About this Project

In this Kitsilano 2 bed 2 bath condo, we were met with the challenge of creating an elevated beach oasis on a budget. By updating the kitchen, foyer, fireplace, and bathroom vanities, we were able to achieve just that.

The original kitchen was dark and unwelcoming, with inefficient storage in the cabinets, and the bathroom vanities also had the same issues. Starting with the kitchen, the overall footprint remained the same, but the millwork, tile and countertops were all replaced. The millwork was carried up to the ceiling drawing the eye upward making the space feel larger. The range wall carried the bulk of the weight for millwork, to breakup all the laminate wood on this wall, we created a custom hood cabinet for a new inset hood fan with painted tambour that matches the back of the peninsula, tying to bring the two sides of the kitchen together.

Adjacent to the range wall, we added open shelves instead of cabinets, as this area is something you see when you first enter the home. It’s nice to have a space where glassware, plants and personal items could be on display. Adding open shelves in this area also helped a lot with making the kitchen feel more open. On the floors, we replaced the existing tile with a fun terrazzo style floor with a sandy light grey base spackled with blue, rust and beige rocks mimicking the sandy rocky beaches of Vancouver. This tile also pulled all the colours in the space, from the painted tambour to the wood grain laminate and jewel toned backsplash all while adding a fun touch to the space. The goal was to keep the existing hardwood floors and just replace the kitchen tiles which we ended up being able to do to keep costs down. This came with its own set of challenges, but we were able to customize the millwork bases to allow for the wood and tile transition to be as seamless as possible.

In the dining area, we changed out the chandelier for a more impactful piece. We kept all finishes in the space black and stainless, so we chose a matte black finish, which repeats itself throughout the home. This light fixture brings soft lines and organic movement into the space, resembling that of rolling waves.

Both bathroom vanities, floors & fixtures were removed and replaced with the same laminate millwork as the kitchen to carry continuity throughout a small space. We added a terrazzo floor tile different from the kitchen, more monochromatic and tone on tone to keep the bathrooms feeling more relaxed and soothing. The backsplash tile in both bathrooms has hints of the same blue as in the kitchen but just more subdued to achieve that serene oasis feel in the washrooms. This ‘kit kat’ stick patterned backsplash tile also repeats the same linear shaped pattern from the kitchen on the hood fan and back of peninsula for continuity throughout. The client chose to keep the existing shower wall tiles and fixtures, keeping the costs to a minimum. So, choosing a more muted blue tile, black faucets and minimal floor tile helped make the renovated and existing areas blend together nicely.

The fireplace was a fun little area with a pop of blue patterned starburst tile with a more traditional feel. The living room had many old books and family heirlooms that were to be displayed. Designing this area with a more transitional style while maintaining the colour continuity from the kitchen (the blues and laminate wood grain) helped with blending the older items with the new.