WLCONDO Spring2017

WLSTYLE // TITLE

28+

Essentials to Rock Spring’s Hottest Trends

s p r i n g / s u m m e r $5.99 displ ay until sept. 6, 2017

THE WATERFALL BUILDING

Inside a West Coast Modern loft space

MINIMALIST MAGIC

Erin Ireland’s open and airy townhouse

ASK THE EXPERTS How Do I Paint Like a Pro? pm 400068973

GALLERY GORGEOUS

We love this white-on-white suite

REAL ESTATE Hot Neighbourhoods to Watch

French Art de Vivre

Photo Michel Gibert: for advertising purposes only. Special thanks: TASCHEN. 1Conditions apply, contact store for details. 2Program available on select items, subject to availability.

Allusion. Large 3 seat sofa in leather, design Roberto Tapinassi and Maurizio Manzoni.

Wing. Cocktail and occasional table, design Renaud Thiry.

Vento. Floor lamp, design Carlo Zerbaro.

Manufactured in Europe.

VANCOUVER - 716 West Hastings - Tel. 604-633-5005 - CALGARY - 225 10 th Avenue SW - Tel. 403-532-4401

∙ Complimentary 3D Interior Design Service 1 ∙ Quick Ship program available 2

www.roche-bobois.com

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For more indoor and outdoor ďŹ nds visit

1420 Fell Avenue at Marine Drive North Vancouver | 604.988.7328 || Contract Inquiries 604.770.0898 gingerjarfurniture.com

SPONSORED REPORT

INSPIRATION FURNITURE

DESIGN

Home and office furniture with an attitude

The Arcadia dining chair by Cattelan Italia is an elegant piece that you would not want to miss in your dining room. Customizable in many different base options, as well as leather options to suit your designer’s taste.

This light weight desk has simplicity written all over it, the desk elegantly balances natural wood and steel.

Desk with base in white or graphite embossed lacquered steel with profiles in Canaletto walnut. Top in white or graphite embossed lacquered wood with container in Canaletto walnut.

The Absolut sideboard brings together the best of contemporary furniture and classic elegance. Available with two or three doors in lacquered white, black or graphite embossed wood. Embossed steel base in the same color. Doors covered and quilted in soft leather with titanium aluminum anodized profiles. Internal clear glass shelves with different options. Coming soon.

INspiration Furniture Vancouver has been at the historic Sigurdson’s Mill building in False Creek since 2002. The building, which covers three stories and five levels with original 110-year-old timber construction, is home to BoConcept Vancouver, INspiration Furniture, Natuzzi Italia Gallery, Stressless Comfort Gallery, and the Formitalia D gallery - all under one roof.

Being the industry leader in contemporary and modern furnishings, at all price points, INspiration Furniture is Vancouver’s fastest growing furniture company. There is never a shortage of excitement, as new product lines and brands are introduced every season.

INspiration Furniture Vancouver also has strong ties with its sister store - Rapport International Furniture in LA and Palm Desert. All five stores are owned and operated by both Steen and Peter Skaaning, both trained cabinet makers in their native country Denmark.

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Inspiration Furniture

This ultra modern lamp will surely be the centre of attention in your living space. The Thriller floor lamp’s contemporary geometrical shape is a work of art itself. Available in matt white or grey.

www.INspirationFurniture.ca

www.INspirationFurniture.ca

FREE COVERED PARKING MON-WED & FRI 10 - 7 AVAILABLE | THURS 10 - 9 | SAT 10 - 6 | SUN 11 - 6

MON-WED & FRI AVAILABLE 10 - 7 | THURS 10 - 9 | SAT 10 - 6 | SUN 11 - 6 FREE COVERED PARKING

1275 WEST 6th AVE. VANCOUVER, B.C. V6H 1A6 T: 604 730 1275

1275 WEST 6th AVE. VANCOUVER, B.C. V6H 1A6 T: 604 730 1275

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 12 | NUMBER 1

38

DEPARTMENTS 15

Editor’s Note

17

Great Spaces

22

Essentials

32

Pros & Condos

72

Sources

74

My Neighbourhood

Our editor finds a hidden connection in this issue’s feature condos.

Three designers create three unique dining nooks just right for small spaces.

Key accessories and must-have pieces for today’s hottest trends.

Designer recommendations, cool DIY projects and neighbourhoods to watch.

46

Get the looks you see in these pages.

22

FEATURED CONDOS 38

Baby Makes Three

Food reporter Erin Ireland and her husband adjust their chic townhouse to family life.

BY HALEY CAMERON

WLSTYLE // title

74

28+

Essentials to Rock Spring’s Hottest Trends

46

From Arthur, with Love

A pair of architects give an Erickson-designed loft a whole new lease on life.

BY AMANDA ROSS

s p r i n g /s u m m e r 2 0 1 7

s p r i n g / s u m m e r $5.99 Displ ay Until sept. 6, 2017

THE WATERFALL BUILDING

Inside a West Coast Modern loft space

MINIMALIST MAGIC

Erin Ireland’s open and airy townhouse

ASK THE EXPERTS How Do I Paint Like a Pro?

56

GALLERY GORGEOUS

We love this white-on-white suite

pm 400068973

ON THE COVER Designer Vanessa Chambers straightens a mismatched chair in her cozy dining room.

Story page 64.

PHOTOGRAPHY JANIS NICOLAY

14

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

Wild World

For Fox Design Studio’s Ben Leavitt, a life well travelled calls for a condo to match.

REAL ESTATE Hot Neighbourhoods to Watch

28

BY JULIA DILWORTH

64

Blank Canvas

Two designers create a white-on-white space that’s part dream home, part gallery.

BY STACEY M C LACHLAN

STURGESS CONDO: EMA PETER; IREL AND CONDO: JANIS NICOL AY; K ATE DUNCAN: LUIS VALDIZON

Furniture designer Kate Duncan shares her favourite Vancouver haunts.

Editor’s Pick Menu JWDA Concrete lamp $280, available at Walrus, walrushome.com There’s something about the oversized glass bubble that tops the JWDA Concrete lamp’s concrete-and-brass base that takes the design from industrial to— can I say this about a lamp?—adorable.

GENERAL MANAGER | PUBLISHER Dee Dhaliwal EDITOR Stacey McLachlan ART DIRECTOR Jenny Reed EDITORIAL INTERNS Gabrielle Lakusta, Maansi Pandya, Carly Whetter

For more of Stacey’s picks, visit westernliving.ca

PHOTO: ANDY FANG; HAIR AND MAKEUP: MEL ANIE NEUFIELD. SHOT AT LIVINGSPACE IN VANCOUVER.

Common Thread When we’re putting together an issue of Condo, it doesn’t happen overnight: over the course of half a year, we’re scouting spaces, filing away options and assigning stories in bits and pieces.

So it actually wasn’t until we were starting to lay out the magazine that I realized there’s a bit of a pattern in the feature condos for this issue.

It’s not that each of these Vancouver spaces makes smart use of a limited floor plan (which they do) or that they are all swoon-worthy examples of modern design (which they are). So what is the connecting thread that caught my attention as the magazine was coming together? Each space just so happens to be inhabited by a designer.

There’s the colourful Gastown suite (page 56) that Fox Design’s Ben Leavitt fills with vintage kitsch and pop art from his travels. There’s the Waterfall Building loft (page 46) that architects Jeremy Sturgess and Lesley Beale have made their own while honouring the late, great Arthur Erickson’s work. There’s the Main Street condo (page 64) that another designer couple (Vanessa Stark and Misha Olynyk) have turned into their own personal gallery. And though homeowner Erin Ireland (whose bright and airy Mount Pleasant townhouse is featured on page 38) may not be an interior designer, the gorgeous food styling she does for itstodiefor.ca reveals that she’s as adept at visuals as she is with flavours. (And husband Darren Yada is no slouch in the creativity department either, as digital director for creative agency Rethink).

