A chic and cheerful renovation pairs a smart new floor plan with fabulous vintage furniture and bold swatches of colour, turning a tired New West suite into the city's coolest condo.

Brand-new condos were too cookie-cutter for one New Westminster couple, and a downsize from their 1,350-square-foot space was unimaginable, so the homeowners turned to Falken Reynolds Interiors to reimagine their current roomy residence as a bright and cheery space made for modern living. “They’d lived here for about 20 years, and hadn’t done anything to it the whole time. It was time for a new life,” says designer Chad Falkenberg.The light from the entryway Bocci pendants bounces off an Adnet Circulaires belted mirror. The light from the entryway Bocci pendants bounces off an Adnet Circulaires belted mirror.The first step? Falkenberg and partner Kelly Reynolds created a reworked floor plan to convert seemingly innocuous spaces—the entryway and hallway—into the perfect first impression. “By expanding the entry, we connected it to the rest of the living areas,” Falkenberg says. The newly widened front hall accommodates a walnut Claude bench by Jonathan Adler and a pair of custom, white-lacquered consoles; a wall of Camilla Meijer owl-print wallpaper in a spectrum of beautiful blues greets visitors with a wink. “By creating a space for the bench and consoles as well as art, there is an immediate ’welcome home’ feeling as soon as the door opens.”For the kitchen millwork, “We were looking for something that would be familiar to the eye but not recognizable,” says Falkenberg. “Not oak, not walnut, not the usual suspects. Then we found hickory. The warmth and depth of the grain is something special.” For the kitchen millwork, “We were looking for something that would be familiar to the eye but not recognizable,” says Falkenberg. “Not oak, not walnut, not the usual suspects. Then we found hickory. The warmth and depth of the grain is something special.”Throughout the condo, bold swatches of colour, like yellow ensuite shower tiles or the vibrant pink powder-room vanity, add warmth to the otherwise streamlined space. “Our clients said at the beginning they wanted some colour,” laughs Falkenberg. “That simple idea evolved into something super fun and adventurous.” Bright, cactus-green glass tiles (in a Mondrian-esque, custom-designed pattern) from Interstyle bring a punch of personality to the sleek modern kitchen, but the intense hue is softened beautifully by warm hickory cabinetry and touches of trendy copper. The homeowners, big entertainers and home cooks, make frequent use of the concealed dishwasher and full-height wine fridge; a top-lit open shelving unit with a copper back panel allows for easy access to a well-stocked bar.“We used large paintings with hits of colour to play off the other finishes,” says designer Chad Falkenberg (pictured left, with partner Kelly Reynolds). The pair move a piece by Vancouver painter Norah Borden into place. The round painting on the sideboard is by local artist Zoe Pawlak. “We used large paintings with hits of colour to play off the other finishes,” says designer Chad Falkenberg (pictured left, with partner Kelly Reynolds). The pair move a piece by Vancouver painter Norah Borden into place. The round painting on the sideboard is by local artist Zoe Pawlak.Dinner guests congregate around a vintage Danish table (beneath a slightly lowered dining-room ceiling, its perimeter lit with LED cove lights) and the one remnant of the old space: an elaborate crystal chandelier picked up on a trip to Venice. The fixture and the Noguchi and Platner side tables together bounce light around the bright, open living room.In the bedroom, a light palette creates a calm and soothing space just right for winding down. The Taupe Stella wallpaper is a neutral hue, but the elaborate pattern—designed by Marcel Wanders for Graham & Brown—adds a subtle hit of glamour. The custom upholstered headboard and alpaca throw add softness to the space. In the bedroom, a light palette creates a calm and soothing space just right for winding down. The Taupe Stella wallpaper is a neutral hue, but the elaborate pattern—designed by Marcel Wanders for Graham & Brown—adds a subtle hit of glamour. The custom upholstered headboard and alpaca throw add softness to the space.The bedroom is the one room without a big hit of saturated colour, but Falken Reynolds didn’t skimp on the glamour. The slight shimmer of the Marcel Wanders-designed wallpaper and the woven texture of the abstract-patterned fabric headboard add a sense of luxury. You’d never notice the bedroom footprint had been reduced to allow for a more spacious master ensuite, kitted out with twin sinks, dimmable LED mirror lighting and a roomy, sunshine yellow shower that oozes retro cool. The vanity is done up in teak veneer, a textural nod to the mid-century modern furniture that anchors the other rooms. The powder room, with its custom Sherwin-Williams Cerise pink sink, pulls off a similar trick—one wall is lined in oak, referencing the floorboards that flow throughout the rest of the apartment.The Lite sofa from Bensen blends seamlessly with vintage pieces scored at Mid-Century Modern Home in New West, like this teak chair updated with modern fabric. The rug is custom, designed to complement the rest of the living room fabrics. When night falls, the fireplace, built into custom hickory millwork shelving, becomes the focal point. The Lite sofa from Bensen blends seamlessly with vintage pieces scored at Mid-Century Modern Home in New West, like this teak chair updated with modern fabric. The rug is custom, designed to complement the rest of the living room fabrics. When night falls, the fireplace, built into custom hickory millwork shelving, becomes the focal point.“We like to bring in something familiar in a different way,” says Falkenberg. It’s a sentiment that’s applicable to materials and textures, but also to this condo as a whole. Something old transforms into something new, and still manages to feel like home.wl1013-finishingtouch7“We wanted to add something sculptural in the powder room without crowding the mirror and interrupting the flush oak mirror frame” says Falkenberg. “Hanging pendants gave these modern details room to breathe while providing even, eye-level lighting.” The yellow tiles in the shower were installed flush to the drywall and at a 30 degree angle for a clean and playful effect. “The yellow is meant to be invigorating in the morning.” “We wanted to add something sculptural in the powder room without crowding the mirror and interrupting the flush oak mirror frame” says Falkenberg. “Hanging pendants gave these modern details room to breathe while providing even, eye-level lighting.” The yellow tiles in the shower were installed flush to the drywall and at a 30 degree angle for a clean and playful effect. “The yellow is meant to be invigorating in the morning.”  

