My Houzz: How Do a Maximalist and Minimalist Live Together?
A self-confessed 'maximalist' interior designer and his 'minimalist' partner find stylish harmony in their Canadian home
Interior designer Ben Leavitt and his partner, radiologist Vish Anand, agreed that this Canadian apartment in Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood would make a dream home. They also agreed on the need to design a space that would be welcoming to their large families during gatherings. But merging Anand’s penchant for calm minimalism with Leavitt’s more maximalist tendencies presented a conundrum for the latter. It’s a good thing he loves a design challenge. Here’s how he brought in the calm while displaying their favourite things.
Artful choices
The couple believe in investing in furniture they’ll enjoy for life. “A guiding principle for me is that furniture should have a story behind it and feel close to the hand of the maker. It should not be disposable,” says Leavitt.
A good example are these authentic Eames moulded-plywood Lounge chairs, made by Herman Miller. The furniture and artwork are a mix of iconic pieces, work by up-and-coming designers they admire, and pieces the couple have collected around the world. Leavitt also focused on finding furniture and art made by local artists and craftspeople.
He chose navy-blue felt upholstery for B&B Italia’s Omnia sofa. “I consider navy to be a great neutral,” says Leavitt. “And felt has a matt finish that feels very Scandinavian-modern. But it’s not for everyone, because it is higher-maintenance. It would not work well for people with young children or pets, but it works well for us.”
Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to transform your house into your forever home
The couple believe in investing in furniture they’ll enjoy for life. “A guiding principle for me is that furniture should have a story behind it and feel close to the hand of the maker. It should not be disposable,” says Leavitt.
A good example are these authentic Eames moulded-plywood Lounge chairs, made by Herman Miller. The furniture and artwork are a mix of iconic pieces, work by up-and-coming designers they admire, and pieces the couple have collected around the world. Leavitt also focused on finding furniture and art made by local artists and craftspeople.
He chose navy-blue felt upholstery for B&B Italia’s Omnia sofa. “I consider navy to be a great neutral,” says Leavitt. “And felt has a matt finish that feels very Scandinavian-modern. But it’s not for everyone, because it is higher-maintenance. It would not work well for people with young children or pets, but it works well for us.”
Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to transform your house into your forever home
The far corner of the living room is a great example of the resulting calm and collected style. The statue is a vintage replica of a clay warrior Leavitt bought in China many years ago, which he has been toting from home to home ever since. The light is by emerging designer Andrew Neyer. The side table is from Barter, a local company whose tables are crafted from trees that have fallen naturally in the forest. And Danish designer Niels Bendtsen designed the armchair.
“The chair is bright but classic,” says Leavitt. “And no matter how I change things up in the future, the chartreuse will work with a lot.”
Because the ceilings are concrete, Leavitt had to work with the existing wiring placement for the lighting, which was wonky. Handled incorrectly, this could have thrown off the calm vibe in the space. “They were in these places where I couldn’t centre anything, so I embraced asymmetrical items like this light fixture,” says Leavitt. The sculptural fixture’s asymmetry and mobile-like character balances the off-centred position of the only place in the living room where it could be installed.
“The chair is bright but classic,” says Leavitt. “And no matter how I change things up in the future, the chartreuse will work with a lot.”
Because the ceilings are concrete, Leavitt had to work with the existing wiring placement for the lighting, which was wonky. Handled incorrectly, this could have thrown off the calm vibe in the space. “They were in these places where I couldn’t centre anything, so I embraced asymmetrical items like this light fixture,” says Leavitt. The sculptural fixture’s asymmetry and mobile-like character balances the off-centred position of the only place in the living room where it could be installed.
Local Vancouver artist Martha Sturdy made the coffee table. “This table is very modern, simple and is usable art,” says Leavitt. “It anchors everything in the room together.”
Its blocky form suits the large living room and the neutral palette is calm – but the mix of white, clear and black resins in the coffee table’s top make an artful statement.
Take a video tour of this space and watch an interview with the designer
Its blocky form suits the large living room and the neutral palette is calm – but the mix of white, clear and black resins in the coffee table’s top make an artful statement.
Take a video tour of this space and watch an interview with the designer
Light-filled workspace
Off the living room is a light-filled workspace and the entrance to the master bedroom. Leavitt worked with B&B Italia on this custom bookshelf. It works as a room divider between the workspace and the living room without closing off either space. It’s also a great place for the couple to display some of their favourite items in an uncluttered way. And because of all the sunlight, it’s a place where indoor plants thrive.
