Some rooms are lived in, but the kitchen is lived with — a place where people naturally come together, shaping the heartbeat of a home. It is the place where families gather without thinking, where stories are exchanged between simmering pots, and where the rituals of daily life take shape. Even in the most contemporary architecture, the kitchen remains the anchor, a space that radiates warmth, purpose, and connection. On Vancouver Island, where nature is woven into every facet of daily living, this truth feels even more profound. It is here that the work of David Coulson has, for four decades, embraced the notion that a kitchen is not merely a functional space, but a living expression of how people inhabit their homes and their surroundings.
David Coulson Design offers a complete design-build service that brings all stages of a project under one coordinated team. This integrated approach streamlines communication, strengthens planning, and ensures a cohesive vision from initial concept to final completion. This approach is strengthened and informed by decades of commercial and restoration experience, including the Wharfside Restaurant and Starfish Glassworks, as well as work on Emily Carr House and Craigflower Manor. These varied projects continue to inform the firm’s ability to balance functionality, character, and longevity in every home they create.
This philosophy comes into sharp focus in Tuscany Villa, a David Coulson Design project that embodies his long-held ideals with clarity. Inspired by Tuscan architecture, the home unfolds with arms surrounding a central courtyard, positioning the kitchen at the true heart of the residence. The layout reflects his lifelong belief that the kitchen serves as the emotional and functional centre of a home. While his European travels enriched the design language, it was his instinct for creating private wings for children and guests — each with direct access to the outdoors — that anchored the concept in everyday livability.
The kitchen’s horizontal orientation allows the owners to look directly into the courtyard as they cook, reinforcing a continuous connection between indoors and out. This shaped a long, uninterrupted workspace wrapped in cabinetry on three sides, supporting movement while allowing guests to pass through without entering the galley. The couple loved cooking together, and with stacked wall ovens, dedicated fridge and freezer zones, and ample worktops, the space was designed to support both pleasure and precision. The wife’s passion for vegetable gardening inspired an indoor nursery just off the kitchen, where seedlings could flourish before moving outdoors each spring. This intimate relationship between food, land, and home became one of the project’s most soulful elements.
Materiality and craftsmanship elevate every detail. Marble from Matrix Marble and Stone flows throughout the home, including a marble shelf added after completion — a reflection of David’s belief that good design evolves as a home evolves. Cabinet colours were inspired by the painted shutters of Italy, subtly continuing the Tuscan narrative. Woodworking played an essential role, with ergonomics guiding all decisions to create the seamless efficiency of a well-run restaurant. The vaulted ceiling posed a challenge, but a false boxed-beam treatment introduced warmth and visually connected the space to the coffered ceiling in the adjacent living room. All cabinetry was crafted by Curtis Neufeld of Neufeld Furniture, including panel-ready appliances, a custom range hood, and a walnut L-shaped corner for the island — a hand-finished, tactile detail that deepens the room’s warmth.
As Tuscany Villa illustrates, the kitchen is where these influences converge. It is where craftsmanship supports daily ritual, where decades of experience shape present comfort, and where a home reveals its truest character. For David Coulson, the kitchen is never just a functional room. It is the heartbeat of the home — a place where connection, creativity, and legacy continue to grow.