Western Living Magazine
6 Bathroom Design Tips for 2026
The Room: Pet Project
6 Rooms with Area Rugs That Pop
Vancouver Chef Vikram Vij’s Indian Chai Tiramisu (A Coffee-Free Twist on the Classic)
9 Dishes That Are Perfect for Date Night at Home
How Vancouver’s Amélie Nguyen of Anh and Chi Hosts Lunar New Year at Home
Tofino’s Floating Sauna Turned Me Into a Sauna Person
A Wellness Getaway in Squamish Valley: Off-Grid Yurts, Sauna Cycles and River Calm
Local Getaway Guide: A Peaceful Two-Day Itinerary for Harrison Hot Springs
Protected: The Hästens 2000T Is the Bed of All Beds
“Why Don’t Towels Stretch?” Herschel Co-Founder’s New Home Goods Brand Rethinks the Towel
Audi Elevates the Compact Luxury SUV
Entries Are Now Open for the 2026 Designers of the Year Awards!
Designers of the Year Frequently Asked Questions
Photos: The Western Living Design 25 Finalists Party
Ben Leavitt of Plaidfox Studio creates a bright and beautiful family home. (Check out the blue kitchen!)
When designer Ben Leavitt of Plaidfox Studio met with the homeowners of this 2,400-square foot condo in Vancouvers Coal Harbour, he heard those magic words that are, no doubt, a dream for any designer: You have carte blanche.
To be fair, that wasnt the only direction the homeowners gave him. They wanted the update to their 1981-era space (which is actually two apartments combined into one) to be energetic, playful, anything but generic and neutralthe perfect fit for a young family. The homeowners let us push them with colour, says Leavitt. As a young artistic family with a European background, they wanted to embrace a more vibrant palette.
READ MORE: How to Build a Laneway House on a Budget
The team at Plaidfox opened the space up, removing as many internal walls as they could, and turned the once-dreary galley kitchen into an airy space open to the dining area and living space. And, of course, colour throughout makes a huge impact, from the baby-blue cabinets in the kitchen to the bold, mustard-yellow millwork in the living room. I always say, once you live with colour, you realize you cant live without it, says Leavitt. It just gives you so much happiness to live in a space thats colourful.
In the MoodIt doesnt have to have tons of different colours to be a colourful space, says designer Ben Leavitt of Plaidfox Studio. And it can still be really calming. Thats why we use large washes of one colour, to keep the space feeling peaceful and calm but super energetic at the same time. The perimeter kitchen cabinets in this Vancouver condo are painted in the bright and cheery Aspen Skies from Benjamin Moore, and paired with soft white oak on the island.
Walking on SunshineWith two small kids, it was important for the homeowners to have lots of storage for toys and more. It doesnt matter if you live in a small apartment or a big apartment, there'snever enough room to put everything, says Leavitt. This huge bank of mustard-yellow cabinets (Fields of Gold by Benjamin Moore) is almost 16 feet with floor-to-ceiling storagetoys on the bottom, home wares on the top. Leavitt says he was both surprised and thrilled that the homeowners went for the bold shade. The idea of something is always more scary than the thing itself. When you see it in person, its really quite pretty and interesting and makes the apartment unique.
Animal MagnetismIn the eating nook, the black sconce above the custom banquette is from Circa Lighting. A Fenis chair from Zanotta adds a playful accent piece to the mix. It looks a little like it has bunny rabbit ears, laughs Leavitt. The Bocci pendant over the Ethnicraft dining table brings in another hit of blue. The dining chairs are from Bensen.
Coffee CornerThe wet bar cleverly disguises pipes and an air-conditioner unit overhead. Hidden in there is a coffee maker, and everything they could use to make coffee, he said. We could have just drywalled it over, but we were able to use it to make a little bistro area.
READ MORE: Before and After Photos from a Stunning Calgary Reno (the Zebra Ottoman Had to Go)
Anicka Quin is the editor-in-chief of Western Living magazine and the VP of Content for Canada Wide Media. If you've got a home design you'd like to share with Western Living, drop her a line at [email protected]
Are you over 18 years of age?
