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My Houzz: Community Matters for a Canadian Café and Home
Celebrating food, play and life, this formerly run-down corner building is now a neighborhood treasure and a family's haven
Houzz home tour contributor. I call the rainy coasts of the Pacific Northwest home and couldn't imagine living away from the mountains or ocean. I'm constantly on the fence between city and country. Subsequently, my style varies from clean and contemporary to cabin in the woods. I have a passion for design, photography and the built environment.
Houzz home tour contributor. I call the rainy coasts of the Pacific Northwest... More »
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Wanting to make a change from working as a set designer in the film industry, Janaki Larsen and her family purchased a corner building nestled in a quiet residential area of East Vancouver. After two years of patient work, the family, including sister Klee Larsen and aunt Marie Brennan (who are co-owners), has created a neighborhood treasure: a European-inspired grocery store and café, Le Marché St. George, that occupies the ground floor, and two finished apartments above. Larsen and her young family live in one of these and rent out the other for small gatherings, short-term stays and pop-up shops.
The 1914 building has had a few owners over the years, some of whom still visit Le Marché. It's become a community space where patrons gather for morning coffee, to buy fresh seasonal produce or to scope out both imported and local goods, like olive oil, teas, spices and textiles.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Janaki Larsen, partner Pascal Roy and their young family
Location: Vancouver
Size: 326 square feet (ground floor); 2 second-floor apartments: 1 bedroom, 1 bath; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
The 1914 building has had a few owners over the years, some of whom still visit Le Marché. It's become a community space where patrons gather for morning coffee, to buy fresh seasonal produce or to scope out both imported and local goods, like olive oil, teas, spices and textiles.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Janaki Larsen, partner Pascal Roy and their young family
Location: Vancouver
Size: 326 square feet (ground floor); 2 second-floor apartments: 1 bedroom, 1 bath; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
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by Megan Buchanan
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| The Rental Apartment The building's original gas fireplaces function as efficiently today as they did a hundred years ago. Whitewashed bricks and a slim wooden mantel are a blank canvas for showcasing artwork and small treasures, like these original paintings by Patricia Larsen and Ron Crawford, Larsen's parents. Their works hang in both apartments. |
by Megan Buchanan
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An archway leads into an eat-in kitchen, where an industrial-inspired bistro table and stools are paired with a silver Acquatinta Suspension Lamp set into a detailed ceiling medallion.
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The bistro table, which features a reclaimed wood top, and another earthy, abstract painting by Larsen's mother anchor the dining room.
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by Megan Buchanan
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| Original bricks from the back of the fireplace were used as the backsplash behind a freestanding professional gas range and cooktop. The far wall is lined with undercounter cabinetry, and shelves made of wall-to-wall reclaimed wooden siding hold the bulk of the kitchen's essentials. |
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| Offering a bit of glitz is a Cellula Chandelier, whose long lines echo those of the shelving. A stainless steel worktop and fresh white subway tile backsplash add a contrasting modern note. |
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by Megan Buchanan
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| As a potter and artist, Larsen has an eye for texture and form that's reflected in the rental apartment's style, which feels organic, unstudied and distilled. Original wood flooring, doors and moldings; exposed bricks and mortar; natural fabrics and antique furniture exude rustic charm. |
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| Light from a south-facing bay window fills the living room. The sitting space is designed to encourage daydreaming, reading, relaxing and conversation. |
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The renovated bathroom is outfitted with a soaking tub, a sleek vanity and more reclaimed wood shelving.
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| In the bedroom, a neutral palette showcases textiles Larsen found on buying trips to Mexico. Lamp: Tizio X30, Artemide |
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| In the entry, layers of paint that have accumulated over the decades on the apartment's front door have been left in place as a reminder of the building's history. An abstract floral print fabric over the glass pane in the door provides privacy. |
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A skylight fills the stairway with light that bounces off a crystal chandelier and illuminates a moody and romantic photograph by Klee Larsen.
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A muted bouquet of dried flowers sitting on an antique set of catalog drawers welcomes visitors to the small second-floor landing. The open door on the right leads into the rental space.
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The Family's Apartment
This apartment, referred to as "Old Havana," has a distinctly different feel. Patinated walls and ceilings serve as a backdrop for artwork, antique furnishings and neutral textiles.
This apartment, referred to as "Old Havana," has a distinctly different feel. Patinated walls and ceilings serve as a backdrop for artwork, antique furnishings and neutral textiles.
by Megan Buchanan
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The furnishings are one-of-a-kind rustic and reclaimed pieces that Larsen has collected over the years. "Most of the furniture is off of Craigslist and various secondhand and consignment stores. Our whole family is addicted to treasure hunting," she says.
"There were days of stripping off all the layers of wallpaper," Larsen recalls. "The ceiling was sealed, and the walls got a skim of plaster to soften the texture."
"There were days of stripping off all the layers of wallpaper," Larsen recalls. "The ceiling was sealed, and the walls got a skim of plaster to soften the texture."
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by Megan Buchanan
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| The dining space is next to another gas fireplace. The surround and mantel are topped with a vintage glass mirror framed by two wall sconces. A tumbleweed adds an unusual sculptural and textural element. In this neutral space, a bright orange branch is a standout accent. |
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| More natural elements, such as wooden tables, a wicker chair and a natural-fiber area rug, create a sense of tranquility in the living room. Another painting by Larsen's mother, which matches the neutral color palette, is the focal point in the room. |
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by Megan Buchanan
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| A re-covered antique sofa with a hand-carved wooden frame sits beneath a second set of bay windows that overlook the peaceful street. A vintage metal reading lamp evokes the feeling of a bygone era. |
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| The family's cat is right at home in the bedroom, basking in the sunlight amidst natural white and gray textiles. |
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| The compact kitchen features a vintage Gurney gas stove. A dry-cured sausage, herbs, oils and syrups are at hand. |
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Right off the kitchen is a solarium, ideal for curling up and reading on rainy afternoons.
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| The Store Downstairs In the retail café and store downstairs, Larsen has created an atmosphere that encourages visitors to explore and relax. Stacked wooden crates display a variety of local and imported goods. The deliberately faded and worn-looking walls were created using a mixture of coffee grounds, elbow grease and lots of scrubbing, resulting in a look similar to that of an old sepia photograph. |
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| Larsen and her family are now celebrating two years in their home and business. What was once a dream is now a success. The store has become a place where neighbors, farmers, artists, chefs and musicians gather to collaborate and inspire, and the apartment has become a welcoming family home. |
by Megan Buchanan
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Around the corner from the store entrance, a set of bright red entry doors — complete with the original mail slot — opens to the stairs that lead to the two upstairs apartments.
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by Megan Buchanan
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| After Larsen bought the building, she removed a stucco exterior, revealing the original siding that since has been repaired and readied for paint. She also replaced the existing windows with wood-frame ones that are more appropriate to the age and style of the building. Share your creative home with us |
Ideabook published on Nov. 20, 2012.
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about the ikea sink in the bathroom, hum, curious to know if you've had the same experience:
I had to use this model for one week at somebody's house, and it drove me absolutely crazy - water keeps splashing into the lowered portion next to the faucet, you have to mop it all the time to prevent it from flooding, it's insane! hope it won't bother you too much.
Thank you for sharing this one!
~koolbeanzzzz