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Byron Tokarchuk and Anja Henche weren’t planning to buy a house. But then they saw it. “We made the mistake of coming here,” Tokarchuk jokes.

It was 2018, and the property in question — a boxy, cliffside structure perched on slim columns and wrapped in coastal forest — had popped up in a Lions Bay real estate listing.

Designed by architect Peter Cardew in 1980, the 2,800-square-foot home hadn’t been on the market in decades. It was Cardew’s first residential project and was inspired by Richard Meier’s Douglas House, a modernist home in Harbor Springs, Mich., famed for its geometric profile and steep setting.

The two were smitten. “It’s not very often you find this kind of house on the North Shore. Usually they’re pretty cookie-cutter,” says interior designer Henche, who describes feeling emotional on her first visit.

“It just felt like an exceptionally good place,” adds Tokarchuk, principal of West Vancouver’s TOK Design Studio.

The structure’s steel bones were in solid shape, but the envelope was failing, with rotting wood, disintegrating caulking and windows flexing in the wind.

Interior spaces were cramped and dated, and the whole place was layered in white carpet. “Everything was of a different time,” Tokarchuk recalls.

The home’s views also weren’t as visible as they could be from the inside, and the main-floor deck wasn’t usable — almost criminal for a home with unimpeded ocean frontage.

Post-purchase, the couple thought about expanding the home’s footprint. But a contractor’s quote brought them back to reality, and they decided to focus on quality instead, Tokarchuk says.

“We decided we’d really like to spend money and time on the quality and the way things are put together, instead of spreading ourselves too thin,” he says.

One of their best investments was rebuilding the view wall. Replacing a scattering of smaller windows, a curtain-wall glazing system and massive sliding doors now run nearly the full length of the main floor, allowing half the facade to open.

“In the summertime, in the morning, you’re throwing the entire wall open,” Tokarchuk says. “We hear the birds. The swallows are flying through.”

Inside, Tokarchuk and Henche opened up spaces and prioritized sightlines. The kitchen, once a closed-off galley, now opens to the view. Outfitted with Miele appliances and Bulthaup cabinetry, the space centres around a long island and table customized to fit the narrow footprint.

Quartzite with bold veining carries over the backsplash and counters. “The greys and rusts are a reflection of what’s out there,” Henche says. “The water, the rocks, the forest.”

Upstairs, all spaces face oceanward, even the primary bath. A walk-in glass shower now offers nearly 140 degrees of view, and the bathroom mirror reflects sky and water. Geometric porcelain tile adds texture without distracting from the vista.

An open mezzanine over the interior stairs became Henche’s home office, a vantage point Tokarchuk calls “one of the best spots in the house,” (with the caveat that he rarely gets the seat).

The couple also spent time updating the home’s mechanical systems and functional backbone, adding radiant flooring and storage throughout. On the lower level, they carved out space for a laundry room, two bedrooms, a shared bath and much-needed storage.

Exterior shading helps manage heat and light without detracting from glassy drama. “By controlling it outside the window wall, you don’t get the crazy thermal gain,” says Tokarchuk. “Yet you’re still enjoying the view.”

Below the home’s lower level, a small room drops down, housing a cedar-lined Finnish sauna with its own deck. Shaded in summer and protected in winter, it feels tucked away and elemental. “It’s a pretty magical space down there,” Tokarchuk says.

Despite its character, the home manages to feels comfortably calm and down to earth. Its main floor sits level with the street, avoiding the steep, switchback driveways common to Lions Bay. A covered bridge leads from a carport into the front entry.

“You essentially have a bridge from the parking area across a gap to the front door. Then when you enter the front door, you cross another bridge to the view,” Tokarchuk says. “That was intriguing to me.”

Inside, windows draw the eye to views of Howe Sound, Gambier Island and Sunshine Coast mountains. Light pours in so generously that the couple rarely turn on lights during the day.

Outside, eagles alight in the trees. Humpbacks feed offshore. “You’re very connected to nature here,” says Tokarchuk, noting that while it’s a short drive from West Vancouver, North Vancouver and downtown, “you really feel like you’re away.”

Tokarchuk and Henche moved into the renovated home in 2024. But today they’re looking ahead to their next project: renovating another oceanfront home in Pender Harbour. And they’ve put their Lions Bay labour of love on the market , hoping someone else will feel the same pull.

