Vancouver Designer Rosie Daykin Champions Authentic Personal Style Over Fleeting Trends
Have you ever looked around your living space and felt disconnected from the colors and decor? You're not alone. Even Rosie Daykin, a respected interior designer, cookbook author, and former owner of Vancouver's Butter Baked Goods, spent years struggling with the ultra-contemporary palette she initially chose for her 1950s rancher home.
From Sterile Modernism to Soulful Authenticity
"We moved in 2007 and made everything grey-white, which was appropriate for the age of the house," Daykin recalls, sitting in her open-plan kitchen filled with the aroma of homemade fruit cake. "It was really reflective of that one-level setup, but within several years, it was just a fight for me. It felt soulless."
For years, Daykin's busy schedule running a bakery and writing cookbooks left little time for home redesign. However, increased freedom has allowed her to enter what she describes as her most personal design era. This transformation was sparked by her creation of a productive backyard garden, featured in her book The Side Gardener, which showcases abundant raised beds and chickens.
"I needed a cohesive indoor-outdoor feeling," Daykin explains. "It started to be weird that I have this lovely frothy cottage garden and then come inside to this sterile, stainless-steel space."
Inspiration from English Esthetics and Travel
Frequent travels to England played a significant role in her home's refresh. Daykin fell for the country's effortless mixing of old and new, often discovered during stays at hotels like Heckfield Place and the Newt.
"I wondered why I was only having that when I'm on vacation and not living like it every day," she says. "There were esthetics that resonated with me."
These inspirations included warming her home's atmosphere through patterned wallpaper, such as the U.K.'s Robert Kime Dog Rose pattern, and embracing Farrow & Ball's myriad green hues, including its Cromarty light green-grey.
Practical Tips for Creating Authentic Spaces
"Wallpaper can be transformative and it's one of the easiest—and often the most inexpensive—things to do to your home," Daykin advises. "And if you're energetic, you can do it yourself, of course."
Another technique Daykin employs to make colors pop—part of what she calls her "exercise in layering"—is adding texture by installing boards to some walls to resemble traditional panelling.
She replaced plain electric blinds in her living room, which she found "cold and impersonal," with bold printed linen drapes called Wild Thing from Lewis & Wood. These brought in joyful pinks, red petals, and even monkey patterns.
"There's something about the action of pulling them together that just feels great," Daykin notes. "It's like an extra quilt on the bed in winter."
Design Elements That Tell a Personal Story
Throughout her Vancouver home, Daykin has incorporated elements that reflect her journey and personality:
- The living room features a desk, armchair, and ottoman of her own design
- Wall colors include Farrow and Ball's Cromarty and Mouse's Back
- Artwork from Stuart Slind and Bau-Xi Gallery adds personal touches
- Antique quilts and vintage furniture pieces create warmth and history
- Her pets, ginger cat Bean and little pup Pickle, complete the lived-in feel
Daykin's approach demonstrates that creating a home that feels authentically yours often means moving beyond temporary trends to embrace what truly resonates with your personal history, experiences, and daily life.
