This Vibrant Vancouver Loft Effortlessly Plays With Colour, Pattern and Style

Black paint, deflated plastic pool toys and banana-leaf wallpaper are just some of the showstopper elements in artist and art collector Sara Shafran’s South Granville loft in Vancouver. Inspired by Morocco and various personal mementos and guided by designer Erica James, Sara reimagined the once cookie-cutter space into a vibrant and peaceful retreat.

white kitchen with island, black cabinets, three black and wood stools with a coat on one

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That’s a Wrap

There are so many over-the-moon design ideas in Sara’s kitchen but we can’t help but gravitate to that roll of butcher paper as art. “I saw this on Pinterest and knew I needed it!” she says. As well as being a nod to her grandfather who owned a delicatessen, it’s an ingenious and wallet-friendly way to dress up any kitchen. Sara likes to vary its messages, which range from to-do lists and inspirational quotes to dinner-party menus. The black frame and natural-colour paper are nicely referenced throughout the kitchen.

black and white kitchen with stainless steel, red knob oven with pink creuset pot on top

Tracey Ayton

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Paint It Black

Black cabinetry

paint was a last-minute decision for the newly installed kitchen. As well as being in sync with the current dark-tone kitchen trend, black acts as a dramatic backdrop in the mostly light space and continues as an accent throughout the loft’s open floor plan for a savvy, pulled-together effect. We love how smart it looks against the poured concrete floors and the luxurious Calacatta marble countertops, a definite splurge. The floor-to-ceiling cabinet is a storage-smart appliance and if you look closely, you can see the brass pull at the side that opens a custom-built spice drawer.

white subway tile kitchen backsplash, black cupboards, brass trimmed white range hood, pink pot on stove

Tracey Ayton

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Brass Act

Brass was the secret ingredient in fashioning a characterful kitchen and the creative use of it in the range hood is especially noteworthy. Designer Erica James custom-designed it and made this practical feature a dynamic focal point by adding distinctive brass trim. Brass is repeated in the cabinetry pulls and the faucet and Sara says the lustrous metal feels “stately, but casual and homey at the same time.” The brass-tone cup and saucer and cat in the glass-fronted cabinet speak to the attention to detail found throughout this lively home.

close up of kitchen island with open shelf with cookbooks, wooden elephant and pink cake stand

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A Fine Display

The island‘s open storage allows for interesting displays, including practical items, such as cookbooks and dishes and ones with more personal provenance. Sara picked up this hand-carved wooden elephant on a trip to Namibia. Note how the cutting board and covered pot on the range echo the tones here.

pink open shelf cabinet in front of green leaf wallpaper mural wall

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California Dreaming

Beverly Hills meets Winners in this eclectic eating area. The wallpaper is the iconic banana-leaf print that graces parts of the Beverly Hills Hotel (Sara grew up in LA) and the hutch was a Winners find that was originally white before its pretty-in-pink paint makeover. Together, they are a cheerful antidote to rainy Vancouver days.

closeup of green leaf wall paper, accessories including turquoise heels with pink and rhinestone bows

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Canadian Content

This colourful abstract painting, which riffs nicely on the leafy wallpaper, is by Sara herself. Sara calls the Miu Miu sandals her Carrie Bradshaw shoes. “I keep them mostly for decor, but like the idea of them as my ‘something blue’ for my wedding one day.”

white living room with floating console, gallery wall, black sofa, two big floor cushions

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Artist in Residence

Sara created all of the artwork on her living room’s gallery wall and it was in storage until Erica came up with the idea of showcasing it here. Bright and colourful, it features abstracts, as well as interesting conversation pieces: the pink composition at the top left is a dollar-store inflatable pool toy that Sara placed under glass to reference a brush stroke.

white gallery wall straight on with valentino book beneath yellow art

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Designing Women

As well as expertly curating Sara’s art, Erica custom-designed the living area’s floating console, which features brass detailing for continuity with the kitchen. Its airy profile is minimally styled and doesn’t compete with the richly embroidered Jan Kath floor cushions.

open loft space with dark sectional on left and dining room with four black wire chairs on back right

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Frame It

Sara transformed the look and feel and her living space with one simple element: black paint. Using it to emphasize the window frames (they were white when she moved in) has a transformative, contemporary effect and creates architectural interest.

