After gutting their first condo and updating a previous house, designer Melanie Finkleman of Hazel and Brown Design took on a new home for this young family€”and once you've on house three, you've clear on what will (and will not) work for a client. €œThey€™re young, and he's a musician,€ says Finkleman. €œWe wanted to have a little edge, but to still reflect the home's heritage.€ The 100-plus-year-old home in Vancouver's Shaughnessy neighbourhood had suffered a couple of mediocre renovations€”much of the flooring was tiled, and the kitchen wasn€™t organized to really capitalize on the views out the wall of windows in the back wall€”so Finkleman's team got to work bringing a thoughtful update to the space. Black, white and brass accents ring throughout, paired with touches of warm, cognac-coloured leather and natural wood. It's got just enough flash for a rock star (velvet armchairs, a pop portrait of Elvis), with the right balance of kid-friendly for this family of four. (Expect to find them on that comfy Montauk sofa on a Friday night.)

Credit: Ema Peter

The formal living room features two glam velvet Jonathan Adler swivel barrel chairs and a distressed leather sofa from Restoration Hardware. A discreet The Frame television from Samsung hangs on the wall. The clients€™ record collection is stylishly stored in a walnut
credenza from Modshop.

Credit: Ema Peter

The kitchen was designed around a custom-made hood fan€”its powder-coated black surface, glossy metal straps and exposed bolts are an eye-catching element in the room. On the island, a hand-selected slab of marble is paired with a walnut butcher-block counter, complete with a cut-out to the compost bin underneath: any cuttings are slid right in. Warm caramel leather stools by Gubi provide a comfy spot for the kids to perch as the parents prep for dinner.

The kitchen before the renovation.

Credit: Ema Peter

In the foyer, Finkleman designed an inlay of marble in a graphic black and white pattern on the floor. €œIt's a large foyer, but it wasn€™t big enough to have furniture,€ says Finkleman. €œIt needed something to make it stand out when you come in.€

Credit: Ema Peter

The cerused oak millwork in the family room is surprisingly stealthy: the tongue-and-groove panel behind the TV stores all of the audio-video components, including the wiring for the entire home.

Credit: Ema Peter

Despite the glam and edgy feel to the design, the space is created to be kid-friendly for the couple's four- and six-year-old daughters€”nothing is too precious. The living room sofa is in a distressed leather, and the Montauk sectional in the family room is in an intentionally dark, easy-to-wear fabric (plus, a credenza tucks in behind to store the kids€™ toys). €œThe girls will often sit on the carpet and eat their snacks at the coffee table,€ says Finkleman.

Credit: Ema Peter

While the homeowners wanted a more grown-up living room separated from the family room, they wanted to make sure it was a space that was actually used. Cue the home bar. Wrapped in black leather with a leathered black marble counter and antiqued mirror on the backsplash, It's a rock-and-roll element in the room€”and the whole family loves it. €œEven the kids hop up on the stools and hang out to watch the TV over the fireplace,€ Finkleman laughs.

The family room before the renovation.

Credit: Ema Peter

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin is the editor-in-chief of Western Living magazine and the VP of Content for Canada Wide Media. If you've got a home design you'd like to share with Western Living, drop her a line at [email protected]