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

5164 Central Ave., Ladner

Type: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom detached

Size: 1,709 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,376,600

Listed for: $1,329,900

Sold for: $1,300,000

Sold on: Oct. 21

Days on market in this listing: Eight

Listing agent: Aileen Noguer PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Renee Gomes and Jennifer West PREC at Macdonald Realty

The big sell: This updated three-bedroom house was built in 1971 in Ladner’s Hawthorne district on a sizable lot that boasts a 74-foot frontage separated from the road by high privacy hedging. It offers plenty of flexible storage options with a 12-by-10-foot finished workshop with electricity, as well as a double garage. There are gleaming hardwood floors inside the home, a newly-renovated galley-style kitchen with flat-panelled white cabinets, modern countertops, and stainless-steel appliances, a wood-burning fireplace and bay window in the living room, and barn doors that separate the dining area from the kitchen. All three bedrooms are found upstairs served by a family bathroom, as well as a 19-foot-long games room that lends itself to multiple uses. The south-facing rear garden contains a patio and a large deck with views across the well-tended English-style garden.

1170 Kendal Pl., North Vancouver

Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 3,338 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,539,000

Listed for: $2,498,800

Sold for: $2,350,000

Sold on: Nov. 4

Days on market in this listing: 67

Listing agent: Brian Rybchinsky PREC at Virani Real Estate Advisors

Buyers agent: Colin Thornton PREC at Royal LePage Elite West

The big sell: A cul-de-sac location is one of the highlights of this four-bedroom family home in North Vancouver’s Edgemont subdivision. There are a number of schools nearby including its catchment schools of Cleveland Elementary and Handsworth Secondary, as well as parks and the amenities that comprise Edgemont Village. Built in 1968 and renovated in 2007, the two-level layout features the principal reception rooms on the upper floor alongside two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and an additional couple of bedrooms on the lower floor next to a recreation room, laundry, storage, and an attached double garage. There are hardwood floors that flow through the open-concept living area that takes in entertaining spaces in the form of both a family room and a living room, three fireplaces, and a 1,000-square-foot sundeck with views across the partly-treed rear garden.

108 — 2288 Pine St., Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,569 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,508,000

Listed for: $1,650,000

Sold for: $1,552,500

Sold on: Nov. 12

Days on market in this listing: 178

Listing agent: Eric Wu PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Adam Chahl PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: This three-bedroom townhome went through some price iterations before hitting the sweet spot and landing a buyer back in November. It forms part of The Fairview, an 11-storey concrete building located at the corner of West 6th Avenue and Pine Street just across from the Arbutus Greenway and close to the shops, cafés and galleries of South Granville, as well as Kitsilano and Granville Island attractions. This two-level end-unit home has a private street entrance, 11-foot-high ceilings on the main floor, and expansive west-facing windows that fill the home with natural light. With a floor plan of almost 1,600 square feet, there are generous-sized rooms including a 16-foot-long primary bedroom, a den/study, and a laundry room. The unit comes with two underground parking stalls, a storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $820.25. Residents can enjoy an indoor swimming pool, exercise centre, and hot tub.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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In winter, we naturally turn inward. Spending more time at home, seeking out comfort, and noticing our surroundings a little more. Colour is one of the simplest ways to shift the mood of a space, says expressive arts therapist Georgia Fullerton. Here, she discusses how to use colour to feel better during these darker, colder months.

Colours influence us on both a conscious and subconscious level, says Fullerton. When a colour surrounds us on walls, furniture, or accents, it interacts with feelings, perception and our overall mindset .

For example, greens are linked to balance and renewal. A deep green like BeautiTone’s 2026 colour of the year, Muse, can create a sense of calm and stability. Over time, these subtle cues shape mood, energy, and even how restorative a space feels, she says.

Unlike furniture or décor, paint is immersive. It sits in the background of daily life, shaping how light moves through a room and how the body responds to that space over time, she says.

During winter, when natural light drops and time outdoors is limited, certain colours tend to feel especially grounding.

“Earthy tones such as deep greens, warm terracottas, and muted neutrals, tend to feel grounding because they echo nature’s palette. They create a sense of stability when the outside world feels dark and we spend an increased amount of time indoors,” says Fullerton. “Pantone’s Cloud Dancer is a soft, airy white, which offers lightness and clarity. It’s a beautiful complement to deeper hues like Muse, balancing richness with brightness for a harmonious winter palette”

Neutral palettes remain popular, but Fullerton notes that not all neutrals offer the same emotional experience.

The undertone makes all the difference, she says. Warm neutrals like BeautiTone’s Dust of Light feel inviting and comforting, while cool, grey-based neutrals can sometimes feel stark or sterile. Texture also matters. Layering fabrics, wood, and natural materials with neutrals adds depth and prevents a space from feeling lifeless.

