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Inside, Falken Reynolds respected its Craftsman origins without recreating a period interior.

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The idea that materials should be touched, repaired and passed down informed solid oak appliance pulls, timber wall panelling and a staircase that quietly reinterprets traditional construction.

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A low platform bed, vaulted ceiling and exposed timber beams give the main bedroom at Seawall House a restrained, restful character. Photo by Ema Peter

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Natural oak runs across floors, walls, cabinetry, furniture and stairs. Repetition is avoided through changes in scale, purpose and detail, becoming architecture in one place and furniture or a tactile surface in another.

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Wood meets leather, Corian, stone and steel with enough precision to allow each material to be appreciated without competing.

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Rather than selecting numerous finishes, the designers use fewer materials more extensively and allow craftsmanship to provide richness. The result feels cohesive but leaves room for belongings and memories to accumulate.

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“The most successful minimalist homes are usually the ones where the hardest work is invisible,” says Falkenberg.

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They designed the Seawall house mud room with individual storage bays for all four family members, laundry facilities, drying closets, durable concrete floors and easy-to-maintain surfaces. Technology is concealed and frequently used possessions have designated places.

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The lower and main floors were lifted to increase ceiling heights, allowing daylight to reach further inside and creating room to integrate lighting, storage and millwork discreetly.

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“This was fundamentally an architectural intervention led by architect Peter Rose. By lifting the lower and main floors while carefully working within heritage constraints, the house became dramatically more livable without losing its relationship to the neighbourhood,” says Falkenberg.

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A flexible office and exercise space at Seawall House designed by Falken Reynolds. Photo by Ema Peter

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For Falken Reynolds, global uncertainty is having an impact on how people view their homes: less showcase and more anchor.

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“We’ve noticed our clients thinking more deeply about home than ever before. They’re asking questions about legacy, well-being, sustainability, family and how they want to spend the next twenty or thirty years of their lives — not simply what looks beautiful today,” says Reynolds.

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That shift is visible across Falken Reynolds’ current work. Walden, a private lakeside retreat near Pemberton, spans five acres and eight buildings, with warm hemlock interiors conceived as a Canadian interpretation of a forest retreat.

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They’ve also recently completed a Nova Scotia cottage using local stone, rich woods and furniture by eastern Canadian artisans. Other projects include minimalist townhouses planned around pets, a charcoal-toned penthouse and homes designed around allergies, ageing parents and multi-generational living.

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The open-plan kitchen and living area at Seawall House uses a restrained palette of oak, white cabinetry and natural textures, interior design by Falken Reynolds. Photo by Ema Peter

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At Seawall House, the owners asked for luxury to be expressed through details rather than grand gestures.

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That might mean cabinetry made with the care of fine furniture, a carved Corian pull that doubles as a tea towel rail, or an integrated sink with fewer joins to clean and maintain.

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Luxury lies not in precious surfaces, but in durable materials and thoughtful solutions that make a house easier to live in.

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“Good design isn’t about creating beautiful moments. It’s about making ordinary moments feel effortless,” says Reynolds.

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