For Rick Campbell and Lucy Willcox, purchasing and revamping a rundown house on a gem of a site offered the opportunity to create their dream home—a bright and modern dwelling with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. For the project, they turned to architect Randy Bens and designer Andrea McLean, who sought to “connect the interior to the home’s coastal location, ensuring the views were never compromised.”

The result is a thoughtful renovation that honors the context of the home’s original architecture and location while celebrating Rick and Lucy’s love of natural materials and midcentury-modern design.

Situated in White Rock, a coastal city 45 minutes south of Vancouver, the house perches above the Pacific Ocean. “The views are off the charts” says Rick. “We have ocean and island views to the south, mountain views to the east, and sunsets in the west.” Yet, prior to the renovation, small windows shrouded by unkempt trees and bushes blocked natural light and scenic sight lines.

Before: Living Room

McLean’s key objective for the project was to “ensure that all interior spaces take advantage of the views to the water and beaches, without any obstructions.” The team also carried natural materials, like exposed aggregate floors and Douglas fir millwork, throughout the home to create visual continuity and improve the flow between rooms.

After: Living Room and Dining Room

“Instead of one consistent color, we mixed two sunset colors with different textures (leather and micro suede),” says designer Andrea McLean of the Ligne Roset seating in the living room ." layout="wide" credit="Ema Peter" photoUserId=""/>

Rick says that it was also very important that the residence be “easy to live in—an open and calm space with great natural light. Simple, but full of character.” Rick goes on to say that McLean implemented “a constant” through line of “simple and clean design” to create an interior that feels like a personal sanctuary.

"A subtle tag we can add to the redesign of our home is ‘beach home,’" says Rick, noting that aspects of the newly renovated interior are heavily inspired by coastal elements. "The millwork and beams are whitewashed fir and represent sun-bleached driftwood. The aggregate floors are a pebble beach. The stucco siding is sand."

“Rick and Lucy had a hard time figuring out the location of the fireplace—they wanted the comfort of the fire, but didn’t want the unit to impede on the flow or block the views,” says McClean. “Lucy said that she loves to keep her rooms flexible, so she can easily change the layout. This conversation led to the idea of a suspended central fireplace. By thinking outside the box, they have allowed for the most wonderful living room experience.” " layout="" credit="Ema Peter " photoUserId=""/>

McLean says that she and her team looked to the surrounding landscape for inspiration as they chose interior colors—especially “the skies and ocean, which change from foggy blue to sunset pink and coral.” They treated the furniture and decor choices with the same intentionality—from the Ligne Roset seating in sunset hues to the custom Belgian linen drapery, which McLean says “offers the perfect natural open weave, and moves with a breeze for a very beachy experience.”

Before: Kitchen

Taking into account Rick and Lucy’s passion for pops of color and midcentury design, McLean sought to provide them with a fresh slate to showcase their unique style. “I dug into the architecture and the locale to think about how I could create a modern West Coast interior that is clean, tactile, and that would honor Rick and Lucy's sensibilities,” she says.

After: Kitchen

The kitchen cabinetry is crafted from regional Douglas fir, offering a welcoming balance of clean lines and textural warmth." layout="wide" credit="Ema Peter" photoUserId=""/>

The design team embraced regional materials that are weathered, raw, and sun bleached to further connect the interior to the surrounding cliffs and beaches. Architect Randy Bens outfitted the spaces with exposed Douglas fir ceiling beams, and McLean picked up this materiality in the millwork, which is made of plywood finished with a flat-cut Douglas fir veneer that exhibits a richly textured wood grain.

Before: Bedroom

“Reworking some of the interior layouts was another critical step in the renovation process,” says McLean. For instance, to achieve an unobstructed view from the bed in the primary bedroom, she rearranged the room and introduced floor-to-ceiling millwork closets on two sides.

After: Bedroom

Rick and Lucy’s home pairs the timeless beauty of natural materials with simple but intentional design choices that meet the unique functional and aesthetic needs of the homeowners. “Your dream home is for you,” says Rick. “So be unapologetically you—no one else has to love it but you.”

More Before & After stories:

A Towering Library Becomes the Beating Heart of an Architect’s Home

A Humdrum Midcentury in Vancouver Gets an Origami-Like Addition

Project Credits:

Interior Designer: Andrea McLean Studio / @andrea_mclean

General Contractor: KBC Developments / @kbc_developments

Millworker: Intempo Interiors / @intempo_interiors

Architect: Randy Bens Architect / @randybens

Photography: Ema Peter Photography / @emaphotographi

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Before & After: The Tide Turns for a Washed-Up Coastal Home Near Vancouver