Much of colour’s impact happens below the surface, says Fullerton. In her therapeutic work, she often sees people respond emotionally to colour before they can articulate why.

“When colour is chosen deliberately, it reflects intention — what we want to feel or communicate. Subconsciously, colour can evoke memories, emotions, and even physiological responses without us realizing it. For example, I might invite a client to notice which colour feels connected to a certain emotion or part of themselves. Perhaps a deep blue that feels protective, or a soft pink that represents vulnerability. In therapy, I often see colour act as a bridge between inner experience and external expression,” she says.

That emotional response is one reason colour can feel intimidating, says Fullerton. Many homeowners worry about making choices that are too bold or committing to something they might regret.

The trick is to start small and layer. Choose an accent wall, piece of furniture or even a piece of artwork. These can add a sense of richness without overpowering your space, and they’re easy to switch out.

Paint’s emotional impact is also tied to its consistency, she says. Unlike objects that can be moved or replaced, wall colour is always present.

“Colour envelops us, it’s the backdrop to everything we do and wall colour is constant and immersive. It sets the tone for the entire space, influencing how light behaves and how we feel in the room. That’s why a simple paint change can completely shift mood and energy.”

When working with trend-led palettes, Fullerton encourages people to think beyond what is fashionable and focus instead on how a colour fits into daily life.

Look at how the colour resonates with your lifestyle and emotional needs. Trends are exciting, but the most successful choices are personal. Consider how colour interacts with your energy, your existing décor, and the mood you want to cultivate, says Fullerton.

For those unsure where to begin, her advice is simple:

“Start with a space you use daily, like a reading nook or bedroom wall, and choose a colour that supports how you want to feel there. Adding colour to a single wall or even through accessories like cushions or artwork can create a noticeable shift without a full renovation. Small changes often have the biggest emotional impact.”

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Fluorescent lights, the near-constant grinding of an industrial espresso machine, and chilly coffee shop temperatures … To many remote coffee shop workers, these are fast-forgotten annoyances while typing away on their laptops. But for Vancouver resident Maryam Mobini, who has ADHD and is among millions of neurodivergent people worldwide, experiences like these can leave her so depleted she has to go home and lie down in a dark room to recuperate. And don’t mention the impact on work productivity.

Mobini, a sensory and behaviour designer who has contributed to anxiety and chronic pain research at SFU, and trained under behaviour scientist Dr. BJ Fogg and psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen, is one of a growing number of neuro-informed designers.

Drawing on research in the field and her lived experiences, Mobini explores how environments — workplace, home, public spaces — impact emotions, thoughts and behaviour. Instead of asking people to rely on constant self-control, discipline, or coping, Mobini’s design philosophy puts the onus on the space itself. “The environment is always on, influencing us every minute we’re in it, whether we’re aware of it or not,” she explains.

Through her company, the innovation and design studio to:Resonate , Mobini consults with architects and interaction designers, and works one-on-one with clients in Canada, the US and Europe. Many of her clients are highly successful but struggle with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. Working with the likes of Lululemon, Procter & Gamble and Thrive Global, Mobini designs sensory-informed workplaces, wellness spaces, residential homes, and public installations. By incorporating finely tuned acoustics, LED lighting and intuitive layouts, Mobini taps into frequency, light, colour, and sound to “support [nervous system] regulation rather than stimulation.”

And with “nervous system regulation” becoming somewhat of a buzzword — in 2024 the hashtag had garnered over hundreds of million views on TikTok — it’s a design consideration more and more firms are building into their ethos. “Sensory overload, attention fragmentation, and burnout are becoming mainstream,” says Mobini.

Neuroarchitecture as a field first emerged in the early 2000s when neuroscientists such as Fred Gage at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California — a centre founded in 1965 dedicated to studying how the environment influences the brain — began exploring the link between architecture and neuroplasticity. Today, researchers around the world are building on this work with initiatives such as the International Centre for Neuroarchitecture and NeuroDesign, a partnership between the Research Institute of Sweden and the University College of London which aims to explore how to make built environments more inclusive.

Here in Canada, design firms such as Mason Studio in Toronto are leading the way with sensory-informed residential and commercial projects. Stanley Sun, co-founder and creative director says one of the core principles of neuroarchitecture is the focus on function as opposed to only esthetics. “[In neuro-informed design,] materials are chosen not only for appearance but for how they perform. Textiles that absorb sound reduce mental fatigue. Surfaces with natural variation are easier for the eye and nervous system to process. Even small decisions, such as flooring transitions or door placement, influence how people move and feel at home.”

