Crazy Birds
Location North Vancouver
Type Full Renovation
Interior Design Nelson Skinner
Fun Fact Custom wallpaper with hand-drawn additions.
On paper, the house didn’t raise any red flags. It was relatively new, in a great North Vancouver neighbourhood, and had all the right fundamentals. But living in it told a different story. Finishes wore quickly, small issues kept surfacing, and it became clear the build hadn’t been done with much care. What started as a question of how much to fix quickly turned into something bigger. Once walls were opened and the reality of the construction came to light, it was obvious this wasn’t a surface-level renovation. Missing insulation, inconsistent materials, and a series of shortcuts meant the only real option was to start fresh and do it properly.
From there, the focus shifted to rebuilding the home with intention, both in how it performs and how it feels to live in. One of the most noticeable changes is the staircase. Previously closed off and dark, it’s now a floating feature that brings light into the centre of the home. What used to be the most overlooked corner has become a defining moment in the space.
Elsewhere, the project balances practical fixes with more expressive details. In the bathroom, a hand-drawn “crazy birds” wallpaper adds personality, with parts of it finished on-site to make it feel even more one-of-a-kind. An underused attic space was transformed into a custom bookcase complete with a hidden door, while the fireplace required integrating a large prefabricated metal element spanning nearly 20 feet. Each move required careful coordination, but together they bring a distinct character to the home.
Functionally, the home was reworked to better support everyday life. A dedicated gym was built in, storage was thoughtfully integrated throughout, and each space was designed around how it would actually be used. The result is a home that feels completely different from what it once was. Not just updated, but rethought and rebuilt with care.
