Clerestory windows help the light travel through their home. Should you have a clerestory window?

“How the light moves through the house … we never have direct sunlight or sun in our eyes in the kitchen. It comes through our clerestory windows and looks so beautiful," says Victoria, B.C. homeowner Natalie Lampa."We can also open our clerestory windows (to) provide a perfect breeze and ventilation throughout the house.” Lampa says architect created many elements in Lampa House the family had not considered or appreciated until they lived in their home.

She remembers Jones asking her and husband, Martin, to write out what was important to them in a house. “How we would age in the house, how many bedrooms, how we imagined the kitchen — I love cooking. I felt it was collaborative.” Says D’Arcy Jones, “The clients were very involved with the design, asking for spaces that could transform over time.

For example, their daughter’s bedroom can be divided into two smaller rooms someday, for more guest rooms later in life.” The home, which measures 2,500 square feet, contrasts with the mid century look of their neighbourhood near , but does not stick out. “The house is quite muted because there are just so many trees and greenery around it.

It doesn’t stand out as much," Lampa says. "It softens the angles.” “The inspiration for the home’s design was how to find a way to bring south light into the entire house all day, which was difficult because the site faces east," Jones explains. "So south light comes in from the side, where you typically don’t want large windows, (as) they will only look at the side of your own fence, hedge or your neighbour’s house.” The home is designed so all bedrooms are located on one side of the house with the main living areas on the other side, connected by a glass hallway and foyer.

The master bedroom is at the back, then there is a bathroom, an outdoor space to bring in natural light, a piano room, and their daughter’s bedroom. Lampa’s mother lives in the front room, for several months a year, with an eye to living there permanently in the future. She has her own bathroom, kitchen and work space..