Yaletown condo transformed into a Vegas-inspired retreat that radiates character

In the home's custom bar, leather-textured Black Negresco veined quartzite sets off tan velvet stools and gold hardware for a moody, glam feel. Custom shelving and the bar kick were designed and fabricated locally by New Format Studio, while millwork doors conceal two 24-inch under-counter freezers for the sport fisherman in the family to store his catches. Photo by Christina Faminoff

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When Lauren Webb and Josephina Serra toured a Yaletown condo created by merging two apartments, there were still obvious traces of the divide.

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“When we did the walk-through, it was very obvious that it had been two units,” says Webb of the now-2,575-square-foot home.

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One side felt under-planned; rushed through design and staging for sale. The other was a bit higher-end. But both lacked cohesion and character.

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The new owners had hired Vancouver interior design studio Form Collective to pull the mismatched halves into alignment, redecorate and notch up the style — with touches inspired Las Vegas, where they have another residence.

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Principals Webb and Serra realized quickly the place needed more than decor. The project grew into a deeper renovation, reworking parts of the floor plan while unifying the space in function and feel.

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The owners’ first big ask was a backlit stone backsplash inspired by their Nevada home — rendered in translucent Cristallo Quartzite for “really wild pop factor.” Web says: “We were worried it would be too in-your-face, but we actually love it.”

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A dramatic backlit backsplash in translucent Cristallo quartzite gives this home’s kitchen its “Vegas” moment, glowing behind the cooktop. Designers Lauren Webb and Josephina Serra extended an existing island in matching stone, creating a welcoming spot for guests to gather. Buster + Punch outlets, light switches and cabinet pulls (used here and throughout the home) add a subtle industrial accent against shinnoki white oak millwork that conceals appliances and storage. Photo by Christina Faminoff

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In the home’s dining area, an oval Radius dining table by Union Wood Co. pairs with slim dining chairs by Four Hands, while built-in bench seating by WD Western Designer nods to classic supper-club style and keeps sightlines open toward nearby living spaces. Photo by Christina Faminoff

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Bordered by wall-to-wall windows, the main living room takes in False Creek views while continuing the project’s layered mix of materials. Velvet and leather seating cluster around a custom brushed-gold metal fireplace by Vancouver’s New Format Studio. Photo by Christina Faminoff

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For a secondary visual anchor, Webb and Serra extended an existing island with matching stone, adding a curved detail on one end to mimic curved lines of the condo’s outer wall. “We wanted it to be a statement piece and really welcoming to stand around it as well,” says Webb.

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Overhead, a dropped wood ceiling panel with a backlit plate sets off a glittering linear light fixture. Stained shinnoki white oak millwork adds sleek storage and houses appliances.

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Off to one side, a Samsung Frame TV poses as a painting when not entertaining the cook. This placement eliminated the need for a TV over a nearby fireplace, which backs onto windows.

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Around the fireplace, they carved out a small family room. Working with bespoke furnituremaker WD Western Designers, they created a custom curved sofa. To maximize seating and sightlines without overwhelming the space, the company created a template on-site prior to fabrication.

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Over the sofa, a print by photographer Gillian Lindsay grounds the space — a slightly gritty and less “Vegas” choice Serra fought for and the homeowner now loves, she says.

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In a compact family room next to the kitchen, the design team worked with WD Western Designers to create a custom curved sofa sized precisely for the space, building a full-scale template on site before fabrication. A textured concrete-form fireplace by Masana Stone and edgy photo print by artist Gillian Lindsay ground the otherwise polished palette. Photo by Christina Faminoff

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Artwork throughout the home was carefully layered to create the sense of a collection built over time. Pieces include works sourced through Leftbank Art and licensed selections from Vancouver’s Art Works Gallery, including artists Gillian Lindsay, Sheila June Magee and Hakan Burcuoglu. Photo by Christina Faminoff

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Throughout the home, original art and prints layer on character absent in the home’s past life, giving the feel of a collection gathered over time, adds Serra. One standout piece is “Generations” by Victor Goertz, an original acrylic depicting the mossy trunk of an evergreen tree in greens and pinks, hung between the entryway and kitchen. Another striking piece, “City in Pink and Green,” a print by David Tycho, picks up the same colour scheme the end of the main hall.