I think what drew us subconsciously to this accidental theme was that these homes are not showrooms. Yes, they’re all created by designers, but they’re also proof that beautiful design can be easygoing, minimalism can be playful, and magazine-worthy spaces can make room for human moments, too.

The features aren’t the only place you’ll find designer advice in this issue. Our new “Pros and Condos” section (page 32) shares expert tips on everything from finding a cabinetmaker to levelling up your painting skills; “My Neighbourhood” (page 74) dishes on furniture designer Kate Duncan’s fave Vancouver places to eat and play.

But whatever intel and inspiration you collect here today, remember that the bestdesigned spaces are always the ones that feel like home.

EMAIL mail@westernliving.ca

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, WESTERN LIVING Anicka Quin ART DIRECTOR, WESTERN LIVING Paul Roelofs ONLINE COORDINATOR Leah Webb PRODUCTION MANAGER Lee Tidsbury DESIGNER Swin Nung Chai MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER Dale McCarthy MARKETING ASSISTANT Kaitlyn Lush MARKETING INTERN Rachel Cheng TEL 604-877-7732 FAX 604-877-4848 CUSTOMER SERVICE WEB westernliving.ca TEL 604-877-7732

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WESTERN LIVING CONDO MAGAZINE is published twice a year by Western Media Group, a

Stacey McLachlan, Editor

division of 9778748 Canada Inc. Copyright 2017. Printed in Canada by TC • Transcontinental, LGM-Coronet, 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, Man. R3J 3S9. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., Ste. 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3V3. Distributed free in areas of Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Edmonton. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. All reproduction requests must be made to COPIBEC (paper reproductions), 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions), 800-563-5665. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Periodical Index and is available online in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database. ISSN 1920-0668 (British Columbia edition), ISSN 1920-065X (Alberta). Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40068973.

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WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

15

ACCENTO | ANTOINE PROULX | ANTONELLO ITALIA | CARMEL DESIGNS | DESIREE DIVANI | ECART PARIS ERBA | ETHIMO | EUROMOBIL | HENRY HALL | HIVE LIGHTING | JAB*ANSTOETZ | KENNETH COBONPUE KNOWLTON BROTHERS PENTA LIGHTING

|

|

MELINA LIGHT

SAN GIACOMO

|

|

MINIFORMS

SCOLARO

|

|

TACCHINI

ORESTES SUAREZ LIGHTING |

TED BOERNER

|

|

VARASCHIN

495 railway street, vancouver | 604.215.0051 | bloomfurniturestudio.com

PEDRALI |

ZALF

GET THE LOOK GREAT SPACES • ESSENTIALS • PROS & CONDOS

Mix neon with neutrals.

No ode to New York would be complete without a little Warhol: the homeowner relocated a beloved print from another room for a final, lively splash of neon.

Great Spaces: Nook of Love

Three cozy dining areas from three savvy designers.

by Stacey McLachlan

Maximize the textiles.

Piles of soft-pink-and-mauve-striped mohair cushions create a cheerful, cozy scene, but the sweetly coloured accents are balanced by sophisticated grey linen Maxalto chairs and an oversized Iskos-Berlin-designed Muuto pendant lamp.

Keep it custom.

Designer Sophie Burke’s first step in creating a chic and quirky hotel vibe?

Replacing an antique wooden bench with a custom banquette and adding a slim walnut Zeitraum table with clever slanted legs that make it easy to slide in and out along the bench.

JANIS NICOL AY

THE LOOK: MANHATTAN HOTEL CHIC An inspiring New York trip had the owner of this Vancouver home ready for a sophisticated, modern refresh with the help of designer Sophie Burke.

g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

17

GET THE LOOK | Great Spaces

THE LOOK: MID-CENTURY ECLECTIC A young family gets a little help from Tanya McLean at Mango Design Co. to turn a simple townhouse kitchen in Kitsilano into a celebration of retro cool.

WRITER STACEY McLACHLAN

Don’t be constrained by a time period.

The Sputnik-style pendant lamp, vintage curios that line the open shelves, and heirloom painting—a portrait of the homeowner’s greatgreat-great-great-grandfather—may seem like a mixed bag, but the crisp custom millwork provides a modern framework for the whole collection.

Create easy-access storage with drawers.

The custom bench includes three pullout drawers. “We preferred this to a lift-top bench, as drawers are easier to keep organized; there’s no need to move seat cushions and there’s less chance of hurting little fingers,” says McLean.

18

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

TRACEY AY TON

Circle takes the square.

With so many straight lines in the cabinetry and the sleek seating, the round chrome-and-glass table is a welcome visual change. “It works well with the solid-rectilinear lines of the millwork,” McLean says.

East India Carpets D I S T I N C T I V E D E S I G N S S I N C E 19 4 8

1606 West 2nd at Fir Armoury District Vancouver Mon-Sat 10-5:30 604 736 5681 eastindiacarpets.com C ARPE T C L E ANING A N D RE S TOR ATION SE RVICE S AVA IL ABLE

GET THE LOOK | Great Spaces

Let nature in.

By Nature Design created these custom framed greenery pieces for Kassam. “I love bringing the outdoors in—it softens the setting and prevents these modern elements from feeling cold and sterile.”

Wall-mount your chandelier.

The original light fixture mount was terribly misaligned (“It would’ve dropped over the left dining chair!” says Kassam), so he decided to install a CB2 swivel chandelier that extends from the wall instead. A custom diffuser made from black vinyl at Victoria Lampshade completes the one-of-akind look.

THE LOOK: SCANDINAVIAN GLAMOUR When it came time for Aleem Kassam of Kalu Interiors to renovate his own townhouse, he turned his Nordic influences and penchant for drama into a dreamy new kitchen.

20

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

“Whether it’s a lighter or darker design scheme, repetition creates cohesiveness,” advises Kassam. Here, he added in a white table to match the white walls and brought in threads of black and gold throughout.

g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

JULIE ROW

Get experimental.

Bowls become beautiful decorative objects when mounted on the wall, and an ultra-durable patio table from Inform Interiors works just as well indoors here. “I didn’t want glass—too high-maintenance—and lacquered tables scratch. But a weatherproof table can be touched up with just Windex or a Magic Eraser,” explains Kassam.

BAKER . M

C

GUIRE . LEE . VERELLEN . DELLAROBBIA . SANGIACOMO . SABA . GAMM A . ALIVAR

Furniture Showrooms: 1855/1880 Fir Street Armoury District Vancouver 604.736.8822 Mon - Sat 10 -5:30 pm broughaminteriors.com

EX CEPTIONA L INDOOR & OUTD OOR FUR NIS H INGS

GET THE LOOK | Essentials

WRITER SALLY MICHAEL WHITE

3 1 2

4

Seventies Chic

The latest generation of retro-inspired pieces takes its cues from ’70s modernism.

1 SWEET SPECKLES The earthy tones and hand-painted details on the Pine Creek hanging planter ($74)—from Western Living’s 2016 Maker of the Year, Cathy Terepocki—make it the perfect home for your favourite house plant. cathyterepocki.com 2 ABSTRACT ANGLES Whether acting as a statement piece or being used to hang your hat, the adjustable accordion-style Memoir coat rack ($1,344) from Dante is a perfect marriage of form and function. informinteriors.com 3 DOUBLE DUTY The wall-mounted Recluse desk ($699) from CB2 doubles as a striking piece of art when not being used as a working space, thanks to its geometric brass inlays and rich acacia-wood front. cb2.com 4 SWEET TOOTH Displayed individually or as a group, these candy-coloured Snowdrop pendant lights ($605) from Stone Design add a delicious pop of personality to any room. lightform.ca

5

6 CLASSIC CURVES Sit back in style with the iconic winged silhouette of the bentwood Shell chair ($1,165), meticulously designed to look smart from every angle. roveconcepts.com

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WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

7 TYING THE KNOT Looking to add some textural appeal to your space? The natural colour and open-weave pattern of this braided jute rug ($75) will tie a room together without competing for attention with other elements. simons.ca

PINE CREEK PL ANTER: SHARALEE PRANG

5 COMFORT AND CHARM The classic lines, tapered legs and plush rust-toned velvet of Gus Modern’s Adelaide sofa ($2,150) are as at home now as they were in decades past. fullhousemodern.com

1706 WEST 1ST AVE ARMOURY DISTRICT VANCOUVER 604 683 1116 LIVINGSPACE.COM

GET THE LOOK | Essentials

WRITER SALLY MICHAEL WHITE

3

1

2 1 BLUSHING BEAUTY The clean lines and classic button-tufted design of Gus Modern’s Aubrey sofa ($2,450) allow the blush pink velvet upholstery to pop without feeling dated. omgitssmall.com

4 5

Miami Nice

6

Think sunset hues, geometrics and Memphis Group power-clashing for this playful throwback trend.