loft living room with floor cushions bottom left, pink flowers on right, dark sectional and low wood coffee table

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Hugo is Boss

How inviting is this squishy seating? It’s the Hugo sofa, a custom-made beauty from the Canadian-owned brand Montauk. Its deep hue, a nice complement to the black window frames, is lifted by the mix of light and patterned cushions.

white hammock chair over tan and white ponyskin rug

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Swing Time

This whimsical hammock was a birthday gift from Erica. “No home is complete without a swing or hammock! It’s just not!” says Sara. We like how she grounded it with a graphic hide rug. The woven black plant-holder furthers the cool vibe.

loft living room with close up on wooden coffee table, hammock chair behind dark sectional, dining space to the right

Tracey Ayton

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Art Smart

The dining area’s artwork, an original by Canadian artist Genevieve Robertson, imparts a sunny presence and is a nice foil to the bigger pieces of furniture here. It’s also a clever way to further demarcate the dining room in the loft’s open-concept floor plan.

zoom in on wooden coffee table with sunglasses and flowers and books on round tray

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Table Manner

The living room coffee table was actually an antique desk; Sara had the legs cut down to create this low-slung profile that works perfectly in the loft. The tray corrals accessories that reference Sara’s diverse interests, from healing crystals to high-style Chanel.

loft wooden long dining table with black wire chairs and yellow flower arrangement

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In the Mix

A narrow 19th-century table from France is flanked by custom-made chairs that are replicas of the iconic Harry Bertoia models. Erica softened their classic shape by dressing them with faux-fur seat cushions for curated comfort. The contrast between rustic and contemporary is gutsy and works.

round gold art over console table with books and pink and black vessels on lower shelf

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Curves Ahead

The often-overlooked entryway is remembered here with a console table with sleek lines that is tempered with rounded shapes in the form of art, lighting and vases. We like how Sara positioned art here versus a standard mirror and how the gold-tones are an intimation of the brass flourishes throughout the space.

white curtained daybed covered in cushions in an alcove, colourful rug with three orange designs

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Inner Goddess

What was once the second bedroom is now a retreat in the middle of the city. “I call it my Goddess Temple,” says Sara. Erica custom-designed the nook, which is framed with antique corbels and breezy drapes. The daybed is perfect for overnight guests but gets more use as Sara’s preferred place to read. The abundance of cushions (all in the same size) and the vibrant rug are key in creating a lush relaxed vibe.

closeup of blue flowers and wooden bead necklace on round wood table

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Calm and Collected

Giant wooden Mala meditation beads set the tone for the nook’s contemplative mood; fresh flowers keep it light.

powder room sink and green palm front wallpaper

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Leafy Greens

Sara has a penchant for palm leaves and readily admits that she’s trying to incorporate as many different palm wallpapers in her home as possible. The powder room‘s pattern is a bit more subdued than the kitchen’s focal wall but still as effective in creating a wow-factor. The kitchen’s brass accents are echoed here too for fluid continuity.

white bedroom with black sconces and art of back of woman's head with flowers in hair

Tracey Ayton

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Black and White and Cool All Over

While Sara’s bedroom is undeniably feminine (that artwork, the rosy touches, the whimsical cushions) there are just the right amount of masculine accents to give it great balance and energy. We love how she painted the window frames black, as well as incorporated bold black sconces. Erica sourced the super pretty painting by artist Amanda McMorran.

white bedroom with fireplace with mosaic tiles and feather juju above it, gold frame chair in corner

Tracey Ayton

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Golden Touch

A fireplace in the bedroom is a luxury that Sara accentuates with a sophisticated, yet playful style. We love the interesting and unexpected use of penny-rounds here, the splashes of gold and personal mementos from crystals to art. “It is sexy, grown-up, chic and everything a girl could wish for,” she says.

white bedroom closeup of brass and glass side table and white cabinet with big brass round pulls, glass of rose beside bed

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Space Management

With extra storage in mind, Erica designed the cabinets that flank either side of the bed. Panelled doors and bold brass pulls add interest that elevates them beyond the practical – an effect that can be found throughout this contemporary, yet cozy loft. “Recently I have come to realize just how varied my aesthetic sensibilities are,” says Sara. “Ultimately I believe a home ages like wine. You have to allow the space to dictate the vision to you over time.”