Western Living Magazine
7 More Fireplaces That Have Got Us Fired Up
A Whistler Cabin Designed for Real Mountain Life
This Light-Filled Victoria Kitchen Used to Be a Bedroom
3 B.C. Wines to Pour This Holiday Season
6 Soup Recipes to Make on Repeat This Fall
Recipe: St. Lawrenceās Chez Solange Brown Butter Mocktail
Basking in Banff: Inside the Reimagined Rimrock Hotel
3 B.C. Getaways for Skiers, Slow Travellers and Food Lovers
Sun Peaks Winter Getaway Guide: Ski, AprĆØs, Stay and Explore
Elevate Your Sleep with an Upholstered Bed Frame
7 Stylish Nursery Pieces Youāll Love for the 2026 Holiday Season
The Homebody Holiday Gift Guide: 29 Stylish Finds for Every Room
PHOTOS: Party Pics from the Western Living Design 25 Finalists Reveal Party at Vilnora
Vote Now in the 2027 WL Design 25 Peopleās Choice Awards
Announcing the Finalists for the 2027 WL Design 25
Ben Leavitt of Plaidfox Studio creates a bright and beautiful family home. (Check out the blue kitchen!)
When designer Ben LeavittĀ of Plaidfox Studio met with the homeowners of this 2,400-square foot condo in VancouverĀĀs Coal Harbour, he heard those magic words that are, no doubt, a dream for any designer: ĀĀYou have carte blanche.ĀĀ
To be fair, that wasnĀĀt 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 neutralĀĀthe perfect fit for a young family. ĀĀThe homeowners let us push them with colour,ĀĀ says Leavitt. ĀĀAs a young artistic family with a European background, they wanted to embrace a more vibrant palette.ĀĀĀ
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. ĀĀI always say, once you live with colour, you realize you canĀĀt live without it,ĀĀ says Leavitt. ĀĀIt just gives you so much happiness to live in a space thatĀĀs colourful.ĀĀ
In the MoodĀĀIt doesnĀĀt have to have tons of different colours to be a colourful space,ĀĀ says designer Ben Leavitt of Plaidfox Studio. ĀĀAnd it can still be really calming. ThatĀĀs why we use large washes of one colour, to keep the space feeling peaceful and calm but super energetic at the same time.ĀĀ 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. ĀĀIt doesnĀĀt matter if you live in a small apartment or a big apartment, there'snever enough room to put everything,ĀĀ says Leavitt. This huge bank of mustard-yellow cabinets (Fields of Gold by Benjamin Moore) is almost 16 feet with floor-to-ceiling storageĀĀtoys on the bottom, home wares on the top. Leavitt says he was both surprised and thrilled that the homeowners went for the bold shade. ĀĀThe idea of something is always more scary than the thing itself. When you see it in person, itĀĀs really quite pretty and interesting and makes the apartment unique.ĀĀ
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. ĀĀIt looks a little like it has bunny rabbit ears,ĀĀ 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. ĀĀHidden in there is a coffee maker, and everything they could use to make coffee,ĀĀ he said. ĀĀWe could have just drywalled it over, but we were able to use it to make a little bistro area.ĀĀĀ
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?
Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox 3 times a week.
