Let the Light In: Raubyn Rothschild on Crafting a Waterfront Retreat with Soulful Design
Rothschild West brings charm and warmth to a British Columbia home, where Native Trails’ artisanal sinks add a distinctive finishing touch.
Native Trails artisanal sinks add a distinctive touch to designer Raubyn Rothschild’s latest residential project—a serene, light-filled waterfront home on the coast of British Columbia. Here, the founder of boutique studio Rothschild West blends her signature mix of hospitality-inspired polish and laid-back elegance, transforming everyday rituals into moments of luxury.
“I want people to feel like they’re on vacation at home,” says Rothschild, whose design philosophy invites natural light, organic materials, and cultural storytelling into the spaces she creates. “That’s why I like Native Trails’ stuff—because it feels special.”
A Studio Rooted in Hospitality and Home
Raised in Victoria, Rothschild began her design career in Toronto, working on hotel and resort properties across the U.S. “We were designing ballrooms, presidential suites, guest rooms, bars—every kind of hospitality space,” she recalls. But when the 2008 economic shift brought her back to British Columbia, her career pivoted naturally into residential design.
“I had a waitlist right off the bat and really fell in love with the residential side of this business,” she says. Rothschild West was born—and with it, a uniquely layered approach to home.
“I always inject some residential feel into the hospitality and hospitality into residential,” she explains. “I don’t want to choose what kind of design I want to do. I think both really inform each other. Now more than ever, with the residential stuff especially, I want people to feel a little bit like they’re on vacation, that their home provides those things that they love about being away.”
Mark Lane: A Thoughtful Footprint on the Water
One recent project, the Mark Lane residence, perfectly captures this ethos. The clients—two physicians who divide their time between West Vancouver and New Zealand—wanted a warm, modest home designed for full enjoyment, not excess.
“They didn’t want wings of rooms they’d never go into,” says Rothschild. “I’m seeing this as a bit of a trend — where kitchens and bathrooms are getting bigger, but the overall square footage of the homes is being more thoughtfully considered, more modest as far as what’s actually needed. That’s been a really nice shift, because it allows us to spend extra care, attention and budget in those rooms.”
In every bath of the home—including a tucked-away library bathroom on the lower level—Rothschild sourced artisan crafted sinks by Native Trails, including multiple pieces from the Murano Collection and a NativeStone® vessel.
“The Murano sinks were perfect,” she says. “Nothing I’ve seen looks closer to having a seashell in your house. They brought in that beachy, organic feel, and softened the more structured lines of the architecture. It’s such an honest connection to the home’s setting—and they support the artisans who make them.”
Function, Beauty, and the Everyday Ritual
For Rothschild, artisanal sinks are more than an aesthetic statement—they’re a lifestyle choice. “We spend so much time at the kitchen sink, but people default to stainless steel because it’s familiar,” she says. “They don’t realize how different the experience could be—the sound of the dishes, the look of the material, how it feels to use it. Why not elevate that?”
That philosophy echoes across her work: honoring the simple, daily moments by designing spaces that support them beautifully. “It’s about connection,” Rothschild adds. “To light, to materials, to where you are in the world.”
Culture and Curiosity as Design Compass
What’s inspiring Raubyn Rothschild right now? Cultures, rituals, and the way people inhabit space.
She sees travel as ongoing research. “Traveling is so beneficial because it’s almost like a case study all the time,” she explains. “I don’t go anywhere without measuring tape because I might find myself in an Airbnb and I’m like, ‘Well, how wide is this?’”
While she’s energized by design innovation, she’s also keenly aware that good design must resonate with real life. “So many people are doing interesting things in design right now, but it doesn’t always translate to how people actually live. What’s universal, for me, is incorporating the outdoors into the interior, and using materials that elevate simple, everyday things.”
That philosophy comes full circle in her continued use of artisanal sinks from Native Trails. “What if a sink was a more special experience? It can be.”
All images:
Designer: Raubyn Rothschild
Photographers: Brit Kwasney and Amelia Morrison, From Sundays