Robert Bailey Named Western Living's Interior Designer of the Year

Robert Bailey, one of Vancouver’s top home-grown design talents, has just been named Western Living’s Interior Designer of the Year for 2013. You may already be familiar with the notable Robert Bailey, as he designed the interiors of one of Canada’s most expensive condos — the penthouse at the Vancouver Fairmont Pacific Rim — which recently sold for $25 million. He is also the creative force behind the interiors at the Opus Hotel, one of Canada’s top boutique design hotels. Robert was born and raised in Vancouver, and has spent his entire life here — truly a home-grown success story. He is also nearing his 35th anniversary of being a designer.

Fairmont Pacific Rim

“Extending 6,400 square feet over two floors, this 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath penthouse has some of the most spectacular views in Vancouver. Having worked with this client on two previous occasions, we knew their travel-intensive schedule meant that they were looking for a sense of tranquility and calm in their property. The views are almost overwhelming, so our challenge was to support them, rather than compete with them. To do so, we borrowed much of our colour palette from the surrounding vistas: bleached white oak hardwood throughout the principle rooms, sand and taupe coloured stone for the bathrooms, and a tailored wool carpet for bedrooms in the same value as the oak. We designed most of the furniture, allowing us to create both case and soft goods that are proportional to the rooms. The millwork cabinets are in natural walnut with a horizontal grain direction, while the doors, frames and mouldings are in the same material, but with a vertical grain direction. We chose hardware in brushed stainless steel or bronze.”

Dundarave

“This 8,000 square foot residence is filled with personality. A fresh start for the client, the home needed to reflect who she was and showcase her collection of African art, which is reminiscent of her time working on that continent. With two young children, she also needed it to be highly functional. The home is richly layered with textures, including carpets infused with a tribal theme, cabinets featuring a stainless steel weave, and floors showcasing dark oak and man-made zebra wood. All furnishings were selected to suggest they’ve been gathered over time, as opposed to an “all new” feeling. Custom, classic and vintage pieces are in the mix. All of the home’s nine bathrooms were gutted and reconsidered for with a sense of modern traditions. The spa bath and master bath reflect the level of relaxation the client desired, while the children were able to choose the colours for their individual rooms. The result is a home that is welcoming, functional and reflective of the owner, which is exactly how a home should be.”

Deep Cove

“Robert Bailey Interiors was brought in at the beginning of this project to work with the architect to create a unified interior design throughout this 6,000 square foot home – a 4-bedroom, 7-bathroom, 3-level residence. We created highly functional and highly forgiving finishes, essential for a family with two kids and two large dogs. We designed the doors, floors and millwork and all elements of the interior architecture. The home was designed to withstand the energy of parties, kids and paws. Each of the seven bathrooms has a cohesive feel, with elements such as pale, large-format porcelain or limestone floor tiles. Custom-made cabinetry, Italian bathroom accessories and recessed towel racks contribute to that unified feel. In the interconnecting staircase, custom concrete treads are suspended off a powder-coated steel structure. In the living room, wear-tested upholstery and waterproof leather complete the bespoke soft seating, perfect for a growing family with active dogs. This Deep Cove waterfront property has large terraces, so we used the same family of furniture and rugs throughout these expansive areas. The result is a property that flows, with a true sense of seamless, indoor/outdoor living.”