“It helps me keep an eclectic home in a structured fashion,” says Leavitt. “And people should not be afraid to change up a display like this. I’ve changed this one at least three times since these photos were taken.”
Other items in this area include a vintage metal chair that used to be in a jewellery store, and a unique floor lamp handcrafted of LED lights and old slats from a mattress factory, made in Brooklyn, USA. Both pieces continue the idea of off-balance items balancing out some of the asymmetry of the home.
Off the living room is a light-filled workspace and the entrance to the master bedroom. Leavitt worked with B&B Italia on this custom bookshelf. It works as a room divider between the workspace and the living room without closing off either space. It’s also a great place for the couple to display some of their favourite items in an uncluttered way. And because of all the sunlight, it’s a place where indoor plants thrive.
“It helps me keep an eclectic home in a structured fashion,” says Leavitt. “And people should not be afraid to change up a display like this. I’ve changed this one at least three times since these photos were taken.”
Other items in this area include a vintage metal chair that used to be in a jewellery store, and a unique floor lamp handcrafted of LED lights and old slats from a mattress factory, made in Brooklyn, USA. Both pieces continue the idea of off-balance items balancing out some of the asymmetry of the home.
Going off-balance
The light fixture could not be centred over the dining table because of the concrete ceiling, so Leavitt again embraced asymmetry. Both the beading on the accent wall and the table’s base are pleasingly off-kilter.
“This table was made by a local company and it’s at once so structured and unstructured,” says Leavitt. “Even the cactus is structured but kind of crazy and haphazard. But this is all balanced by the dining chairs, which are very structured.” They’re the iconic Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs by Carl Hansen & Son.
The light fixture plays off the angles of the accent wall’s beading. “It resembles a marquee letter, bringing some of that old Gastown industrial street architecture indoors,” says Leavitt.
Accent wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore
The light fixture could not be centred over the dining table because of the concrete ceiling, so Leavitt again embraced asymmetry. Both the beading on the accent wall and the table’s base are pleasingly off-kilter.
“This table was made by a local company and it’s at once so structured and unstructured,” says Leavitt. “Even the cactus is structured but kind of crazy and haphazard. But this is all balanced by the dining chairs, which are very structured.” They’re the iconic Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs by Carl Hansen & Son.
The light fixture plays off the angles of the accent wall’s beading. “It resembles a marquee letter, bringing some of that old Gastown industrial street architecture indoors,” says Leavitt.
Accent wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore
Outdoor space
The Canadian apartment includes about 120 square metres of outdoor space that overlooks Vancouver and the Burrard Inlet. It includes an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and dining and lounging areas.
The Canadian apartment includes about 120 square metres of outdoor space that overlooks Vancouver and the Burrard Inlet. It includes an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and dining and lounging areas.
Kitchen
The kitchen had undergone a beautiful previous renovation and didn’t need much work. A B&B Italia kitchen island mixes rich walnut and shiny stainless steel. This area is the farthest away from the natural light – the stainless steel waterfall benchtop and the backpainted glass splashback help reflect some of it.
The floating ceiling and ceiling-mounted range hood provide another asymmetrical minimalist moment. And the lack of pendant lights helps maintain the uncluttered and calm aesthetic. The wall of cabinets beyond the main kitchen hide the fridge, freezer, microwave and small appliances. They also incorporate wine and broom cupboards.
The kitchen had undergone a beautiful previous renovation and didn’t need much work. A B&B Italia kitchen island mixes rich walnut and shiny stainless steel. This area is the farthest away from the natural light – the stainless steel waterfall benchtop and the backpainted glass splashback help reflect some of it.
The floating ceiling and ceiling-mounted range hood provide another asymmetrical minimalist moment. And the lack of pendant lights helps maintain the uncluttered and calm aesthetic. The wall of cabinets beyond the main kitchen hide the fridge, freezer, microwave and small appliances. They also incorporate wine and broom cupboards.
Leavitt had to curate from an art collection he had been amassing for many years to find the right pieces for the apartment. “I never let not having a place for something keep me from buying art,” he says. “You’ll always find a place for something someday.”