2 MODERN CLASSIC Create a bold statement with the Art Deco–inspired brass Laurent pendant lamp (from $840) by Canadian design duo Lambert and Fils. lightform.ca 3 MARBLED MARVEL Add some glitz and glamour to even the most demure indoor greenery with the gold-veined Palazzo marbleized planter ($45) from CB2. cb2.com 4 LIFE OF THE PARTY The Avondale bar cart ($1,125) is perfect for entertaining, but with its geometric lines of gold steel and black glass, it also makes for a beautiful storage display. parliamentinteriors.com 5 MATERIAL WORLD Colour, pattern and texture collide, bringing to life this playfully retro Speckled Colour vase ($68) from ceramicist Ben Fies. thelittlestfry.com 6 COSMIC COOL This pink-and-neon fractal-inspired wallpaper ($130 per roll) from Coordonné creates a vibrant backdrop that won’t be ignored. newwall.com

7 24

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

7 CLEAR WINNER The set of Visio glass nesting tables ($349) offers a fresh, balanced element of decor without stealing the spotlight. structube.com

Vancouver’s largest selection of Gus* Modern Furnishings 1545 W 4 TH AVE VANCOUVER | 604.733.7789 | OPEN 7 DAYS | FULLHOUSEMODERN.COM

GET THE LOOK | Essentials

WRITER SALLY MICHAEL WHITE

4 1 2

3

1 TROPICAL PUNCH Add a splash of the tropics to your space with the lush colours and textures in this handcrafted Crewel Abstract Leaf pillow ($29). westelm.com

Welcome to the Jungle Tropical prints and natural materials continue to captivate.

5

2 KNOTTY BY NATURE This Double Macramé plant hanger ($78) from Vancouver’s Saige and Skye flexibly fits a variety of plant-pot shapes and sizes, allowing you to mix and match according to your green thumb skill. saigeandskye.com 3 BATHING BEAUTY The minds behind this cheeky Dark Leaves Girl planter ($87) set out to “right the wrongs of humanity, one pot at a time.” If that means bringing a smile to people’s faces, we’d say it’s working. group-partner.com 4 BOTANICAL BACKDROP Journey deep into the jungle from the comfort of your own home with Tres Tintas’ rainforest-inspired Bananella wallpaper mural ($765)—no bug spray required. newwall.com

6 NESTING INSTINCT The Ahnda lounger ($4,650) from Dedon was thoughtfully designed by Stephen Burks with enough comfort to curl up or sprawl out to your heart’s content. broughaminteriors.com

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WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

7 RIGHT TURN This Turn high side table ($551) is made of solid acacia wood, with graceful lines reminiscent of a stately tree reaching for the sky. designhouse.ca

PL ANT HANGERS: STEPHANIE CHAN

7

5 TAKE FLIGHT Bring your lighting to life with the delicately constructed paper-and-brass Perch pendant lamp (price on request) designed by Umut Yamac for Moooi. lightform.ca

Your Home – inspired by you, ...designed by maison

Best Condo Renovation over $250,000 Best Kitchen Renovation over $125,000

118 West 2nd Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1C2 T: 604.484.4030

maisondetre.ca

GET THE LOOK | Essentials

WRITER SALLY MICHAEL WHITE

1

3

2

Desert Storm

5

Earthy colours and organic textures bring the Coachella vibe home.

4

1 SUNRISE, SUNSET No matter the time of day, you can bask in the sunset glow of Sandberg’s Skymning wallpaper mural ($424). orlingandwu.com 2 BURN BRIGHT Connect to the elements with this rustic outdoor iron fi replace ($725) from House Doctor, perfect for long open-air nights under the stars. fullhousemodern.com 3 MOROCCAN DREAM The supple feel and rich whisky caramel colour of this hand-stitched 100-percent goat leather Moroccan pouf ($138) calls out for guests to sit and relax in style. shopmoken.com 4 LUNAR RISING With its slim brass steel stand and diffused golden orb, the IC Lights T lamp from Flos ($825) is like having a full moon every night. livingspace.com

7

5 WOVEN WONDER Featuring intricate desert motifs, these Jemima 10 Cows baskets ($165) are expertly crafted by Ghanaian artisans. drifterthebrand.com 6 MODULAR OASIS Mix and match your ideal lounging configuration with Dedon’s customizable Brixx collection (from $4,600), available in colours inspired by the sand and sea. broughaminteriors.com

6

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WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

7 PRICKLY PEAR With or without a flower, this stoneware Cactus vase ($35) is a charming addition to any climate. thecrossdesign.com

EXTRAORDINARY DESIGN FOR EVERYDAY LIVING. Need inspiration for your small space? Combining sumptuous styling with intelligent performance, Fulgor Milano appliances unite form and function in a way you and your guests will appreciate down to the finest detail. This vision breathes life into all Fulgor Milano products, from their cooktops to wall ovens, all of which are proudly - and passionately - designed and crafted in Italy.

Visit a Trail Appliances showroom to find Fulgor Milano appliances that fit your lifestyle and budget.

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SPONSORED REPORT

The Modern Kitchen: Create an

Unexpected Focal Point

Modern design and innovative finishes have elevated not only kitchen lighting, but the sink as well. Let Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre show you how to create a more cohesive kitchen with this unexpected design pairing.

The New Black

The BLANCO IKONÂŽ Apron Front SILGRANITÂŽseries has a variety of kitchen sink colours available. This matte black option builds on the trend in black finishes. Match it with the Feiss Brynne Pendants to create maximum impact.

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre

Mixed Finishes

Mixing and matching different finishes is emerging as a new look for modern kitchens.

Gold and Silver? Absolutely. Gold and White? Even better. The white IKON® with this gold Feiss Nico Pendant is sophisticated and beautiful.

Modern Industrial

The Waveform Pendant from Feiss paired with the grey BLANCO IKON® creates a more subtle industrial look and feel.

At Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre, they believe that choosing your lighting and plumbing should be fun and stress-free. Bring your home to life with the experts at Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre.

For more information on these products and more see Robinson’s Expert Advice section or full online catalogue at www.robinsonlightingandbath.com.

Available at:

EXPERT ADVICE | Pros & Condos

DESIGNER DIY PROJECT

PROS & CONDOS Want to DIY an awesome feature wall, upgrade your paint job, highlight high ceilings or invest in a hot new ’ hood?

Our experts are here to help.

GRAPHIC FEATURE WALL All it takes to produce one-of-a-kind artwork is a little cutting and pasting. In this bedroom (occupied by a young girl), designer Angela Robinson used a utility knife to cut triangles from wallpaper roll ends and pages from a book of Christian Chaize beach photographs, then had a wallpaper installer come and hang the pieces into a geometric collage. Though the images all come from different sources, there is a unifying theme. “We came up with our colour story— pink, white, teal, beachy tones—and chose a maximum of seven textures and images that fi t within them. It’s eclectic without looking too busy,” says Robinson.

—Stacey McLachlan

Paint Like a Pro

Three easy ways to upgrade your painting game.

Boxing Day Individual cans of paint may vary slightly in colour, so avoid tonal mismatch by mixing all the gallons together in one big bucket—a process called “boxing” —before you get started.

