Knocking down walls is easier said than done, especially when said walls contain water lines that are essential for a downtown Vancouver condo. “We weren’t even really sure if we could move them,” says Danielle Molnar, founder and lead interior designer of Accentrix Design. Together with Roka Projects’ Tyler Thorne, the Accentrix team transformed this closed-concept kitchen into an airy, clean-lined space, hiding pipes behind a bulkhead that seamlessly blends into both the white upper cabinetry and matte grey millwork. “The goal was to conceal… and make it look like it was intentional,” Molnar explains. Other subtle details—like vertical white oak panelling on the island, a black inlay framing the herringbone floor and backsplash crafted from playful Calacatta Renoir quartz—provide more linear visual interest, so the bulkhead (and the plumbing) can quietly do its job.

Photo by Tracey Ayton

Fresh Start

This condo’s front door opens right into the kitchen, so the design team incorporated seating, storage for shoes and a coat closet into the dark grey millwork. “There’s no clutter; everything has a spot,” says Molnar.

Photo by Tracey Ayton

Hardworking Hideaway

A niche in the kitchen island was designed specifically for the homeowner’s robot vacuum and mop. It’s also a great place to keep bowls for the dog (nature’s vacuum).

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, illustrator and comic artist. Her work has been featured in Vancouver magazine, Western Living, BCBusiness, Avenue, Serviette, Geist, BCLiving, Nuvo, Montecristo, The Georgia Straight and more. Her beats are food, travel, arts and culture, style, interior design and anything dog-related. She publishes a daily autobiographical comic on Instagram at @hialyssacomics.