A Calgary condo is reimagined as a sky-high retreat driven by global
influences and all-out comfort.

When designer Louis Duncan-He first viewed this two-storey penthouse, he saw a springboard for escalated style. “It was empty and white, but I knew I could find a way to tastefully inject all facets of the owner’s eclectic, globe-trotting taste, as well as include just a touch of a Japanese Zen feeling, which he requested,” says the designer. Louis, along with his firm’s designer Vy Tran, set about transforming the 2,000-square-foot blank canvas into a dynamic home. The driving force for the makeover was eye-popping decor. Louis says, “We wanted it to feel worldly, but also beautiful and relaxing.” To enliven the space, the design duo took an exuberant approach that included bold wall treatments, an abundance of luxuriant textures and judicious bursts of colour. “The once-white empty box now has a vibrant soul,” says Louis. “The design is full of personality without being overpowering but, most important, it really reflects how the owner wants to live.”

The owner wanted a high level of design, but the home also had to be fun and accessible for entertaining,” says designer Louis Duncan-He. “We thought a loungey plush sectional was the way to go to create that feeling. It also converts to a sofa bed for guests.” Armchairs infuse the space with rich colour and their curves are echoed in the nesting tables and airy pendant lights above.

“I wanted something super dramatic for the dining room,” says Louis. “This high-contrast, colour-blocked mural has all the tones we used throughout the home.” Designer Vy Tran suggested the vertical stacked tiles at the base for a nice balancing effect. Moss green chairs echo the emerald ones in the living room and are contrasted with rattan styles for interest. Louis says the pendant light gives the room a playful “wink” and admits he made an exception for the art. “It’s small and I’m usually a stickler about scale, but I broke my own rule because this felt unexpected, and I love the hit of the hot pink.”

“I can’t say enough about the kitchen pendants! They show how transformative lighting can be,” says Louis. “With the modern cabinetry, you might lean toward contemporary pendants, but I went the opposite way with whimsical wooden lights that have a global feel. I think the wood is key in creating a connection between the kitchen and the dining room’s teak table.” Cognac leather detailing on the backs of the island stools also play into the teak. The cool tones of the original backsplash inspired the blue tiles on the living room’s focal wall. 

While the condo has a designated home office, this area offers an appealing alternative. “The owner likes to work around the home, so we created a stylish vignette in the primary bedroom that’s perfect for working or just enjoying a cup of coffee,” says Louis. “The artwork, sculptural marble table and velvet chair were a cool way to play with texture and form.” 

“I love a mural moment in a powder room,” says Louis. “In a small space, it’s such a fun way to add a bold design you might not normally use.” The vanity light has leather detailing that ties in with the cognac accents on the kitchen stools. “I like to take a texture from each space and introduce a version of it in another space. It’s how you create flow without being matchy.” 

The primary bedroom is cozied up with colour and texture. “We decided to paint all of the walls, and even the ceiling, with this incredible green limewash,” Louis says. “It creates an enveloping effect.” The rattan-and-walnut headboard exudes an organic quality, while the jewel-toned rug anchors the space. The owners’ artwork offers some high-spirited colour yet doesn’t compete with the relaxed vibe. The pendant light is a playful counterpoint to the more traditional bedside lamps. 

“We wanted to create a cocoon-like feeling in the primary bedroom – it had to feel like a complete retreat from the rest of the world.”

“When it comes to condo design, I always tell my clients that money spent on custom millwork is well worth it. It’s the best way to fully maximize any space.” 

 A small room was reimagined as a multi-purpose space that’s big on style. Louis and his team designed custom white oak cabinetry and stained it green for continuity with the primary bedroom. There is a desktop with display shelves and plenty of closed storage, part of which can be opened to create another work surface and reveal a wall bed – there is even a second wall bed in custom cabinetry on the opposite wall. The attention to detail extends to the oak fluting behind the beds. Louis says, “Great design has to be functional, and the owner was blown away by the beauty and practicality of this completely customized solution.”

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