Over the Edge An edger might just be the most valuable tool in a painter’s kit—the rectangular pad makes for smooth, clean lines along the ceiling.

Everybody Freeze Cleaning brushes is a pain, but if you’re using latex-based paint for a multi-day job, just toss the brushes and roller into plastic shopping bags and freeze. When you’re ready for the next coat, just thaw them out.

Q+A

My condo has gorgeous high ceilings.

How can I highlight that vertical space?

Floor-to-ceiling shelves with a rolling library ladder provide storage and style, says interior designer Patricia Gray. Or, go gallery chic, as Karla Amadatsu of Kerrisdale Design suggests—after all, your home affords you an unusual amount of display space. When selecting artwork, “think outside the box and lean toward the sizes that aren’t normally used,” says Amadatsu. “Look at getting something that has that impact and goes higher up the wall.” Still growing your art collection? Tall drapes also draw the eye up and can be a good way to introduce colour or pattern into your space.—Chelsea Pratt

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WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

WALL: JANIS NICOL AY

HOW TO

ON THE MOVE

NEIGHBOURHOODS TO WATCH CITY OF LOUGHEED

Two dozen condo towers, some as tall as 65 storeys, are in the works for this Burnaby hub—as well as 12 million square feet of retail and commercial space, and a pedestrian-only “spine.”

Platform 7 Coffee

MAIN STREET

A controversial community plan means big changes are coming to this east-side area, which will see taller buildings, denser housing, expanded social services and more.

EAST HASTINGS CORRIDOR

The city has earmarked the stretch of East Hastings from downtown to Nanaimo and beyond for densification, and Hastings–Sunrise has already become a hipster hot spot.

PRIOR STREET

FALSE CREEK FL ATS

CAMBIE CORRIDOR

It's been in the works for a decade, but with thousands of new units hitting the market and more land assemblies in the works, this stretch is literally growing up—way up.

CL ARK DRIVE

GRANDVIEW–WOODLAND

GREAT NORTHERN WAY

RIVER DISTRICT

With more than 7,000 homes and half a million square feet of retail and office space, this riverfront community will have more residents than Yaletown.

LADNER

FALSE CREEK

People priced out of Richmond’s sky-high real estate market are heading to this community-minded seaside spot, and the proposed replacement of the George Massey Tunnel means smoother sailing for commuters.

With major developments on both sides of False Creek, the demolition of the Georgia Viaduct and the new St. Paul’s Hospital slated for False Creek Flats, some of central Vancouver’s last undeveloped sites are in for a big change.—Jennifer Van Evra With input from realtors Rod MacKay of Maude, MacKay and Co., Corey Martin of the Ruth and David Group and Darcy McLeod with Re/Max Lifestyles Realty.

PL ATFORM 7: PAGE AND PAPER

HOT TIP

Custom Cabinetry Designer Karin Bohn, director of interior design firm House of Bohn, has a cabinetry crush on Sofo Kitchens. sofokitchens.com

“

They pay unbelievable attention to details and enjoy creative design just as much as we do, so they are able to deliver on interesting projects.

”

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

33

SPONSORED REPORT

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C A B I N E T R Y Envious of the beautiful kitchen cabinets you see on television design shows?

You don’t have to be on screen to have a beautiful kitchen, you just need to know where the pros go, and why. We caught up with Merit Kitchens’ Julie Johnstone to chat pedigree, quality and everyone’s favourite local design show (and how Merit Kitchens shines bright in every episode).

What makes Merit Kitchens unique?

It’s our dedicated craftspeople, technical specialists and customer service professionals, many of who have been with Merit for decades. Their expertise has been designing, building, and delivering beautiful cabinetry for over 45 years.

Why do clients love your cabinets so much?

We know cabinets can transform a house into a home. We start with only the best raw materials and European hardware. And by using the delicate touch of handfinishing, we reveal the wood’s beauty and natural grain.

Julie Johnstone Design Consultant, Merit Kitchens

Why has Merit Kitchens been so successful?

I’d say it’s because our cabinets combine beauty with intelligent design. We stay on top of current trends so customers can choose from the latest storage innovations, door styles, finishes, and decorative elements. We honour history and tradition while embracing technology and modern trends to deliver the best cabinetry for the kitchen, bathroom and throughout the home.

If you have your own questions about cabinetry, Merit Kitchens has the answers. Visit us online at merit-kitchens.com to learn more, and Julie’s responses to some frequently asked questions.

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LIVING MAIN STREET • GASTOWN • FAIRVIEW • MOUNT PLEASANT

Make It Yours “No one spends more time in your house than you do. It should reflect what you really want,” says designer Ben Leavitt.

Designers at Home

Four designers from across the city invite us to look inside their unique spaces.

JANIS NICOL AY

THE LOOK: COLLECTOR COOL Designer Ben Leavitt has created a striking feature wall using masks he’s collected from all over the world.

The common thread? Each features an expression of joy.

g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

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WRITER HALEY CAMERON PHOTOGRAPHY JANIS NICOLAY

Baby Makes Three Food reporter Erin Ireland and her husband had the perfect renovation planned—and then along came baby.

Welcome Home The coffee table and stools in the high-ceilinged living room (opposite) were crafted

by Vancouver artist Brent Comber from the same tree. It’s not the only local touch here—a painting by fellow Vancouverite Patricia Larsen hangs on the wall behind Erin Ireland and Darren Yada (and Effie the dog). The baby’s room (top) echoes the living room’s neutral tones, but a cute cactus print wallpaper from Anewall adds a hit of playfulness and colour.

Though the Mount Pleasant townhouse Erin Ireland and Darren Yada bought in 2015 was perfectly fine and functional, there was something about a cookie-cutter space that just didn’t sit well with the creative couple. (Yada is a managing partner for Rethink; Ireland is the founder of To Die for Fine Foods and a food reporter with a huge social media following.) The layout was ideal—a naturally lit open-concept kitchen is the focal point of the ground floor, with cozy bedrooms tucked away upstairs—but the overall design was builder-basic blah.

So despite the fact that the home was only three years old, the pair embarked on a renovation. “We wanted to truly love it,” says Ireland—something stylish but soothing that would act as a minimalist backdrop for the pair’s busy life. They enlisted the services of friends and family to elevate the space to dream-home status.

It started with the kitchen, naturally. Not only was it at the heart of the home, it was also essential for Ireland to have a functional workspace that was camera-ready: she shares video and photo dispatches of her culinary experiments daily and has plans for a plant-based-cooking show WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

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LIVING | Baby Makes Three

in the works. “I wanted a large, well-lit, open space perfect for food staging,” says Ireland.

So an old friend of Yada’s, Brett Mauer, ripped up the floorboards and ground down the imperfect concrete beneath, while concrete artist Brett Riekert poured the sides for the white countertops over the pre-existing brown melamine throughout the kitchen. (A much more Instagram-friendly backdrop, to say the least.) Ireland and her dad tackled the cupboards, replacing those above the stove with a single steel shelf, and refinishing those below the sink and counters with a natural pine plywood; the oven vent, they wrapped in iron. Twelve vertical feet 40

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of exposed iron shelving, built by Erin’s Uncle Russ, come complete with a ladder. The result? A modernist take on French country chic.

Blank slate established, they turned to long-time friend April Tidey to fill in the details: textiles, artwork, furniture and, ultimately, character. An oversized light fixture from NYC’s HomeStories steals the show and further blurs the boundary between kitchen and living room, while the exposed iron shelving unit—the result of Tidey’s design and Russ’s handiwork—adds textural interest. Simple white details, including ceramic dishes by local artist Janaki Larsen, are gorgeous display pieces that the couple

Made with Love Locally made products line the steel-and-iron shelves in the kitchen, like cutting boards from Pacific Design Lab and dishes from artisan Janaki Larsen. Ireland is pictured here making fresh almond milk in her kitchen: she shares her culinary projects with her followers on Instagram and Snapchat daily @erinireland.

