PlaidFox Studio

Cobie Smulders, AD, and PlaidFox. Step into our world. #PFTheLakeHouse #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ @tina_emapeterphoto Architecture by Elizabeth McKenzie & @skladan_architecture Built by @tm.builders ⁠ Featured in @archdigest

Magic in the mountains with @cobiesmulders & Taran Killam Seeing this home featured in @archdigest feels pretty surreal. This project, created as a mountain escape has been a true watershed moment for both myself and the studio — and honestly made me fall in love with design all over again. The idea of layering boldness, evoking story, and infusing character has always been a non-negotiable part of my design process, and this home epitomizes all of those things. I knew from the beginning this home needed to feel bold, layered, and unapologetically full of personality, which felt fitting given the family behind it. The home reflects so much of what I love about design: richly layered spaces that celebrate local makers, remarkable tradespeople, and the beauty of a deeply collaborative process. We couldn’t be more grateful to the many hands that helped bring this vision to life. A special thank you to @julietizon and the AD team for so thoughtfully capturing the spirit and unique character of this home in your story. I can’t wait to share more from this project. #PFTheLakeHouse #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ @tina_emapeterphoto Architecture by Elizabeth McKenzie & @skladan_architecture Built by @tm.builders

The Laneway. With the garage detached from the home, it gave me the opportunity to create an entirely different view—something more sculptural and modern than the rest of the house. With the garage below, and an artist’s studio above, the laneway structure occupied much of the view from the kitchen and living room. The round window and asymmetrical roofline set the tone, but it’s the back—fully visible from the main living spaces—where it becomes truly special. Inspired by a storefront window display at night, I designed an illuminated art pocket that comes to life after dark. The art itself, if you know my friends, feels perfectly fitting. But it’s the laneway that delivers the real drama. #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ ⁠ Featured in @vogueliving

Colour, for me, works best when it doesn’t try too hard. Using it in unexpected ways keeps it from ever dominating. In the kitchen, that meant Esmeralda quartzite counters—a deep, jade-like tone—set against a quiet, neutral cabinetry palette. Unlacquered Edwardian tapware, sculptural lighting, and an oversized window round out a space I’ll never tire of. #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ ⁠ Featured in @vogueliving

There’s no theme to this room—no defined style or prescribed palette. Every piece is here simply because I loved it. The way it was made, the way it made me feel. Whether it’s a kid’s room or any room, the process is the same: fall in love first, then find a way to make it work. A tapestry found in San Miguel, Mexico. A hand-stitched piece gifted by a friend. Bird masks collected in Argentina nearly a decade ago. The hand painted walls—because a painted stripe always carries more life than wallpaper—set the backdrop for one of my favourite fixtures in the home from @alliedmaker . This isn’t the only room that I did this way, but it might be one of my favourites.  #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ Featured in @vogueliving

While designing my personal home, I knew I wanted a monolithic staircase that still felt light — almost as though it was floating. Alongside the fumed oak bookcase, the staircase was one of the very first elements I sketched while creating the architecture of the home. Much of the house was then designed and engineered around the solid steel structure, which weighs nearly 6,000 pounds. Easily one of my favourites — and most weighty — details of the home. #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ ⁠Staircase by @metal_mart Featured in @vogueliving

If you’re looking for us, we’ll be here until fall. From the outset, we imagined the backyard less as a yard and more as a courtyard—enclosed, layered, and intimate. Tall plantings, brick walls, and the checkered patio all draw from our many trips to old Montreal. That dialogue between new and historic is a thread that runs quietly through the entire home.  #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ ⁠ Featured in @vogueliving

Few things transform a space more than colour and light. In every home we create and curate, lighting is the one element never to be compromised—it has the quiet ability to shape how a room is both seen and felt.⁠ ⁠ For years, we’ve worked alongside @blueprint_lighting to bring pieces into our homes that feel effortless and timeless. Often people ask where we source our lighting for our projects, and Blueprint is one of our favourites. #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ Featured in @vogueliving

I firmly believe we should raise our children in creative, colour-filled, wondrous spaces. Fostering their imagination starts at home—and in some cases, their bathrooms. This bathroom combines terrazzo counters, zellige tile, and a not-so-subtle butterfly wallpaper—an ode to the curiosity and spirit of summer. Inspired by a recent trip to Puglia, where we stayed in a home surrounded by lemon trees, the space leans into colour, pattern, and a sense of play. #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ ⁠Tile from @zia_tile Wallpaper from @hoviaofficial Featured in @vogueliving

The primary bedroom was designed around a deeper, more atmospheric palette—rich enough to balance all the natural light during the day, and soft enough by evening to feel like a cocoon. A quiet, layered retreat. The second-floor terrace, connecting the bedroom and ensuite, is laid in a check pattern and anchored by a brick wraparound planter for privacy. I wanted it to feel almost loft-like—where classic details meet a more modern sensibility. The mohair bed was custom designed with our friends at @ffabb_home , paired with the smoked column pendant from @and_light and a verdigris sculptural sconce from @alliedmaker —each piece bringing a sense of weight, warmth, and restraint. #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ ⁠ Featured in @vogueliving

The primary bath.⁠ ⁠ After nearly two decades of apartment living, the move to a standalone home meant I knew I wanted the primary bath to feel truly spacious and unique—something that felt like a departure from everything that came before.⁠ ⁠ A twelve-foot floating vanity overlooks the second-floor bricked garden terrace, with views to the North Shore mountains and downtown Vancouver. Layered foliage acts as a natural privacy screen, creating a lush, ever-changing backdrop that shifts with the seasons.⁠ ⁠ Tumbled limestone floors are paired with handmade Zeppelin encaustic concrete tile on the walls, both sourced from our friends @zia_tile . There’s a depth and quiet richness that comes from using materials that feel lived-in from the start—imperfect, tactile, and everything I had hoped for. #PFMiCasa #plaidfoxstudio⁠ ⁠ Design by @plaidfoxstudio ⁠ Photography by @emaphotographi ⁠ Architecture by @skladan_architecture ⁠ ⁠ Featured in @vogueliving

From the outset, we imagined the basement play area as something that felt more outdoor than in. By sloping the garden along the south side of the home, we were able to introduce an oversized window that draws in light—and with it, a sense of life—transforming the space entirely. Polished concrete floors ground the room, while an unconventional seating arrangement keeps it fluid and open to change. A sculptural accent light from our friends at @and_light adds just the right note, allowing the space to evolve alongside us as a family—this space has quietly become one of our favourites. Design by @plaidfoxstudio Photography by @emaphotographi Architecture by @skladan_architecture Landscape design by Gary Baker #plaidfoxstudio #PFMiCasa Featured in @vogueliving ⁠