Jamie Banfield Design is in the business of doing it all. The firm, which was founded by its namesake five years ago, is a full-service interior design studio with a special expertise in kitchen and bath design. Located in Surrey, British Columbia, Banfield focuses primarily on residential, but will also take on selected light commercial projects.
Banfield, who was named one of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s ‘30 Under 30’ at the 2015 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, is formally trained in interior design, but also has background work in manufacturing, construction and custom millwork. He regularly contributes to Home Décor & Renovation magazine. The firm was awarded Best of Houzz 2015 for customer service.
Furniture Forward
Banfield says: “We strongly believe in sustainable design. At Jamie Banfield Design, it is all about having a contemporary look and feel while being inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds us on the West Coast.”
He says the firm often incorporates reclaimed materials and repurposed furniture into its designs which “offers a unique perspective to our finished rooms.”
Additionally, he says he and his designers will often align with craftsman and suppliers that share similar values, and offer products that are expertly made with local materials.
The company’s philosophical lean toward customization, quality and sustainability also impacts the brands of products JBD’s designers spec into their designs. Customization is also key for the designer. “We incorporate it into many of our designs, as it’s the key to making any room unique and a true reflection of the people who live there,” Banfield continues. “We always try to use one-of-a-kind pieces in every one of our rooms. As a designer, it can sometimes be difficult to find these kinds of items.”
Banfield has taken on the challenge and solved his own issue by creating a brand new custom cabinetry collection called The Banfield, a line of custom, high-end cabinetry inspired by the “natural beauty of the West Coast,” according to the designer. Rounding out his foray into product design, Banfield also offers a studio-designed line of bespoke furniture called Paul Kristjan that Banfield says features “rustic sophistication with industrial and modern influences.” Each piece is handcrafted with a mix of materials from local reclaimed woods and salvaged metals. Both lines launched in the fall of 2014.
Standalone Designs
Clients come to Jamie Banfield Design for that focus on customization, looking for designs that will set them apart. Banfield himself says of a recent project, “There are different ways to inject unique elements and innovation into any space, whether it’s a big home, or a small condo.”
For that project, a remodel of a three-year-old condo, he says his client wanted to set her space apart from the builder design that marked the other homes in her building, and she wanted it to “reflect her personality and style.” The kitchen and baths were critical points for the remodel.
A condo powder room provides a small canvas, but Banfield mixed materials to let warmth and depth dominate the small space.
“The standout feature is the floating vanity, which makes the room look bigger,” Banfield explains. The room fairly bursts with textures: a ribbon glass countertop’s playful pattern and colors plays off a subdued texture-rich seagrass wallpaper, repeating the forms found in the countertop in a neutral gold-threaded gray tone. Banfield says, “[The] delicate threads of gold provide a feminine feel to the room, which balances out the industrial looking faucets and fixtures.” A geometric mirror in gold highlights the wallpaper, which is plated with glass to create a backsplash but still allow the wallpaper to be a focal point.
Meanwhile in the master bath, the client sought a retreat. “To give this room a more airy, luxurious spa look and feel, we incorporated lighter tones with soft textures and materials,” Banfield says, identifying that he achieved a balance of what he identifies as masculine and feminine forms through a blending of strong lines, mixed materials and carefully selected accessories. A custom shower features slate meeting soft marble in soft grays and whites. Warm gray repeats on the furniture inspired vanity, which supports a chiseled glass vessel sink that is reminiscent of a piece of jewelry.
“What I truly love about this room is the exclusively cut marble tiling and pattern that is carried through the entire space, offering understated detail with a timeless look and feel,” Banfield continues.
The kitchen’s details are the story of that space. Banfield says: “What makes this kitchen truly unique is the custom designed marble piece behind the cooktop. Carved with an organic pattern, it adds texture and dimension to the space against the rift oak cabinets.” He identifies the juxtaposition of natural materials and forms throughout the kitchen as a mark of West Coast design, particularly in the live edge shelving, whose edge is repeated in the bench seating and is meant to complement the quartz countertops finished with a waterfall edge.
Collaboration is Key
Banfield identifies his firm’s collaborative approach as a foundation for success. “I think it’s the biggest factor,” he says. “We collaborate on every project. Essentially, you are not just hiring one designer; you are hiring an entire team with diverse expertise.”
This collaboration at JBD extends from the physical design to the process of building out the space, and working with allied professionals. “Instead of just providing a design concept, we work to create a strong plan and process, which we believe is important to the success of every project. We guarantee client satisfaction and projects that are delivered on time and on budget. With years of experience in the interior design industry, we have forged strong partnerships with builders, contractors, trades, and suppliers.”
Banfield concludes: “Our business philosophy is rooted in communication and collaboration.”