Mason Studio’s team also applies lighting strategies that calibrate to support circadian rhythms — brighter, cooler tones for morning and warmer, more diffused light for evening wind-down — for instance, which help improve sleep and energy. In a bedroom at Jing’an Residences townhouse project in Shanghai, Mason Studio’s team applied a continuous marble band along the lower part of the wall around the bed to create a sense of enclosure and security, and directed lighting upwards to create a feeling of warmth and comfort.

When considering layout, Stanley’s team aims for clear sightlines. For example, when designing a corridor at the Jing’an Residences, the team aimed to support intuitive movement throughout the space, helping reduce micro-decisions. They also added quiet zones, away from high-activity areas. “Each tactical choice works together to create a home that supports calm, clarity, and comfort without the resident having to think about it,” Sun explains.

While some may think these details are a luxury, Sun argues neuroarchitecture is an investment that will pay dividends. “In workplaces, the impact is measurable. Improved lighting and acoustic balance support concentration, reduce fatigue, and contribute to lower rates of mental health-related absenteeism.” He believes behavioural design has the potential to save time, energy, and emotional bandwidth across all aspects of life.

Mobini agrees: “When we design environments that support neurodivergent nervous systems, we create spaces that work better for everyone.”

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

614 East 14th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Five-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,228 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,559,000

Listed for: $1,720,000

Sold for: $1,850,000

Sold on: Oct. 24

Days on market in this listing: Seven

Listing agent: Adam Pospischil at Engel & Volkers Vancouver

Buyers agent: Michele Collins at Royal LePage Sussex

The big sell: According to listing agent Adam Pospischil, ten offers were received for this fully-updated home in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant community that pushed the final sale figure to $130,000 over the asking price. He cites those recent renovations, the characterful details of the 1910 house, a family-friendly neighbourhood near Robson Park, and a smaller lot size of 2,583 square feet which, he says, put the home at a price point that brought interest from both house buyers as well as duplex buyers. Inside, the three-storey interior features new hardwood floors, upgraded windows, a modern open-plan kitchen, a skylit dining area, a tankless water heater, a heat pump for heating and cooling, and a newly-installed split-level entertainment-sized rear patio bordered by stone retaining walls. In total, there are three bedrooms divided between the main and top floors, while a separate two-bedroom suite resides in the basement.

801 — 651 Nootka Way, Port Moody

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 891 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $699,000

Listed for: $739,900

Sold for: $730,000

Sold on: October 20

Days on market in this listing: 58

Listing agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

Buyers agent: Kyle Rademaker at Royal LePage Sterling Realty

The big sell: This two-bedroom, two-bathroom Port Moody condo is located in the Sahalee development in Polygon’s master-planned Klahanie community. Constructed in 2008, the 28-floor tower comprises 176 units with access to an array of amenities including a tennis court, outdoor swimming pool, exercise centre, gym, party room, guest suite, hot tub, and steam room. This bright corner unit has scenic vistas from every room as well as separated bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen with granite counters and stainless-steel appliances including a gas range, an electric fireplace, and an oversized balcony from which to enjoy the sunsets. It comes with two parking stalls, and a strata that permits pets (two dogs or two cats), and rentals. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $451.03, and of note to investors, the apartment achieved approximately $2,650 per month in rent.

2525 West 7th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, four-bathroom half duplex

Size: 1,531 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,818,000

Listed for: $1,725,000

Sold for: $1,855,000

Sold on: Nov. 14

Days on market in this listing: Four

Listing agent: Jessica Chen PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Mike Rampf PREC and Glenn Feldstein PREC at Engel & Volkers Vancouver

The big sell: Listing agent Jessica Chen reports that this home garnered three offers within the first day of showing with the winning offer coming in subject free at $130,000 over the asking price. The property in question is the front half of a duplex complete with radiant heated hardwood floors throughout, a new boiler/heat exchanger, fresh paintwork, and an attached garage. It forms part of a three-unit pet- and rental-friendly nonconforming strata in Kitsilano near General Gordon Elementary and Kitsilano Secondary schools. The bright open layout on the main floor combines a kitchen with granite countertops and Shaker-style cabinets in a dark wood hue, with adjacent living and dining areas finished with wainscot panelling. There are two bedrooms upstairs served by two bathrooms, while the ground floor has a third bedroom, ensuite bathroom, and french doors that open to a patio garden.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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