Before and After: This Condo’s Closed-Up, Dated Kitchen Is Now Modern and Marvelous

Name: Yumi Murayama, my boyfriend Chris
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 1,060 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, owned

Chris is an elementary school teacher and has been teaching for more than 15 years in Vancouver. Yumi was born and raised in Japan up to high school and studied in the United States. She founded her own interior design company — YU+ME Design in May 2018 — and helps homeowners design their dream spaces. The apartment [she shares with her boyfriend, Chris] was built in the 1950s, facing the Stanley Park; it’s only a few steps away from the park. They love the location because it’s so close to the ocean, restaurants, and shops.

The space itself, however, needed a lot of work.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or fewer: Vintage eclectic modern.

What is your favorite room and why? The kitchen is our favorite because now we can cook together, socialize, and entertain with friends and family. Also, we can see a beautiful view of the Stanley Park from the kitchen. Before the reno, the kitchen was closed off and all the appliances weren’t working properly. The cabinets were really old and didn’t have enough storage spaces.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? We wish we could have en-suite laundry.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The chandelier in the dining room from West Elm.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t be afraid to use bright colors or favorite colors to create your personal space. Just be original.

This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before and After: A Condo’s Closed-Up, Dated Kitchen Is Now Modern and Marvelous