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Name: Celeste
Location: Vancouver, BC
My husband, 10-month old daughter and I live in a 850-square foot loft in Vancouver. We moved here from LA in 2007 and I knew that the lack of sunshine would be a big issue for me in the new city. So we painted all walls in Benjamin Moore's Simply White and matched that to an epoxy white paint for the concrete floors--even on the grayest Vancouver day, the apartment is filled with beautiful white light that reminds me of sunny LA. I work from home, so the "office" space is along one wall, where my husband built a long narrow desk using left over hardwood used in the upstairs bedroom (photo 1). For legs, he poured three concrete slabs and we had shelves for our record collection and stereo made in stainless steel.
The entrance is long and narrow and a complete waste of space. Because there are few walls in the loft (the place is all floor to ceiling windows), we needed some wall space for our art book collection. A regular bookshelf was out of the question so I came up with a solution of creating white powder coat steel shelves for displaying the books as you would photos or art (photo 2). The end of the hall is covered in a black and silver flock wallpaper. There are whimsical touches throughout, like the words "La lessive" (french for laundry) handscripted on the fuchsia door (photo 3) that leads to the washer/dryer.
The guest bathroom also doubles as a small library. Above the toilet we put up Ikea shelves, which are lined with travel books and mags, graphic novels, etc (photo 4). Here we used the left-over wallpaper for a narrow strip of wall next to a concrete slab by the sink.
The open-concept kitchen features white Ikea cabinets that pop against a fuchsia backsplash (photo 5). And beyond the concrete countertop is the living room, which features a cow hide rug from Brazil, tomato red Ligne Roset sofas and b&w photos above the fireplace. I was pregnant at the time of the renovation, which probably explains the vibrant fuchsia I chose. Beyond the dining room is a small balcony where I painted one wall in a bright blue, which also cheers me up when the skies are gray (which is often).
Upstairs we converted a corner of our bedroom into the nursery, choosing items that were cheerful and baby friendly but not something we would hate, i.e. there are no pink bunnies or frilly things. Instead we chose cool indie rock posters to decorate the walls, and handcrafted toys made in recycled wool and wood from LA and elsewhere in the US as well as Buenos Aires, where I am originally from. Experts say that for the first few months of a baby's life, they only see black and white. Doctors recommend high contrast toys and object to stimuli baby's vision. Chloe must have been plenty stimulated in our monochromatic loft.
Thanks, Celeste!
We've had amazing response to our Apartment Therapy House Tour Submission Form that we launched last month. While we will work with homeowners of our favorite homes to feature full tours, we will also share the best as House Calls — short, quick tours of readers' homes. Submit your home here.
Wonderful, I need to see more! It's all so bright I wouldn't have thought it's Vancouver, especially with during this time of year. I love your desk, and your display solution in the hallway.
House tour, please!!!
view KidMoe's profile
I've been making plans to build a long desk very similar to yours, with a long dark stained wooden top. What are the dimensions? Are you using only one piece of wood for the desktop?
view Derek's profile
I love the narrow shelves/book display. It looks very nice.
I see you have lots of books, even in the bathroom :). I used the kitchen cupboard in my old home.
view M2JL's profile
More, please!
view Joan in SB's profile
this looks amazing.
view DUSKIN's profile
Great space! I love the deep shine on the floors and on your kitchen cupboards. Ant that pop of colour in your kitchen is great.
I also live in Vancouver, plus I suffer from S.A.D., so believe me I know about gray days! Being from L.A. must have been quite an adjustment for you!
May I humbly suggest buying a full spectrum S.A.D. lamp? Having it on - even for just a few minutes - in the morning before I go to work is like having a shot of espresso!
In the winter, if I am home all day on a gray day, I tilt it up and bounce the light onto the ceiling, so its more ambient than direct.
view floatchik's profile
Make this a full-on house tour please!
