We navigated the constraints of a rental lease to design Jervis, a three-bedroom penthouse towering above Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood. In a rented apartment, where the layout, walls, wall colours and fixtures must remain untouched, we transformed a once-muted space into a colourful home with bright artwork, playful furniture, and thoughtfully curated design objects.

Our clients asked for a home with an enduring style that prioritizes relaxation, hosting, and quality time. We drew inspiration from contemporary design tendencies, sourcing pieces that are as beautiful as they are functional, without succumbing to pretentiousness. At Jervis, art takes centre stage, brightening every inch of the apartment and expressing the owner’s style. Large-format photography prints are dotted throughout the penthouse, sourced from galleries in New York, while sculptural pieces sit on every surface.

With limited space in the kitchen, we chose a circular travertine marble dining table from Living Divani with a monolith silhouette and upholstered dining chairs from Christophe Delcourt. The low pendant light hovering above creates an intimate seating arrangement, perfect for entertaining. In the living area and TV room we incorporated gentle, warm lighting by adding sconces, lamps, and low pendant shades. Neutral but fashion forward plush seating, bold accent chairs, and layered textiles provide a soft place to land at the end of the day, set against luxurious drapery. In these spaces we chose free-standing, oak shelving units and matching end tables to provide additional storage, styling them with objects of virtue, dried florals, greenery, books, antiques and artwork.

In the primary bedroom we created a calming atmosphere, interjecting the muted hues with daring black and white print fabric. The curtains were custom made from Dedar’s enigmatic ‘Tiger Mountain’ and we selected Man of Parts’ Rue Cambon fabric for the Yabu Pushelberg vanity stool. By contrast, the guest bedroom is a sea of purple, blue, and green, complete with cushions from the Roslyn Shop, upcycled in Pierre Frey’s Sacha fabric – a traditional tartan on mohair velvet.

Every corner of Jervis is infused with character and purpose while remaining uncluttered and comfortable. We created a space that feels not just like a rental, but a true home that reflects the dynamic lives of its inhabitants.