A new homewoner turns her bland 650 sq. ft. Vancouver condo into a colourful hot spot.

In 2009, Giselle Fedalizo faced a common condo conundrum: at approximately 650 sq. ft., her new digs were dinky and lacked personality. Though the 29-year-old chartered accountant of a Vancouver mining company loved the autonomy of being a first-time homeowner, she had to readjust her lifestyle to suit the small space.

For the condo's overall look, she recruited Vancouver-based designer Karla Amadatsu of Kerrisdale Design. "I’m into contemporary design," says Giselle, "so I didn’t mind the white walls and dark floors, but I know that can look cold. I wanted my condo to be bright, happy and positive." And that's exactly what she got. To keep within budget, none of the cabinetry or fixtures in the kitchen or bathroom were changed. Instead, during the two month project, Karla focused on infusing the bedroom and living/dining area with a punchy, modern young aesthetic. Indeed, electric pink and graphic pattern cushions attest that no shrinking violet lives here. Giselle also wanted room for entertaining, which is always tricky in cramped quarters.

"Since she was starting from scratch, we wanted investment pieces," says Karla. "By choosing furniture with tailored lines and in similar light-tone fabric, we were able to make the space seem larger, as the eye is able to flow through the room with nothing obstructing the expansive windows."

 

First home

New homeowner Giselle Fedalizo relaxes in her Vancouver condo.

 

Living space

Giselle splurged on some new "forever" furnishings, like this streamlined linen sofa with low-profile arms.

 

Bright and beautiful

Bare windows evoke a modern aesthetic while keeping the small space flooded with light.

 

Dining space

Feminine curved chairs and a round table are ideal in cramped quarters. Don't skimp on the light fixture -- a barrel shade gives visual weight to this tableaux.

 

Entertaining

Gisele loves to entertain and can use her ottoman and decorative drum stools as emergency seating in a pinch.

 

Bedroom

The tiny bedroom has pizzazz thanks to the magenta headdress that perks up the bedroom's quiet furniture; repeating the accent colour throughout unifies the room.

We make condo design and decor easy with expert tips to creating a posh small living space.