Houzz Tour: Cozy and Creative Vancouver Apartment
A graphic designer pays tribute to past and present in his renovated Mount Pleasant home
"I love to cook so I knew I wanted to design my own kitchen and make the space mine — something that would allow me to entertain while making a meal," Tyler Wilman says. As soon he bought his Vancouver apartment he envisioned the changes he wanted to make. A graphic designer, Wilman is drawn to pieces that tell a story, and personalized the space with pieces from his childhood home, Vancouver estate sales and Craigslist finds.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Graphic designer Tyler Wilman
Location: Vancouver's Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, B.C., Canada
Size: 640 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
That's interesting: The penny tiles in the bathroom are made of actual pennies.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Graphic designer Tyler Wilman
Location: Vancouver's Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, B.C., Canada
Size: 640 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
That's interesting: The penny tiles in the bathroom are made of actual pennies.
Wilman installed floating shelves in the living room to create a feature wall. Ampersands, pieces of wood block type and typewriters show his interest in typography.
Wilman installed rich brown wood flooring in the living space and kitchen, and painted the fireplace wall a deep chocolate brown. The medium tone of the flooring ties together the mantelpiece, tea crates, guitar and picture frames. Most of the walls are neutral to provide a blank canvas for Wilman's mementos and artwork, including his own. The sliding doors lead to a large balcony with views of the North Shore mountains.
Rug and red chair: Ikea
Rug and red chair: Ikea
The timber beam accentuating the gas fireplace is from Wilman's childhood home. The antique tobacco tins are Craigslist finds.
A modern couch contrasts with vintage London tea crates, also from Craigslist. Wilman uses the crates as side tables throughout the apartment and as a nightstand in his bedroom. "It's amazing what you can find on Craigslist if you are patient and persistent," he says.
An antique camera collection lines a floating wall shelf in the living room in front of framed comic book covers and candleholders made from old piping. Included in the collection is the very first camera that Wilman learned to shoot with, a graduation present from his parents. "The Pentax K1000 takes the most amazing black and white photos, many of which I still display on my walls," he says.
The collected pieces around Wilman's apartment, such as this London tea crate, invite you to wonder where it has been and what it has seen during its travels to Vancouver.
Wilman uses the rotary phone he learned to speak on to buzz people into the apartment. An antique typewriter, one of two in the apartment, sits behind.
"I took out part of a wall and moved the bulk of the kitchen along the south end of the apartment, extending it into what was the dining area," Wilman says. "The renovation completely opens up the space, allowing for more natural light into the kitchen."
A sketch shows Wilman's vision for the back wall of the kitchen: ample cabinetry using the full height of the space, glass shelves above the sink and a clean white backsplash with horizontal accents.
A large farmhouse sink sits between butcher block countertops.
This sketch of the opposite side of the kitchen shows the original concept for the range and bar areas.
A nonfunctioning but charming radiator salvaged from renovations at the Dodson House hotel in Vancouver adds charm.
A glimpse into the bathroom in the background shows Wilman's unique penny flooring. It was inspired by a penny floor seen in a hotel. "It was a labor of love to hand place all those pennies, but it was well worth the time and effort," Wilman says.
A glimpse into the bathroom in the background shows Wilman's unique penny flooring. It was inspired by a penny floor seen in a hotel. "It was a labor of love to hand place all those pennies, but it was well worth the time and effort," Wilman says.
Wilman modified the original entryway closet into a cozy den/office. The desktop can be pulled up to lie flat against the back wall.
More closet-sized offices
More closet-sized offices
In the entry, Wilman added a barnwood shelf for keys and mail, serving as another reminder of how old can mix with new.
More Houzz Tours
Bringing the Outdoors Inside on Bowen Island, B.C.
Contemporary Nest in Fun Vancouver Neighborhood
British Columbia Townhome with a Postcard View
More:
Decorating Around the World: Hip and Trendy Vancouver
Vintage Charm in Vancouver
More Houzz Tours
Bringing the Outdoors Inside on Bowen Island, B.C.
Contemporary Nest in Fun Vancouver Neighborhood
British Columbia Townhome with a Postcard View
More:
Decorating Around the World: Hip and Trendy Vancouver
Vintage Charm in Vancouver