SOURCES

Designer, Falken Reynolds Interiors, 604-568-9487, falkenreynolds.com. Contractor, Kenton Lepp, Moosehead Contracting, 604- 250-3736, mooseheadcontracting.com.

DINING ROOM | Earth Collection Satellite painting, Norah Borden Vancouver studio, 778-228-5709, norah.ca. Chandelier, client’s own. Dining chairs, wooden table, wooden console, Midcentury Modern Home, New Westminster, 604-515-1865, mcmhome.ca. George Jensen Ilse boxes, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Custom wool and silk rug, Colin Campbell, 604-734-2758, colin-campbell.ca. Normann Copenhagen Heima 4-armed candlestick, Espace d., 604-662-3008 espacedonline.com. Martha Sturdy folded decorations, Provide, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Circular painting, Zoe Pawlak, 604-614-0914, zoepawlak.com. Robert Abbey Koleman lamp, Chintz and Company, 604-689-2022, chintz.com.

ENTRYWAY | Camilla Meijer Blueberry wallpaper, United Kingdom, camillameijer.com. Sherwin-Wililams Crushed Ice paint, Sherwin-Williams, 604-267-9900, sherwinwilliams.com. Bocci 14.5 Series pendant, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Gubi Adnet Circulaires mirror in Tan Leather, online, gubi.dk. Jonathan Adler Claude Walnut bench and sea foam cushion, Mint Interiors, 604-568-0422, mintinteriors.ca. Amber Walsh Vase, Crate and Barrel, 604-269-4300, crateandbarrel.com. Brushed Oak Cordoba European Touch, 604-325-7001, ethfloors.com.

KITCHEN | Falken Reynolds custom pattern in Cat Eyes Green, Interstyle, Burnaby, 604-421-7229, interstyle.ca. Custom Lacquered Millwork, custom flat-sawn hickory millwork, Integrity Woodwork, 604-675-9052. Sherwin-Williams Gray Clouds paint, Sherwin-Williams, 604-267-9900, sherwinwilliams.com. Solid copper cupboard knobs, Bäccman and Berglund, online, bb-sweden.se. Cambria Torquay Quartz countertop by Cambria, Flo Form, 604-339-9172, floform.com. Acritec stainless steel sink, Andrew Sheret, 604-874-8101, sheret.com. Grohe Minta kitchen faucet, Kitchen and Bath Classics, 604-873-0004, kitchenandbathclassics.com. Fruit bowl, client’s own. Thermador Freedom Induction cooktop, Coast Wholesale Appliances, 604-321-6644, coastappliances.com. Alessi La Cintura Di Orione Saute pan, Edward Wohl Pate boards, Established and Sons Store jar, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Stua Onda Counter Stool, Design Within Reach, Toronto, dwr.com. Octolux Brushed Copper Metal laminate, Richilieu Hardware, 604-327-0241, richelieu.com.

