Collingwood Residence: A Warm, Wood-Clad Family Home in Vancouver

If you appreciate homes wrapped in the natural warmth of wood, the Collingwood Residence is a striking example. Designed by BLA Design Group, this spacious, multi-level family home in Vancouver pairs an inviting wooden exterior with bright, minimalist interiors. The street-facing façade reads as a solid, private volume clad entirely in timber, while the rear opens to the garden through floor-to-ceiling glass walls and large sliding doors that create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.

Multi-level family house in Vancouver with warm wooden exterior — Fabulous multi-level family house in Vancouver with a warm wooden exterior

A modest front garden and a carefully curated walkway lead to the entrance, where the entry room greets you with a pared-back aesthetic and a sculptural staircase. The house succeeds at feeling both private and open: the wooden street façade shields the interior from the public realm, while generous glazed walls at the back invite the garden in, establishing a strong indoor-outdoor relationship that is perfect for family living.

Interior view of entry and staircase — View of the entry to the house as seen from the inside

Inside, a restrained palette of white and soft gray provides a calm backdrop for elegant wooden accents that appear throughout the home. These timber elements give each room texture and visual contrast without overwhelming the minimalist framework. Natural light is a constant presence: carefully positioned skylights, large windows and glazed rear walls bathe every level in daylight, enhancing the sense of openness across the multi-level plan.

Glass and wood staircase with modern design — Sleek and stylish glass and wood staircase inside the house with modern design

The kitchen and dining areas embrace functional modernism: white surfaces and warm wood combine with a few dark accents, such as pendant lights, to achieve a polished, lived-in look. Furniture choices—like a round dining table with slim chairs, custom window seats and streamlined bar stools—lean toward Scandinavian influence, adding simple but refined forms that prioritize comfort and utility.

Modern kitchen in white and wood with dark pendant lights — Functional modern kitchen in white and wood with dark pendant lights

Minimal wood and white dining area with indoor plant and pendant light — Gorgeous and minimal wood and white dining area with indoor plant and snazzy pendant light

Bathrooms maintain the same careful approach to materials and pattern: a freestanding white bathtub is set against chevron-patterned tiles for a subtle focal point, while gray hexagonal tiles around the vanity bring geometric interest without disrupting the overall calm. These small, intentional gestures show how pattern and texture are used sparingly but effectively across the home.

Skylights on the upper level bringing natural light into the interior — Series of skylights on the upper level bring ample natural light into the minimal, multi-level interior

On the exterior, long, sweeping rear decks extend toward the garden, creating outdoor living spaces that feel like natural extensions of the interior rooms. A dark, modern garage provides a visual counterpoint to the warm timber, and thoughtful lighting throughout the site enhances safety, comfort and atmosphere during evening hours. Together, these elements make the Collingwood Residence well suited to comfortable, everyday family life.

Gray hexagonal wall tiles in modern wood-and-white bathroom — Gray hexagonal wall tiles bring a dash of visual and geometric contrast to the modern wood and white bathroom

Bathroom with chevron-pattern gray tiles — Contemporary bathroom backdrop with chevron pattern tiles in gray

Modern dark gray garage of the Collingwood House — Modern garage in dark gray of the Collingwood House

Street facade of a cozy contemporary Vancouver home — Street facade of the classic and cozy contemporary home in Vancouver

Three levels of a modern Vancouver home in wood, glass and white — Three levels of the modern Vancouver home in wood, glass and white

The Collingwood Residence balances warmth and restraint, demonstrating how timber, light and careful detailing can combine to create a modern, family-focused home. Architectural choices—wood cladding, large glazed openings, skylights and simple, durable interiors—work together to deliver a comfortable, flexible house that celebrates both material warmth and clean contemporary lines. (Photography credit: Andrew Latreille Architectural Photography.)