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LIVING | Baby Makes Three

also uses daily. “I don’t have room for two sets of things, so I’ve gotten rid of anything I don’t use,” says Ireland—even her grandmother’s vintage mixers are in regular rotation.

Against a subdued backdrop, one of the primary sources of texture and colour are plants, including a large piece of living wall art from neighbouring florist Greenstems, and an Urban Cultivator herb mini-fridge, which is tucked under a built-in desktop to the side of the kitchen.

“I love it for the greens, but also as a visual element,” says Ireland. “It ultimately came down to wine fridge or microgreens—we went for microgreens.” A custom spruce coffee table and dining stools by North Shore artist Brent 42

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Comber (a previous Western Living Designers of the Year winner) round out the natural theme that runs through the main floor.

In the master bedroom, vintage bedside lamps from Scott Landon Antiques add subtle hints of warmth to the cool white palette. (Effie the rescue dog splits her time between snuggling up in the sheets and kicking back in her own Handsome Mountain dog bed.) Overhead hangs a replica of the HomeStories light fixture, a DIY copycat Tidey put together when nothing else seemed to satisfy.

When the couple kicked off their renovation, kidfriendly design wasn’t top of mind. But Ireland and Yada,

Just Right Ireland’s uncle helped the couple build a custom table out of marble offcut and a steel base—it’s the perfect backdrop for food photography as well as entertaining with plant-based dinner parties. The greenery peppered throughout the space comes from Ireland’s favourite florist, Greenstems.

Simple and Sweet A Blossom lounge chair from CF Interiors holds a earth-tone cushion from Tribal Rugs and Art in the corner of the light-and-airy master bedroom. A slipcovered Parsons bedframe from Restoration Hardware sits between two vintage sconces sourced from Scott Landon Antiques.

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LIVING | Baby Makes Three

who both grew up on the North Shore, welcomed their first-born, Roen, here in the city and suddenly found themselves appreciating their Mount Pleasant home for an entirely different set of reasons. “We go to Mama Mondays at the Juice Truck and we have a community centre within walking distance,” says Ireland.

Ireland got started on Roen’s room when she was seven months pregnant, turning to designer Karla Reyer for decor (and new mom advice). A crib and rocking chair from West Coast Kids are joined by a set of framed prints by Australian artist Alyson Pearson, souvenirs from a recent family trip to Melbourne; on the opposing 44

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wall, cactus wallpaper from Anewall pays homage to the ground floor’s botanical focus. But it’s the hand-knit sheep her mother made, tucked among a pile of pillows in Roen’s miniature teepee, that Erin counts as her favourite element of the room: “Elsewhere in our house, style was the first priority, but Roen’s room is definitely a lot cozier.”

Though it may not have been the original plan, Ireland and Yada have learned that they can raise a family without sacrificing their urban lifestyle. That being said, some smaller sacrifices may be on the way. “Our concrete table is currently wrapped in plastic,” laughs Ireland. “That piece was definitely a pre-baby decision.”

Oh, Baby Baby Roen’s Stokke Roof bed is filled with cozy cushions, as is the little white teepee-style tent set up in the corner; prints picked up on a trip to Australia add a little colour to the clean white walls. The white minimalist dresser and oatmeal-coloured rug are classic pieces that Roen won’t outgrow.

g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

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WRITER AMANDA ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY EMA PETER STYLING NICOLE SJÖSTEDT

From Arthur, with Love A pair of architects gives an Erickson-designed loft a new lease on life—and a whole lot of love.

Architect Jeremy Sturgess’s stepmother is notoriously hard to buy gifts for. So when the Alberta-based creative discovered the perfect tea towel while visiting Granville Island’s Circle Craft Gallery, he snapped it up to give her at Christmas. It depicted a survey drawing of downtown Vancouver circa 1891—a nod to Sturgess’s own city drawings from the Calgary practice he shares with his architect wife, Lesley Beale.

But he couldn’t have known just how perfect it would be: it turned out that the tea towel print was actually a drawing by Sturgess’s grandfather, Robert Palmer, who had also been an assistant engineer with the City of Vancouver. “No one in our family knew this history and the connection to this city—stumbling onto that opened up a door to our past,” says Sturgess.

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Seeing Red

Homeowners and architects Jeremy Sturgess and Lesley Beale definitely aren't afraid of colour: a pair of Rietveld Utrecht chairs, matching red dining seats from Inform Interiors, an Oaxacan-style rug and patterned Marimekko cushions all pop against the white-and-concrete backdrop.

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LIVING | From Arthur, with Love

Home Base

Just four years earlier, Sturgess and Beale had begun casually looking for property in Vancouver while on Christmas break. And though they had hopes of finding something larger to develop, it was a compact condo for sale in the Arthur Erickson–designed Waterfall Building near Granville Island that ultimately won them over.

“We already knew about this building and had a huge respect for Arthur Erickson and Nick Milkovich,” says Beale. “It’s sometimes hard for architects to live in other 48

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people’s designs. But not Arthur's—it speaks to the quality of the design.” This little piece of Vancouver’s architectural history was originally constructed as artist lofts and studios with live/work zoning. As such, the space was spartan, with the walls, ceiling and stairs cast in concrete; one small bathroom on the second floor; and a tiny but serviceable kitchen. “It was deliberately done without closets so it was kept affordable for artists,” adds Sturgess.

“It was meant to be bare bones.”

Cube Architectural Millwork installed fresh kitchen cabinetry (along with extra storage under the stairs) based on Beale's sketches. The Corian-clad peninsula countertop is lined with Hay stools; a Bensen sofa carries the white theme into the brightly hued seating area.

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LIVING | From Arthur, with Love

Top of the World

A turntable and the homeowners' collection of animal sculptures— picked up on a trip to Mexico—line the custom under-stair cabinets by Cube Architectural Millwork (top right). A spiral staircase from the loft level leads to an incredible shared rooftop patio (right) with views of the Burrard Bridge. “The real bonus is the roof and the fact that we have another living room on top there,” says Sturgess.

“In the spring-to-fall season, we’re up there half the time.”

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LIVING | From Arthur, with Love

Mystery Box On the loft level, a unique design creates a multi-functional space.

Two Murphy beds are built into opposite sides of the cube structure; in the centre, there's a washroom. A sliding door pulls out from the side wall to separate both sleeping zones.

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The pair phoned Nick Milkovich, who worked with Erickson and was only too happy to share the original drawings so they could put their stamp on the new home.

“It’s extremely well built and robust,” says Beale. “It’s not prissy—it’s more industrial, and all the concrete and painted steel details on the exterior are the same gridded detail as the inside. It’s a strong, consistent language throughout.” Working with good bones meant the architects had to address only small-space and storage issues.

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Whatever changes were to come, the architects wanted to remain faithful to the integrity of the design. “The details are so well done that the challenge for us was how best to channel Arthur,” says Beale. “What would he do . . . and then you don’t want to screw it up!” The couple wanted the space to still function as if it were an open artist's studio (Murphy beds, one bathroom), but it needed tweaking. The kitchen, for one, was outfitted with oversized appliances that left only three feet of useable

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LIVING | From Arthur, With Love

The Expandables

Flexible furniture is a key component for a convertible room like this one. When the bed is folded up into the wall, the desk from Inform Interiors can be transformed into a long dining table to seat up to eight people for dinner parties.

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counter space. “Just about everyone in this building has redone their kitchens,” says Sturgess. “But everyone who owns a place here loves Arthur—they speak passionately about architecture and are respectful of any changes they make . . . it’s a culture of Arthur Erickson.” Beale sketched out how the kitchen millwork would look (Nik Andrishak of Cube Architectural Millwork made it all come together), and a new kitchen wall with appliances and a peninsula clad in white Corian were added. The original

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cabinets were dark wood, but the white helps lighten the space. “Coming from Calgary, we wanted to exploit the light as much as possible,” says Sturgess.