LIVING ROOM | Vintage chair re-upholstered in Zeyatta Mondatta Peacock by Schumacher, Anne Starr, 604-254-3336, annestarr.ca. Knoll Platner side table, Bensen Lite sofa, Artemide Tolomeo Floor lamp, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Noguchi coffee table, Livingspace, 604-683-1116, livingspace.com. Backgammon set, client’s own. Animana Baby Alpaca native cotton throw, Mumo Paulista pillow, Espace D., 604-662-3008, espacedonline.com. Douglas Chunk end table, Style Garage, 604-588-4343, stylegarage.com. Flight recliner, Design Within Reach, Toronto, dwr.com. Custom hickory shelving system, Integrity Woodwork, 604-675-9052. Mutina Tiling La Suite tiles, Stone Tile, 604-353-3436, stone-tile.com. Marquis Skyline Direct Vent fireplace, Vancouver Gas Fireplaces, 604-732-3470, vangasfireplaces.com. Martha Sturdy vases, Martha Sturdy brass studded bowl, Provide, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Owl figurines, clients’ own. Talia Sand candleholders, Cream Textured Kerr vase, Crate and Barrel, 604-269-4300, crateandbarrel.com.

BEDROOM | Marcel Wanders Couture Series Taupe Stella wallpaper, Graham and Brown, online, grahambrown.ca. Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice paint, Sherwin-Williams Paint, 604-267-9900, sherwinwilliams.com. Himalaya wool rug, Colin Campbell, 604-734-2758, colin-campbell.ca. Acorn side table, West Elm, 604-733-6730, westelm.com. Finnsdottir vase, Espace d., 604-662-3008, espacedonline.com. Foscarini Birdie Table lamp, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Custom bed and headboard, Carmel Furniture Design, 604-215-0051, carmeldesigns.net. Society Nap Double 4 pillowcases in Verde, Society Free New bedspread, Alicia Adams Alpaca Classic throw, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Flowers, Greenstems, 604-568-1314, greenstems.ca.

BATHROOMS | Terratinta porcelain tile, Gotha Gloss Yellow Ceramic tile, Stone Tile, 604-353-3436, stone-tile.com. Scholten and Baijings guest towels, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Custom glass shower enclosure, Island Glass, 604-272-9601, islandglass.net. Aquabrass showerhead, Robinson Lighting and Bath Centre, 604-879-2494, rlrbc.com. Axor Starck wall mounted handshower and outlet, Andrew Sheret, 604-278-3766, sheret.com. Custom mirrored medicine cabinets, custom teak vanity, Integrity Woodwork, 604-675-9052, integritywoodwork.com. Dimmable LED with custom acrylic lens, Peregrine Plastics, 604-251-3174, peregrineplastics.com. DuPont Zodiaq Quartz countertop, Paragon Surfacing, 604-278-2225, paragonsurfacing.com. Martha Sturdy round tray, Provide, 604-632-0095, providehome.com. Finsdottir vase, Espace D., 604-662-3008, espacedonline.com. Alessi Brillo doap dispenser Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Axor Bouroullec Single Lever mixer, Andrew Sheret, 604-278-3766, sheret.com. Brushed Oak Cordoba, European Touch, 604-325-7001, ethfloors.com. Artek Alto Alvar A440 pendant lights, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Custom brushed oak cordoba frame mirror, Falken Reynolds Interiors, 604-568-9487, falkenreynolds.com. Kohler Ladena sink, The Ensuite Bath And Kitchen, 604-872-3371, emcobc.ca. Axor Bouroullec Single Lever mixer, Andrew Sheret, 604-278-3766, sheret.com. Alessi Brillo soap pump, toothbrush holder, Inform Interiors, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com. Sherwin-Williams Cerise paint (for vanity), Sherwin-Williams, 604-267-9900, sherwinwilliams.com. Duravit Starck 3 toilet, Kitchen and Bath Classics, 604-873-0004, kitchenandbathclassics.com.