KATERINA VASTARDIS

778.896.1778 / info@designsbyks.com www.designsbyks.com

After more than 15 years designing client kitchens–especially so many white ones–choosing warm woods and matte black in her own was a welcome detour for Katerina Vastardis. Vastardis, owner of Vancouver’s Designs by KS, designed the kitchen, along with the rest of her family’s 2,600-square-foot new build, completed in 2021.

She took cues from the restaurant industry when planning the layout. This meant designing commercial-style functionality into every corner, with work “stations” for cooking, food storage, prep and cleaning. On the esthetic side, she went with plenty of warm, welcoming wood. “We used walnut on the cabinets themselves…. I think that it’s rich and beautiful and timeless,” she says.

Rift-cut white oak ceiling slats–one of Vastardis’s “folder” ideas–and Rove Concept wishbone stools play off oak flooring. “And all of that wood is cooled down by the black in the cabinets, hood fan area and appliances. The countertops are a quartz, but it’s honed, so it looks a little bit more rugged and concrete-like,” Vastardis says.

The sub-175-square-foot space packs an impressive fleet of appliances for its size, including a standalone fridge, freezer and wine fridge, plus a Wolf gas range, steam oven and wall oven. For the “cleanup station” in the island, Vastardis added a five-foot-long sink and two dishwashers, one standard-style Miele and one Fisher Paykel drawer-style model, handy for smaller loads and keeping mess off the counter.

Was it harrowing to design her own kitchen after working for so many years with clients? “I always joke around that my client was my husband,” she says. “When you work on your own project, there’s a little bit more emotion involved. So that was interesting. But nevertheless, it was very rewarding.”

>FRENCH CHATEAU

Builder: Brickhouse Building Ltd.

Designer: Christophe Vaissade Designs Inc.

Finalist: Best Custom Home: $2 Million–

Under $3 Million

This grand home maintains an inviting ambiance with high-end materials and a carefully curated design, featuring vaulted ceilings and a majestic open stairway with direct sight lines to the back outdoor patio and surrounding countryside.

Inspired by travel, nature, fashion, literature and art, Interior Designer Shima Javan has created outstanding interiors redolent of luxury and harmony since relocating to Vancouver 6 years ago. Her sophisticated sense of design has left its signature on prestigious projects such as multiple condominiums at Vancouver House and Three Harbour Green, as well as glamorous celebrity dwellings in the Greater Vancouver area.

The spirit of full collaboration prevails in all her projects. Whether commercial or residential, clients’ distinctive personalities and lifestyle needs are paramount in the process, resulting in interiors that reflect their goals, identity and individual needs. Call Shima Javan today for a consultation that can lead to a design experience that’s both delightfully unexpected and truly exceptional.

>YIELD HOUSE

Builder: Adisa Homes Ltd.

Finalist: Best Custom Home: $3 Million and Over

The Yield House gives you the full experience of a dream home with 360-degree views of Vancouver, the North Shore mountains and English Bay. Some 1,700 square feet of custom windows span wall to wall and floor to ceiling. Lower floor cladding is red cedar with a brilliant white stain, while the upper floor contrasts in colour and texture with black Swiss pearl cladding.