Making the compact 920-square-foot space more efficient was also a priority. Storage was added under the stairs, and a cabinet for records. (“This apartment is allowing me to use my turntable and records,” says Sturgess. “It’s so appropriate!”) With a small space, the couple had to choose furniture carefully: comfortable,

appropriately sized and, above all, flexible. The chairs, for example, are lightweight and can stack for more room.

Colour was another key addition: “The red and yellow are primary colours that are a nice foil to all that white cabinetry and grey concrete,” says Beale. Meanwhile, the bathroom was extended to accommodate two people rather than just one, and walls were extended around Murphy beds to add closet space as well as to act as room dividers. When the kids are visiting, one wall rolls out to g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

separate the loft level into two distinct bedrooms.

“The space is never indulgent or extravagant—it’s everything we need,” says Sturgess. “After the reno, it does really well at being 30 percent smaller than we thought we could survive in.” In keeping with the smaller-is-better ethos, there’s a table for two in front of the main-floor window, but the couple has yet to spend any time there. “If we could ever enjoy this place on our own, we’d sit there,” laughs Beale. “But the kids are always here!”

Dining Design A double-sided custom screen made with Marimekko fabric adds some colour and pattern to this multi-functional space while also hiding personal items out of sight.

Lightweight chairs from Inform Interiors stack easily when not in use.

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WRITER JULIA DILWORTH PHOTOGRAPHY JANIS NICOLAY

Wild World

A designer’s Gastown-meetsSoutheast-Asia apartment is breaking all the rules.

Yes, there is a polka-dot Bambi curled up next to a six-footfive terracotta warrior across from a wall of African masks and palm-leaf drapery—but this Vancouver condo started out much like any other.

“When I first moved in, I decided I was going to decorate the apartment very neutral, with all earthy tones, because that’s kind of the Vancouver style—to use white on white on white,” shares interior and product designer Ben Leavitt. Three-going-on-four years ago, the Fox Design Studio co-founder fell in love with the water view from this heritage Gastown one-bedroom, and so began the great restoration. “I bought all new rugs and I bought a white sofa and I bought all this stuff—and then I literally hated it,” remembers Leavitt. “As soon as I put it in, I rolled it all back up, sold it all and then started over.”

Oh, the joys of decorating your own space. Yet somewhere in between plastic-wrapping area rugs and wheeling out the sofa, a fundamental shift had taken place. “I decided that I was just going to have fun with my apartment,” explains Leavitt. “I don’t care if it’s trendy—I don’t care what anybody thinks.”

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Play Room The hallway (bottom left) introduces designer Ben Leavitt’s eclectic style right away, with a Karl Lagerfeld quote plastered onto the door and a huge panda painting from an unknown artist in China taking up the entire wall. “Honestly, I would describe my place as really fun,” says Leavitt, pictured in his living room with his extensive mask collection. “It’s carefree; you feel like you can touch everything—nothing feels too precious.”

Quirky Cool Leavitt found a picnic table on Craigslist and painted it a pristine white using boat paint—a little pungent during the application process, but ultradurable once dry. A framed print of Men’s Room by Scott Listfield is mounted on a swath of plywood painted with a chevron pattern.

LIVING | Wild World

Travel Treasures This vintage wooden hutch (top right) is 300 years old, a purchase from a trip to India. It now plays host to a collection of skeleton figurines and an antique engine order telegraph (a gift from his mother, a native Nova Scotian). Floor-to-ceiling palm-print drapes, made from Tommy Bahama fabric, might not be everyone’s first choice for a brick apartment in Gastown, but Leavitt really wanted to bring the vibe of Southeast Asia into his home.

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He didn’t care if it was a rental, either. In this rectangular-shaped 800-square-foot apartment, part of the bedroom was separated off the main room with a pane of frosted glass, but Leavitt felt it was too open, so he built a wall. “It did make my bedroom a little dark and gloomy, but I needed more space for artwork,” says the designer.

In the dining area, he drilled into the concrete ceiling to retrofit his own grand (and temporary) plug-in chandelier. He also painted walls, wallpapered in grasscloth and installed bars for drapes to frame the million-dollar-plus view. Each move was another unfazed kiss goodbye to that Gastown damage deposit. “If I’m going to live here for three or five years, I don’t want it to be ugly just because it’s a rental,” he says. Similarly, for aesthetic reasons, a big, black flat screen doesn’t make the cut. “TVs are ugly, so I don’t own one.”

Such an item would take up too much wall space, anyway, and Leavitt needed that for his expansive collection of artwork and exotic treasures amassed from more than a decade of travelling around the world. “I wanted every

square inch of my apartment to remind me of somewhere I had been,” says Leavitt. A challenge made far easier by the fact that he vowed to visit 30 countries before he turned 30 (and he succeeded).

One of the home’s most striking features is a wall of distinctly shaped masks, frozen in all kinds of expressions, sourced individually from Leavitt’s own travels. “I fell in love with masks when I was really little because of Picasso,” explains Leavitt, who actually studied photography at Emily Carr. “Picasso said that he got his inspiration for all his paintings from African masks, so I just became obsessed with African masks.” He subsequently travelled to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, picking up masks and artifacts as he went, expanding to Borneo, Cambodia, Tibet, Vietnam, Peru, Papua New Guinea—and the list goes on. On one of his favourite trips, half his masks were sadly incinerated by customs agents after weeks of packing them around while camping in Namibia. “I will go back to Africa and it is not to see another damn elephant.

It will be, literally, to buy more masks.”

Frame by Frame The poutine sign is actually a Douglas Coupland design that’s been printed on a towel.

It shares wall space with a painting that depicts portraits of Chairman Mao from every year he was in power, and vintage communist propaganda posters from Vietnam.

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LIVING | Wild World

Living Large “If you don’t have to move a pillow to sit on your sofa, then you don’t have enough pillows on your sofa,” laughs Leavitt. The designer collects fabrics to make custom cushions (above), mixing Japanese silk from Beacon Hill with velvet from Robert Allen. They’re not the only custom content here: the zebra bench is upholstered in a hide Leavitt formerly used as a rug. The vintage desk it tucks under was originally from an airport.

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His stately Buddha bust that sits atop a 1950s airport desk is carved from one piece of wood, the former an item Leavitt procured in an alley in India. After a visit to the terracotta warrior museum in China, the designer decided to buy his own replica—something he had to get shipped here twice, after the first 800-pound warrior smashed in transit (the head lives on in his bedroom). The majority of his vintage communist prints (which he loves for their bright and poppy colours) come from Vietnam, but Leavitt likes to shop his own backyard, too.

The fire hydrant is vintage City of Chilliwack, Leavitt spotted the deer lawn ornament in a Hope resident’s front yard, and his dining room picnic table was a $60 find off Craigslist, all demonstrative of one of Leavitt’s favourite things: taking the outdoors in. Likewise, the designer turned palm-leaf Tommy Bahama patio fabric into drapes, which add a splash of “tropical loveliness,” but also sub in for greenery, as long trips mean he often can’t keep real plants alive.

Everywhere you look, there’s something new that

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LIVING | Wild World

Sleep Tight Though Leavitt admits he’s focused most of his design efforts on the great room, he’s still managed to infuse some style into his sleeping quarters, with more custom cushions and a rich blue backdrop for the built-in open shelving.

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piques your interest, some curio that elicits a hilarious story, but what’s equally impressive is how Leavitt has managed to tame such a wild collection into a cohesive space that could have easily been total chaos.

His secret? “Just put it all in there and play with it.”

Group items together, stack pieces on top of each other, hold up items individually to see what looks good next to what; this is how you’ll see which pieces are working and which should get the chop. And from there, you just need

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a few common threads throughout the whole house. For Leavitt, that’s his use of white. He chose all-white frames for his artwork collection (which he hung on alabaster walls), and repainted his furniture (picnic table, coffee table) and sculptures (Bambi, fire hydrant) in neutral white—little modifications that help break up all the colours and tie things together. Because in an apartment that doesn’t play by the rules, there’s only one rule: “If I like it, I’ll make it work.” g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

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Wall to Wall Knocking out a bedroom wall created a wide-open layout for the living space, which allows even more light to flow through the corner unit. An Ikea Karlstad sofa spans a pair of heirloom rugs, handed down from the homeowners’ respective grandmothers.

