“The original floorplan was from the 1980s, when rooms were small and plentiful,” says Chad Falkenberg, principal and co-founder of Falken Reynolds. “We removed everything inside the unit, taking it completely ‘back to the studs’.” The firm did away with a formal dining room, changing the two-bedroom plan into a single suite with a large dressing room and a bathtub in the bedroom with a direct line of sight to the view. The apartment also has large openings and very few doors, which help to make the home feel much larger than it is.

When it came to their preferred design, the clients had loosely defined a clean and modern scheme, which was also warm and sophisticated. “We wanted to create a space that was energising, but still felt very clear, refreshing and optimistic,” says Falkenberg, revealing that the wife’s fashion sense turned out to be a significant source of inspiration. Her matching of youthful streetwear with luxury pieces in unique and creative combinations encouraged the designers to “constantly push the boundaries of how we curated the space”.

The use of natural stone was the starting point in developing the material palette of each space. Rich stonework and dramatic combinations layered on brutalist forms mirror the works of Italian architects Carlo Scarpa and Piero Portaluppi, while delicate and asymmetrical elements in the form of Bocci lighting fixtures bring balance and channel the eccentric touch of Barnaba Fornasetti. Polished Venetian plaster lend texture, while gold and brass accents act as visual highlights throughout. Against a base of soft grey shades for the walls and millwork, the furniture and artworks add contrast and a sense of whimsy, while sunny days bring in the hues of the water, boats and buildings from the outside. 

There is something to catch the eye everywhere you look. In the entryway, the stunning Kooh-i-Noor mirror by Glas Italia and a limited-edition screen print by Chinese painter Wu Guanzhong demand closer inspection. 

The sun-drenched living room is itself a masterclass in mixing various forms to good effect. The furnishings here include the plush, rounded Moroso M.a.s.s.a.s. sofa and Bohemian armchair by Patricia Urquiola, faceted Classicon Pli side table and circular 194 coffee tables from Cassina; a gold-leaf painting by Yi Qing and a digital print by Marc Chagall add artistic flair. A sliding wall between the living room and the bedroom facilitates panoramic views from the latter space. “While the home has layers of interesting details, textures and colours, we wanted those to give way to breathing in the ocean air and the incredible views from downtown Vancouver,” says Falkenberg.

A table in white marble from Agape Casa and a bespoke curved sofa take the place of a formal dining room, where casual meals can be had while enjoying the view; the kitchen island can also seat six. “We often joke that in Canada our closest friends come in through the back door, and prefer to spend time in the kitchen rather than at a dining table,” laughs Falkenberg. Overhead, an arrangement of sculptural Bocci 73 pendant lamps appears almost like a school of jellyfish floating in the deep, while a screen print by Wu Guanzhong adds colour. 

The adjoining kitchen features a marble backsplash in a deep leathered finish and prominent veining, while a concealed wine cellar is stocked full of vintages to imbibe when guests drop by. Gaggenau appliances lend sleekness and functionality.

The primary bedroom is a relaxing haven with a cocooning Husk bed by B&B Italia, Cassina Traccia bedside table, and Ottocento small bathtub by Agape. Artworks by Wu Guanzhong and Zhang Mu spruce up the walls. The unconventional placement of the bathtub in the bedroom, with the bird-legged Traccia table close by, adds to the “why not?” attitude and puts a playful spin on functional items. In the primary ensuite, a bespoke washbasin in intense green Avocatus quartzite stands like an emerald-hued monolith, its blocky form offset by the playful Bocci 87 pendant lights suspended above it.

Finished last year, the 14-month project has culminated in a richly layered abode its owners are proud of. “They are loving the home and the attention to detail throughout,” says Falkenberg, adding that his own designers are fond of the fruits of their labour here too. “One favourite is the view through the kitchen to the dining nook at sunset. The Bocci lamps look so calming when the sky changes to vibrant pink and orange.”

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