Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Cool Studio in the Mountains of B.C.
A Canadian couple gets creative with thrifted finds in their 450-square-foot home
Squamish, British Columbia is nestled in the mountains of Howe Sound between Vancouver and Whistler. Known as the outdoor-recreation capital of Canada, it draws every kind of outdoor enthusiast: kite surfers, whitewater kayakers, rock climbers — and Will McMahon and Olivia Farley, avid hikers, skiers and mountain bikers who call this studio home.
The two draw design inspiration from the nearby mountains and rivers. They wanted to give their 450-square-foot home warm West Canadian character on a very small budget. "We did the math," Farley says, "and it turns out we've spent about $300 on almost everything you see in our apartment."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Will McMahon and Olivia Farley
Size: 450 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom open-concept studio apartment
Location: Squamish, B.C., Canada
The two draw design inspiration from the nearby mountains and rivers. They wanted to give their 450-square-foot home warm West Canadian character on a very small budget. "We did the math," Farley says, "and it turns out we've spent about $300 on almost everything you see in our apartment."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Will McMahon and Olivia Farley
Size: 450 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom open-concept studio apartment
Location: Squamish, B.C., Canada
The two love cooking, so they keep their small kitchen free of clutter and are resourceful with how they use it. The large cutting board adds work space, and the kitchen table occasionally fills in for an island.
Picture clustering has always been a trademark everywhere they've lived, Farley says. The display grows and changes depending on how she feels and what she finds or creates. They are both fans of Bob Dylan, so when they found the Dylan print at a record store and a perfect frame at a charity shop, they knew it had to take center stage in their living room.
Squamish is home to the world's second largest granite monolith massif. This is the view of the Stawamus Chief dome from the apartment.
A vignette of thrift store containers shows Farley's interest in textures and shapes.
Contrasting patterns, colors and textures in the apartment are abundant. The wall hanging was given to the couple from their friend's travels, while the quilt is homemade. Draping the windows are two sets of panels on separate levels, one a sheer maroon set for when the couple wants to let light in, and the second is a batik set for when they prefer it a little darker.
Contrasting patterns, colors and textures in the apartment are abundant. The wall hanging was given to the couple from their friend's travels, while the quilt is homemade. Draping the windows are two sets of panels on separate levels, one a sheer maroon set for when the couple wants to let light in, and the second is a batik set for when they prefer it a little darker.
Plants grouped near windows at the front of the apartment provide a living component to the found objects in the space.
The hooked rug featuring a stag is usually the conversation piece in the living room. "People either love it or hate it," McMahon says. "I love it. It reminds me of winters on my family's farm in the cold interior of British Columbia where I grew up."
The hooked rug featuring a stag is usually the conversation piece in the living room. "People either love it or hate it," McMahon says. "I love it. It reminds me of winters on my family's farm in the cold interior of British Columbia where I grew up."
Old Polaroid cameras and classic film cameras are a small part part of McMahon's camera collection. He describes himself as an amateur photographer with tons of natural inspiration to work from. "How can you not love this coast?" McMahon asks as he looks out his window. "Our place may be small and simple, but it's home, and it feels right."
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More:
My Houzz: Vintage Charm in Vancouver
Houzz Tour: A Guesthouse and Grotto in 68 Square Feet
Houzz Tour: Abbey's Aesthetic Outburst