Every day, when Jamie Banfield gets to work, inspiration begins to flow, much like the Fraser River just outside his office window. Known for his contemporary West Coast style, Jamie says the best part of his job – besides seeing his drawings and plans come to life – are the happy smiles on his clients’ faces.
“When you see that look on a home owner's face when they see their new space, well you can't really get better than that,” says the principal of Jamie Banfield Design, a full-service interior design firm specializing in creating stylish rooms with expertise in kitchen and bathroom projects.
While his designs are filled with indigenous woods, stone accents and hues found in nature, Jamie also focuses on functionality, going on to say “Good design is about combining artistry with practical engineering.”
Although environmentally sustainable interior design (ESID) has become an issue in interior design practice, it is something Jamie does organically whenever possible. Whether it’s re-purposing leftover walnut from another site to handcraft three side tables, or salvaging some 2X4s, then sanding, oiling and staining them to fashion a staircase with that wow factor, Jamie and his team try to keep items out of the landfill.
“I use local, reclaimed woods and salvaged metal when it is appropriate for the job,” says Jamie. “In a bathroom in a Lion’s Bay home, we used leftover wood from the Richmond Oval for the cabinetry and a metal pipe to make a towel rack.”