We want to see more... (:
view ilovebc's profile
Definitely a keeper. Love it!
view ekoshyun's profile
In Vancouver we don't tan, we rust :-)
view peachpie's profile
You've really captured our elusive Vancouver sunshine! I love the white kitchen cabinets with the lipstick red walls.
view tam-tbag's profile
I tried so many whites on various walls in my house to find the most light-reflecting and warm white and came up with Simply White as well - some of the blue-whites I saw featured in design mags just sucked the light out of the room when I tried them. ( I live near Vancouver also) Good to see your note about this being your rationale to use this white too! Wish I could have read this before trying the dozen or so samples!
I wonder how to do epoxy white flooring like yours? I would love to do it on a previously painted concrete floor - any ideas where to find info on how-to?
view suzannelittle's profile
Yay!!! A woman after my own heart -- we have red Togo too!!
Love your place, and love the use of white -- although I am a huge fan of Donald Kaufman's whites, which is what we used in our home
view mschatelaine's profile
I love your designer couch! And the contrast to the cyan wall in the balcony! and the spots of wallpaper (which I would normally find too tacky)
House tour please!
view mihaela's profile
I love your desk! I too, would love to see more.
view LaurieLu's profile
Yes Celeste! Canada represent!! I love your computer desk, could you tell us more on how the desk was made? (I'd love to make something similar). A fan in Toronto.
view redshirt's profile
Just wanted to pipe in to request a full house tour. Great looking place!
view dannyNYC's profile
such a good desk, when i have a house and a real office, i'd like to make something like that. I prefer a longer skinnier desk, but they're harder to find without making your own.
view jmorey's profile
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. I especially love how you planned for the grey quality of the light. Good for you and bravo!
view medusa12120's profile
In the office, where is that chair from?? Anyone??!! I see similar ones everywhere and I want one... in white. it would be perfect for my home office! Help please! :)
view alittleltc's profile
anyone know that sink vestibule in the bathroom?? or Looking for a cheap look alike?
view nkr707's profile
What do people think about white floors? I'm thinking about it, but I'm afraid it will be too hard to keep clean. Even light wood floors show every speck of dust and cat hair.
view AmyV's profile
Amazing!! I need to see more!
view mahoganymoon's profile
I really love the white floors - the light must be fantastic in your place on the silver sky days we've been having lately. And I second the use of full-spectrum lighting - it really does help elevate those 'it's been raining for a WEEK. Again!' moods.
view scarletdog's profile
alittleltc: the chair is an eames aluminum management chair
http://www.dwr.com/product/classics/seating/eames-aluminum-management-chair-hm-leather.do
view etslee's profile
yay vancouver!!! you've done a great job working around our grey-days issue. i'm a vancouver girl too, and we've totally headed into the oranges, reds, rusts, warm woods to add some life and color and warmth on those winery days.
go canada!!
view formosagirl's profile
I love the concrete desk, slim-fitting display bookshelves, and kitchen. Excellent ideas and craftwork.
view EAM's profile
always nice to see what other vancouver folk do to combat the grey.
there's a lot of creativity here, which is wonderful - looks like they played/play with their space.
view emilykristin's profile
Celeste,
I remember seeing your nursery area in the Western Living Condo issue last year. Your nursery space was just as cool as the rest of your place with the screenprinted gig posters on the wall and the Molo flex wall to separate the space. You should've included those pics for everyone to see!
- Francis
view famewhore's profile
I love the storage solutions. Would love to see more!
view littleinkpot's profile
I loved this place...THE RED kitchen sooooo pretty! I like the contrast with the stainless appliances.
Jen Ramos
'Cards & Prints You'll Love...'
www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com
view jenniferramos's profile
were there only 4 photos? no no, we need more! especially loving that kitchen. good work!
view jeanneadele's profile
I heart the Pacific Northwest! I was just looking at some spaces in Seattle. If it weren't for the rain, I would head north.
Check it out:
http://www.chdmag-digital.com/chdmag/200901/?pg=76&pm=2
view cityhomegirl's profile
Is it just me or is the "click here to see all the pics" link broken?
view woodt3's profile
Gorgeous! I echo the sentiments of those who would love to see a full house tour.
I would also love to know what paint colour was used in the kitchen? The contrast is incredible.
view Willlow's profile
Source for the shelves used in your hallway display of books?
view redesign's profile