When interior designer Alana Dick of Ivory Design Co was approached to help design a micro-hotel suite inside of a 1913 heritage home in Nanaimo, B.C., she knew she’d have to get creative in the small space.

The client, local real estate agent Siya Herman, had purchased the character property with a clever plan: transform the building into three income-generating spaces, one of which would be a 380 square-foot vacation suite.

“She purchased this character home with the idea of creating a co-working office,” says Dick. “The back of the house is the micro-hotel and then we took part of the roof off and we put a second office space upstairs in the attic. It’s a very genius setup.”

While the home’s original character was lovingly preserved, the suite needed to function like a full-service stay—but in miniature. 

“She wanted a living area, a sleeping area, a kitchen, a washroom, all the typicals. Plus, we had to fit in a washer and dryer somehow,” Dick says.

The solution was a lofted bed with storage tucked beneath, including the hidden laundry. “Raising the bed off the ground gave space underneath and that was the only way we could do that,” the designer says.

In fact, storage was built into the micro-suite’s design—literally. “There are towers on each side of the archway, those towers have cabinetry built into them,” Dick says, noting that she “put as much storage into the space as possible.” 

Though the towers are designed to look like an architectural detail, the built-ins add character while discreetly holding everything needed for a comfortable hotel stay—like extra towels, sheets and cleaning supplies. 

To make space for everything, the furniture had to multitask, too. The vintage coffee table—set on wheels—rolls away to make space for the sofa’s pull-out bed.

Dick wanted to pay homage to the home’s “original bones” despite opening up walls and adding structural support where needed. They kept the home’s heritage windows, and crafted new tongue-and-groove wall details that harkened back to the home’s history. The colour palette also nods to the past: muted sandy tones, terracotta accents and navy textural tile are complemented by thrifted and family-sourced heirlooms.

“I am always thrifting and finding pieces,” Dick admits, noting that they also incorporated pieces from the homeowner and her mom.

When asked what the secret is to designing comfort in such small spaces, she advises, “Don’t be afraid to take chances, play with colours and textures and do a lot of mixing,” she says. 

Now known as the Selby Micro Hotel, this charming island getaway is proof that well-planned design can turn any space into a comfortable place to rest—no matter how small.

More photos below

Tiles get an elevated twist through creative pattern mixing and layout. Photo Credit: Mary McNeill Knowles.
A vintage, wheeled coffee table pairs with a pull-out sofa, making the living area fully reconfigurable for guests. Photo Credit: Mary McNeill Knowles.
Raising the bed created the room’s most critical square footage: hidden laundry and bonus storage tucked neatly underneath. Photo Credit: Mary McNeill Knowles .
Custom panelled towers flank the archway, disguising cabinetry for linens, cleaning supplies and guest essentials. Photo Credit: Mary McNeill Knowles.
Vintage finds, thrifted décor and treasures from the homeowner’s mother give the suite its layered, lived-in feel. Photo Credit: Mary McNeill Knowles.
A slim, marble-topped built-in table adds modern practicality with vintage style in less than a few square feet. Photo Credit: Mary McNeill Knowles.
Kristi Alexandra

Kristi Alexandra

Kristi Alexandra is the managing editor, food and culture, at Canada Wide Media. She loves food, travel, film and wine (but most of all, writing about them for Vancouver Magazine, Western Living and BCBusiness). Send any food and culture-related pitches to her at [email protected].