draws on a consistent palette of warm wood tones, soft natural stone, and light-coloured tile — clean and contemporary while maintaining natural warmth throughout.
What makes this project unique: a traditional Tudor-style exterior meets a completely transformed modern interior. The contrast between the exterior architecture and the interior design creates a striking and memorable juxtaposition.
Designed by Nisha MacNeil, Lead Designer at Kerr Design Build.
DESIGN CHALLENGEUnlocking the Potential of the Space
Although the home had been renovated previously, the existing layout did not make efficient use of the available space. Disconnected rooms — bedrooms, a hallway, the original staircase, kitchen, and dining room — have been combined into one cohesive great room. The relocated staircase, now a dramatic light-filled focal point, anchors the new layout and opens the home to the tree canopy views above.
Watch the Design Walkthrough
Nisha MacNeil, Lead Designer, walks through the design vision behind this transformation — from floor plan decisions to the West Coast Zen concept driving every detail.
More transformations
Follow along as we document the design and construction process behind our Vancouver projects — custom homes, renovations, and the stories behind them.
DESIGNED BY
Nisha, Kerr Design Build
“This home had so much unrealized potential — it just needed someone to see past what it was and imagine what it could become. The moment we opened up the great room and connected it to the backyard, everything clicked. That’s the power of good design.”
Thinking About a Home Renovation?
This project is one example of what a fully integrated design-build renovation looks like — planned, permitted, and built by one team from start to finish.