WRITER STACEY McLACHLAN PHOTOGRAPHY JANIS NICOLAY

Blank Canvas Two designers create a whiteon-white space that’s part dream home, part gallery of treasures.

Though Vanessa Stark and Misha Olynyk graduated from art school years ago, there’s still a hint of their past lives here in their Mount Pleasant condo.

“We took a bit of a gallery approach,” laughs Stark, who today is co-owner and interior designer for Chambers and Stark. (Olynyk is in the design world too, crafting custom woodwork pieces.) Almost every wall in their 1,100-square-foot space is painted white, with the intention of showcasing the handmade pottery, vintage armchairs and heirloom rugs that the couple has carefully curated throughout their lives.

But when they moved in three years ago, the suite wasn’t quite the blank canvas they were looking for: a little remodelling was in order. The space had a unique, long-format layout, with a long, dark hallway that led into the living room—but the floor plan actually offered a rare opportunity to open things up. “You don’t often have a chance to knock out a wall and make a large living space especially in Vancouver, where you’re usually pinching inches,” says Stark. She and Olynyk took down a bedroom WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

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LIVING | Blank Canvas

Custom Content The simple pine dining room table (bottom right) was actually built on-site during the renovation to be used as a work table, but the couple decided to keep it for everyday use. The painting is by Olynyk’s father, Markian Olynyk.

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wall to make room for a dining nook and replaced an office door with an oak-framed sliding glass wall. Now natural light flows easily through the oversized living area. “I walk down the long hallway and it’s so bright and light. I feel like I can get on the floor and stretch and think and breathe,” says Stark.

That light and airy feeling is due also to the whitepainted floors, which amplify the light and double-down

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LIVING | Blank Canvas

on the gallery look. (“At the moment we don’t have kids, so it was a good opportunity for us to go for it without worrying about it getting messed up,” laughs Stark.) And though the white-on-white is striking, the condo is anything but cold. Light wood elements throughout soften up the vibe, as do the well-worn treasured objects on display.

“If you love things you own, those things are going to warm your place up,” says Stark. “We wanted everything 68

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in our home to be something that means something to us—whether that’s something we created, something we inherited or something we collected.” There are prime examples in every room. That wicker chair in the corner of the living room? It’s one of a pair they discovered at an L.A. flea market during a road trip across the U.S. (“We shoved it in the car and drove around with it for a month,” says Stark with a smile); underneath the sofa

Cozy Quarters Textiles—a woven rattan bench with an extra-deep seat, furry throw and HBC wool blanket—warm up the white-on-white space.

A sliding glass door allows light to flow through without totally sacrificing privacy.

Office Space In the sunny home office, Olynyk and Stark line the windows with their book collection, and save the shelves for displaying beloved ceramic designs. A duo of chairs line the double-wide desk.

lie overlapping vintage rugs from Olynyk’s and Stark’s respective grandmothers.

In the office, Olynyk crafted a custom modular pegand-dowel shelving unit out of extra wood from his workshop to display ceramic work from their art-school days alongside family photos. But the couple decided against built-in storage in the living room—the light from the window was just too nice to obscure with surrounding

bookshelves. Instead, they brought in a bench and now stow their large collection of design tomes underneath.

“We’re always pulling out magazines and books for references, so we didn’t want to put them out of sight,” explains Stark. “We thought, let’s make it simple and see how we live.” On the opposite wall, an extra-long credenza built by Olynyk takes advantage of the room’s length and provides a space to hide away items that aren’t as display-worthy.

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LIVING | Blank Canvas

The black window frames bring some contrast and depth to the look, but it’s the dining nook, with the wall, ceiling and bulkhead painted a deep navy blue, that truly stands out. “With so much white, if you don’t have pops of dark, you stop noticing how much white there is,” says Stark. Though Olynyk and Stark originally had struggled with what to do with the bulkhead, the intimate nook has become a beloved element of the design. And the 70

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mismatched chairs—a wishbone design sidles up along an Ikea number—around a custom-built pine table built by Olynyk make for a cozy, casual space for leisurely family dinners. “They’re in constant rotation,” says Olynyk.

“Every chair has a story, and the combination is never set in stone.” Stark calls the look a compromise—“We don’t have exactly the same taste,” she says—but this compromise looks an awful lot like a work of art.

The Little Things Mismatched wooden side tables (one a gift from a client, the other inherited), a nubby rug sourced in L.A. and a pair of blown-up photos (from photographers Kevin Russ and Luke Gram) add personal touches to the space.

g SEE PAGE 72 FOR SOURCES

SOURCES | Where to Buy

For complete retailer listings, please visit the manufacturer’s website.

NOOK OF LOVE PAGE 17-20 PAGE 17 MANHATTAN HOTEL CHIC

Designer, Sophie Burke, sophieburkedesign.com.

Walnut Zeitraum table, Spencer Interiors,

spencerinteriors.ca. Maxalto Febo chairs, Inform Interiors, informinteriors.com. Grey Under the Bell pendant lamp, Mint Interiors, mintinteriors.ca.

Sofa, pillows, Carmel Furniture Designs, carmel designs.net. Painting, homeowner’s own. Grey limestone flooring, Adera Natural Stone Supply, aderastone.com. PAGE 18 MIDCENTURY ECLECTIC Designer, Tanya McLean, Mango Design Co., mangodesignco.ca. Table and chandelier, homeowners’ own. Chairs, Craigslist, craigslist.org.

PAGE 20 SCANDINAVIAN GLAMOUR Designer, Aleem Kassam, Kalu Interiors, kaluinteriors.com.

Magis Table First table, Inform Interiors, informinteriors.com. Preserved plant frames, By Nature Design, bynaturedeign.ca. Chandelier, West Elm, westelm.ca. Custom shade and diffuser, Victoria Lampshade, victorialampshade.com. Wirebrushed white oak flooring, Wiston Hardwood, wistonfloor.ca. Abigail armchairs, EQ3, eq3.ca. Custom cushions, Cypress Upholstery, cypress upholstery.ca. Global Views Harvest moon sconces, Brougham Interiors, broughaminteriors .com. Mirror, Rahul Glass, rahulglass.com.

BABY MAKES THREE PAGES 38-44

Designer, April Tidey, April Tidey Interiors, april

tidey.com. PAGE 38 LIVING ROOM Rug, CF Interiors, countryfurniture.net. Custom wooden table and stools, April Tidey Interiors, apriltidey.com; Brent Comber Originals, brentcomber.com. White lamp, ReFind on Main, refindhomefurnishings.com.

Patricia Larsen painting, 7e7 Atelier St. George, atelierstgeorge.com. Belgian Track Arm Slipcovered sofa, Restoration Hardware, restorationhard ware.com. PAGE 39 BABY ROOM Bila Dining Rug, EQ3, eq3.com. Alesda wicker ottoman, crib, Ikea, ikea.ca. Monte Design Jackson rocker, Westcoast Kids, westcoastkids.ca. Cactus wallpaper, Anewall Décor, etsy.com. Black Belly basket , pillows and blanket , Nineteen Ten nineteenten.com. PAGE 40 KITCHEN White Z1 Lantern, HomeStories, home stories.com. Custom shelving, cabinets, April Tidey Interiors, apriltidey.com; Russ Gjernes, Gjerniture. Baskets, Cathay Importers 2000 Limited, 72

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

cathayimporters2000.com. KitchenAid Copper

Marimekko fabric, Designhouse, design

pots, Home Depot, homedepot.ca. Janaki Larsen

house.ca. Sconces, Vectra, vektra.ca. Marimekko

ceramic dishes, vase, 7e7 Atelier St. George,

Blanket , Designhouse, designhouse.ca

atelierstgeorge.com. Broom, Granville Island Broom Co., broomcompany.com. Wood crate, ReFind on Main, refindhomefurnishings.com. Cutting boards, Pacific Design Lab, madebypacific. com. Urban Cultivator micro-greens mini-fridge, Midland Appliance, midlandappliance.com. Lamp, CF Interiors, countryfurniture.net. Dog bed, homeowner’s own. Glassware, The Gourmet Warehouse, gourmetwarehouse.ca. Smeg toaster, Hudson’s Bay, thebay.com. Vitamix blender, Williams-Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com. PAGE 43 BEDROOM Carpet , Home Depot, homedepot.ca. Pillow, Tribal Rugs and Art, 604-716-8776. Blossom Lounge chair, CF Interiors, countryfurniture.net. Hanging lamp, April Tidey Interiors, apriltidey.com. Bedside lamps, Scott Landon Antiques, scottlandon antiques.com. Slipcovered Parsons platform bed, Restoration Hardware, restorationhardware.com.

