When Noor Grewal-Virk and Vincent Virk bought their North Vancouver, British Columbia, residence they had to decide between carrying a full renovation with 2 young daughters or producing effect with decor and paint. They chose the latter. Grewal-Virk considers every space deserves respect and love, whether you spend a third of the time in your living room or in the event that you just pass by it in the hallway. “You should let your space lure all of your senses,” she states. “Make it inspire you!” As principal and interior designer of Noor G.V. Interiors, Grewal-Virk designed each corner of her home to inspire her family.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Noor Grewal-Virk, Vincent Virk and their two daughters, Zehan (4 years) and Ajooni (22 months)
Location: Braemar Park, North Vancouver
Size: 2,450 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That’s interesting: A vertical yellow stripe in the dining room is inspired by a beam of sun.
Megan Buchanan
Grewal-Virk painted the first brick fireplace surround a dark grey to make a neutral background for the room. A large round mirror aids bounce light around, and the round motif is repeated throughout the room. A huge area rug adds texture and pattern, while a modern white round coffee table floats in the middle.
Cedric couch and Strike coffee table: Urban Barn; wall decal and spiral painting: Home Sense; tall red chest: Moe’s Home
Megan Buchanan
Grewal-Virk’s decorating philosophy is to keep things easy and create impact with graphic and daring specifics. “I knew from the start I wanted to include a blend of grey and yellowish. But each time that I take on a job, I let my environment inspire me,” she states. “I believe in being open-minded concerning what I will discover, and I’ve always found bits that help me make something new and out of the box.”
Next to the fireplace, a comfy seating area for 2 rounds outside the living room area.
Megan Buchanan
A huge bay window runs the entire length of the living room. Grewal-Virk states this is only one of her favourite places to unwind at home to enjoy the perspective of their tree-lined neighborhood.
Megan Buchanan
The vibrant fabric used in this upholstered seat speaks to her pursuits. “My courses that focused on architecture and interior design in the early, medieval and modern world were the most interesting to me. These were the classes in which my initial love for layout and curiosity in background came together,” Grewal-Virk explains.
Upholstered Bergere seat: Home Sense
Megan Buchanan
“I’m inspired by history, nature, people and style,” Grewal-Virk states. Some of her favourite books are piled behind the couch.
Megan Buchanan
From the dining room, a fun typography-upholstered seat sits in the head of this table. A floating storage device that is grey and white gives a storage for tableware and anchors the feature wall.
Megan Buchanan
The large dining table seats eight people. Six velvety nail-head seats run along each side of the desk. Each seat includes a pull ring on the trunk, which is something Grewal-Virk thought could be fun for her daughters to interact with.
Megan Buchanan
If something were to happen to the house, Grewal-Virk states the first things she’d grab are her shadow boxes. “One of these has a tiny pillow my grandmother made for my dollhouse when I was a tiny girl, and another box has my dad’s police uniform whistle,” she states. Grewal-Virk considers in paying tribute to things with emotional significance. “When the family sees them every day, especially your children, it will help them understand a small amount of their particular history and where they came from.”
Megan Buchanan
Grewal-Virk says she isn’t reluctant to experiment. “I didn’t plan to put a bar in the living room,” she says, “but I found this gorgeous rustic piece in Urban Barn and knew I had to make a spot for it.” This piece is manufactured from laminated wood, possibly drained cherry trees or damaged ships. The family owns a marina in the Okanagan Valley, and this piece has been made to look like a classic piece used to store life jackets. The funky orange pub stool was a fantastic and surprising find at London Drugs.
Megan Buchanan
This tequila set is placed on a vertical shelf along with other gathered travel bits. A chalkboard wall invites family and friends to write fun notes and happy-hour recipes.
Wall Area: Lack, Ikea
Megan Buchanan
This glass-tile kitchen backsplash has been in place when the family bought the home. Grewal-Virk utilizes glass jars across the surface of the range to make a spice vignette. Her next home project is to reestablish the kitchen. She states, “It truly is the heart of the home, and I enjoy cooking — on most days.”
Megan Buchanan
A more informal eat-in option in the kitchen allows for meal preparation and interaction with kids and guests in the family room outside.
Megan Buchanan
Grewal-Virk’s favorite designer is Candice Olsen. She says, “I like that she’s gutsy and not reluctant to make tension and contrast in a distance.”
The entertainment device in the family room doubles as toy storage as well. Grewal-Virk desired the upper cabinets to be within easy access, making for quick cleanup if the space should change from a kids’ playroom into a fun area.
Karlstad sectional, networking cupboard and art: Ikea; coffee table: Liquidation World
Megan Buchanan
Grewal-Virk’s favorite places to shop for your home include Home Sense, Ikea, Urban Barn, Moe’s and Once Upon a Tree. Her fantasy splurge? “An initial Salvador Dalí painting. That would be my ultimate dream home item.”
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