The Vancouver Special, Revived

A modern white two-story house with a small front yard, a concrete pathway, and autumn leaves scattered on the grass. The house has large windows, a balcony with a potted plant, and is partially obscured by a large tree with green leaves.

A tried-and-true Vancouver Special got the update it needed to bring it from the 1970s into the 21st century. It's been a staple of Vancouver neighbourhoods for decades, and this one had good bones and a generous lot the kind of house with real potential for a timeless revival, not a teardown.

Exterior: Gone is the frosted brown glass door and the dated balcony. In their place: a clean, sleek entry door and a rebuilt balcony with glass railings for a more modern feel. The brick and siding were painted a classic white, and the mix of textures lets the black window frames stand out against it.

Kitchen & Dining: Colour and texture do the heavy lifting here. The kitchen cabinets are painted Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore a bold, blue-black paired with warm gold hardware and oak floors, open shelving, and a wood hood fan for balance. Caesarstone quartz 5131 Calacatta Nuvo runs from the counters up the wall as backsplash for a clean, cohesive look, while black pendant lights add an industrial edge to an otherwise bright, airy galley kitchen. French doors open onto the large deck above the garage another Vancouver Special staple worth keeping. Hardwood carries through into the dining room, where wainscotting and archways bring some traditional depth, and a modern light fixture over the table adds contrast in form. The fireplace was repurposed using scale and layered depth to turn it into a real statement piece, not just a feature to work around.

Bedrooms & Bathrooms: Each bedroom has its own personality through accent walls solid, rich tones in the primary, playful wallpaper decals in the kids' rooms. The kids' bathroom carries that same playfulness with black hexagon flooring and geometric wallpaper. The ensuite mixes materials for contrast: gold lighting against black plumbing fixtures, matte black flooring against shiny cabinet hardware small opposites that end up making each other look better.

Downstairs: The lower level makes an impression right at the entry, with mixed mosaic tile marking out the space. Modern sliding doors lead into a cozy TV room with a second fireplace, warmed up with natural materials and comfortable furniture. A multipurpose laundry, mudroom, and storage room give the family the everyday space they actually needed for clothes, shoes, and the kids' stuff.

The Result: Warm colours and natural tones, working together throughout. This home was always a classic. We turned it into something timeless that actually fits how this family lives.

Build Team: Armando Alves

Photographer: Janis Nicolay Photography

Featured In:

A white multi-story house with large windows, a balcony with glass railing, and a front door. The house number is 4227. There are plants near the entrance and a garden with grass and fallen yellow leaves. A sidewalk runs in front of the house, and a
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A modern white house with black-framed windows, a beige front door, and a small front yard with green grass and plants. The house number '4227' is visible next to the door, and there are decorative items such as potted plants and a small table outsid
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Entryway with a large round mirror on a white wall, a wooden bench with a striped pillow, a potted plant, and shoes on a hexagonal tile floor.
Modern kitchen with navy blue cabinets, a stainless steel oven and stove, a wooden range hood, and decor including bread basket and small potted plants.
Open kitchen shelves with jars of grains, white plates, and a white cake stand. Below, a marble countertop with a bowl of radicchio, a cake with raspberries, and an cutting board are visible.
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A modern bathroom with a walk-in shower with white tiles, a black shower system, a toilet, a wooden vanity, a plant in a black pot, and white towels hanging on a wall.
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Modern bathroom with light wood vanity, white countertop, plants, large mirror, geometric patterned wall, black fixtures, shower area with black showerhead and window, dark hexagonal floor tiles.
Close-up view of a modern bathroom sink with a black faucet, a brown hand wash soap dispenser, a gold wall-mounted light fixture, a large mirror, a green potted plant in a clear glass vase, and a white marble backsplash.
A bedroom with a white bed, white textured bedding, and pillows, next to a white nightstand with a vase of white flowers, a white lamp, and a small framed picture. The wall behind the bed has abstract watercolor wall art in shades of green, yellow, a
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A bedroom with a white wall decorated with black line drawings of various animals, including lions, deer, birds, and rabbits, along with some botanical illustrations. The bed has a multicolored striped throw blanket, a fluffy brown pillow, and a ligh
Modern bathroom with white walls, black fixtures, a window, a plant shelf, and a toilet
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A bedroom with a white bed, green and white pillows, a white nightstand with a lamp, a bouquet of white flowers, and a colorful wall mural featuring abstract shapes in green, yellow, pink, and beige.
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Modern kitchen with navy blue cabinets, stainless steel oven, blue cabinetry, and white countertops, with a potted plant on the counter.
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A white shelf with a wave-shaped beige ceramic vase on top, and a small potted plant and several books with colorful spines underneath.
Interior entryway with black and white hexagonal tile floor, staircase with wooden steps and black metal railing, light-colored closet doors, and a glass front door allowing natural light.
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A bright living room with a white sofa, beige and green pillows, a wooden coffee table, patterned rug, large window with sheer curtains, and an abstract painting on the wall.
Interior view of a house entrance with black barn door-style sliding doors, wooden stairs leading up, and a laundry basket with cloth near a white door, with a black and white patterned tile entryway and light wood flooring.
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A living room with a white sofa, gray and white pillows, a beige area rug, and a stone fireplace with flowers on the mantel. There are wooden stump side tables and green plants, and a black wall-mounted TV on white wall panels.
Interior view of a modern staircase with black metal railing, white walls, tiled black and white hexagonal floor, and a bundle of blankets on a woven basket underneath the stairs.
Kitchen with dark blue cabinets, gold handles, stainless steel stove, and light wood flooring.
A bedroom with a white wall, a large gray closet with gold handles, and a light hardwood floor. There is a partially visible bed in the foreground with a white quilt. A woven laundry basket is positioned next to the closet. A white door is open on th
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Kitchen with light gray cabinets, gold handles, white tiled backsplash, black faucet, open shelves with white towels, potted plants, and decorative glass bottles, beige rug, white speckled floor, and a window with a black frame.
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