PAGE 44 NURSERY Natural Belly basket , Nineteen Ten, nineteenten.com. Pillows and blanket, teepee, Stokke dresser, Homestead basket , blocks, stuffed animals, Westcoast Kids, westcoastkids.ca.

Stuffed animals, World Wildlife Federation, wwf.org.

FROM ARTHUR, WITH LOVE PAGES 46-55

Designers, Jeremy Sturgess and Lesley Beale, Sturgess Architecture, sturgessarchitecture.com.

PAGES 46 & 47 LIVING ROOM Bensen sofa, Eames bench, dining chairs, Inform Interiors, inform interiors.com. Table, Urban Barn, urbanbarn.com.

Rietveld Utrecht Chair, Gabriel Ross, gabrielross .com. Marimekko Pillows, Designhouse, designhouse.ca. Millwork , Cube Architectural Millwork, cubemillwork.com. PAGE 48 KITCHEN Hay Bar stools, Vancouver Special, vanspecial.com.

Cupboards, Cube Architectural Millwork, cube millwork.com. Artwork , Anne Marie Andrishak.

PAGE 50 STAIRCASE Shelving, Cube Architectural Millwork, cubemillwork.com. Turntable, Vancouver Special, vanspecial.com. Geneva Radio, Designhouse, designhouse.ca. PATIO Lounge chair, Hudson’s Bay, thebay.com.PAGE 52 BEDROOM Artwork , Helen Wallace. Bedding, Ikea, ikea.ca. PAGES 54 & 55 BACK ROOM Desk/dining table, Inform Interiors, informinteriors.com. Shelving and Murphy bed, Cube Architectural Millwork, cubemillwork.com.

Track lighting, Vectra, vektra.ca. Floor lamp, Ikea, ikea.ca. Partition, homeowners’ own, covered in

WILD WORLD PAGES 56-62

Designer, Ben Leavitt, Fox Design Studio, fox

designstudio.com. PAGE 57 DINING ROOM Chairs, Plaid Fox, plaidfox.com. Plates, Anthropologie, anthropologie.com. Napkins, The Cross Décor and Design, thecrossdesign.com. Chandelier, Restoration Hardware, restorationhardware.com. PAGE 60 LIVING ROOM Custom sofa upholstered in Robert

Allen fabric, Plaid Fox, plaidfox.com.

BLANK CANVAS PAGES 64-72

Designers, Vanessa Stark, Chambers and Stark, chambersandstark.com; Olynyk Design/Fabrication, Misha Olynyk, mishaolynyk.com. PAGES 64 & 65 LIVING ROOM Ikea Karlstad sofa, Ikea, ikea .ca. Persian wool rug, leather and rosewood lounge chair, , homeowners’ own. Custom duallevel coffee table, Olynyk Design/Fabrication, online, mishaolynyk.com. Best Made Co. Paler Male axe, Best Made Co., bestmadeco.com. PAGE 66 DINING NOOK Markian Olynyk Painting, Folke Palssn J77 dining chair, vintage pink chair, homeowners’ own. Ikea Joxtorp pendant light, Ikea Persisk rug, Ikea Viktigt chair, Ikea, ikea.ca. Custom dining room table, Olynyk Design/Fabrication, misha olynyk.com. Eames Dax upholstered chair, Inform Interiors, informinteriors.com. Rove Classics Compas armchair, Rove Concepts, roveconcepts.com.

LIVING ROOM Custom credenza, Olynyk Design/ Fabrication, mishaolynyk.com. Markian Olynyk Painting, homeowners own. Tom Dixon Beat Tall Pendant lamp, Inform Interiors, informinteriors .com. Richard Prince’s Island 1, Kenneth Nolan’s Blue with Yellow Sun, Equinox Gallery, equinox gallery.com. PAGES 68 & 70 OFFICE Ikea Sinnerlig sofa, Ikea Basnas rug, Ikea Nipprig blanket , Ikea, ikea.ca. Striped Wool Blanket , homeowners own. Custom oak and glass partition, custom peg shelving, floor lamp, Olynyk Design/Fabrication, mishaolynyk.com. Rove Classics Wishbone chair, Rove Concepts, roveconcepts.com. Mantis wall sconce, CB2, cb2.com. PAGE 72 BEDROOM Ikea Malm bedframe, Ikea, ikea.ca. Cotton Canvas curtain, West Elm, westelm.ca. Kure Lantern table lamp, Rove Concepts, roveconcepts.com. Kaschkasch floor mirror, Kaschkasch Cologne, kasch kasch.com.

GALLERY

HK Design Studio one stop shop for all your interior design needs: kitchens & bathrooms, furnishings, home accessories, tiles, backsplashes, countertops, plumbing ďŹ xtures and more.

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2A-709 Twelfth St., New Westminster | 604-553-8188 info@hkdesignstudio.ca | hkdesignstudio.ca MERIT K I T C H E N S

MY NEIGHBOURHOOD | Kate Duncan

PORTRAIT LUIS VALDIZON

“Somebody, take me to Kissa Tanto immediately, if not sooner. Their entrees make my eyes wide and the interior by Ste. Marie makes me swoon.”

Kate Duncan’s Favourite Places Furniture designer Kate Duncan also happens to be somewhat of a curator: her annual Address Assembly event brings her favourite makers together under one roof for a furniture-fair-meets-pop-up-shop (this year’s runs May 25 to 28 at the Ellis Building). So it’s only natural that in her free time, she’s also managed to craft an excellent collection of neighbourhood haunts.

A tastemaker’s work is never done.

“My favourite place to grab a coffee is the Birds and the Beets.

Their espresso game is strong.”

“I love to grab a beer at Strange Fellows because they let me bring my dog in. There really is nothing better than going for a beer with my dog.”

“My favourite brunch is Ask for Luigi. Hands down. Hangovers are cured with carbs and mimosas, right?”

74

WESTERN LIVING CONDO Spring/Summer 2017

“Gastown is so romantic. If you look up, the view is breathtaking and the cobblestone streets sound beautiful under my stilettos.”

ASK FOR LUIGI: CHRISTOPHER FLET T; GASTOWN: GRANT HARDER; STRANGE FELLOWS: RAYMOND DOSANJ

“My favourite shops in the city are Nouvelle Nouvelle and Still Life.

I need all the help I can get to dress myself, and the guys who work there make me feel beautiful.”

RETAIL HOURS: Mon-Sat: 10am-5:30pm Closed: Sundays and Holidays

Enjoy the finest shopping and services surrounded by the stunning architectural heritage of Sinclair Centre including: • Gastown Photo • Leone

• L2 • Phera Diamonds

• Sinclair Travel • Sinclair Wellness Centre

Just steps from Waterfront Station

• The Perfume Shoppe • The UPS Store

757 WEST HASTINGS STREET, VANCOUVER WWW.SINCLAIRCENTRE.COM

RICHMOND | COQUITLAM | LANGFORD | JORDANSHOME.CA