These photographs had been out of rotation in his old place, but the designer found the right place for them in the couple’s new living room. “Both Vish and I have spent time in Africa, and I love portraiture,” says Leavitt. Artwork he’s not displaying here lives at his office and in storage, waiting to be rotated in when the right spot reveals itself.
These photographs had been out of rotation in his old place, but the designer found the right place for them in the couple’s new living room. “Both Vish and I have spent time in Africa, and I love portraiture,” says Leavitt. Artwork he’s not displaying here lives at his office and in storage, waiting to be rotated in when the right spot reveals itself.
Master suite
Before, the master suite was dark and lacked texture. “The bedroom is less modern and more Gastown,” says Leavitt. He added the brick-veneer wall. “This is a brick building, but our apartment didn’t have any brick,” he says.
He chose the reading sconces because they resemble the neighbourhood’s streetlights. With one small window, he knew the space needed brightening, so he painted the brick and other walls white and added an oversize mirror to reflect light.
Before, the master suite was dark and lacked texture. “The bedroom is less modern and more Gastown,” says Leavitt. He added the brick-veneer wall. “This is a brick building, but our apartment didn’t have any brick,” he says.
He chose the reading sconces because they resemble the neighbourhood’s streetlights. With one small window, he knew the space needed brightening, so he painted the brick and other walls white and added an oversize mirror to reflect light.
Leavitt introduced colour on the opposite wall of the master bedroom. A chair rail painted in Benjamin Moore’s Dollar Bill Green and another favourite piece of art – a framed limited-edition towel by artist and author Douglas Coupland – provide a pop of colour. And in case you’re wondering what the towel is extolling, ‘poutine’ is a popular French-Canadian indulgence: hot chips topped with cheese curds and gravy.
In the master bathroom’s full renovation, the designer kept the aesthetic neutral and minimal. The walnut on the vanity adds warmth to the room, while a Corian benchtop with integrated sinks creates a seamless look. Leavitt also worked in industrial elements: large-format concrete tiles on the walls and floor, matt-black fixtures and more marquee-like light fixtures.
“Replacing the old drop-in tub with a freestanding one made the bathroom feel larger,” he says. The sculptural minimalist bath sits atop a plinth tiled in black marble. “The black plinth grounds it, but it was put there out of necessity to hide the pipes,” says Leavitt. “My advice is to always be flexible and roll with the punches in design, as issues like this will pop up along the way.”
Matt-black faucets: Brizo
“Replacing the old drop-in tub with a freestanding one made the bathroom feel larger,” he says. The sculptural minimalist bath sits atop a plinth tiled in black marble. “The black plinth grounds it, but it was put there out of necessity to hide the pipes,” says Leavitt. “My advice is to always be flexible and roll with the punches in design, as issues like this will pop up along the way.”
Matt-black faucets: Brizo
Guest bedroom
Leavitt added warmth and texture to the guest room with a woven wallcovering, a forest-green bed, petrified-log nightstands and a mix of textiles. It also gave him a chance to display a favourite art collection.
“Picasso was really inspired by masks and I’ve always been inspired by Picasso, so I’ve been collecting them for many years,” says Leavitt. He’s picked them up on his travels to places far-flung from Canada, including Africa, Peru, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong and New Guinea.
The homeowners both use the guest room regularly when they don’t have company. “It’s a darker room that’s so cosy – it’s a great spot to sneak away to for a nap,” says Leavitt.
Leavitt added warmth and texture to the guest room with a woven wallcovering, a forest-green bed, petrified-log nightstands and a mix of textiles. It also gave him a chance to display a favourite art collection.
“Picasso was really inspired by masks and I’ve always been inspired by Picasso, so I’ve been collecting them for many years,” says Leavitt. He’s picked them up on his travels to places far-flung from Canada, including Africa, Peru, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong and New Guinea.
The homeowners both use the guest room regularly when they don’t have company. “It’s a darker room that’s so cosy – it’s a great spot to sneak away to for a nap,” says Leavitt.
Guest bathroom
The apartment’s second bathroom serves as both a guest bathroom and powder room. The homeowners have enjoyed time in Palm Springs, USA, and love California’s desert landscape. Leavitt had this mural wallpaper fabricated from a vintage photograph of Joshua Tree National Park.
The apartment’s second bathroom serves as both a guest bathroom and powder room. The homeowners have enjoyed time in Palm Springs, USA, and love California’s desert landscape. Leavitt had this mural wallpaper fabricated from a vintage photograph of Joshua Tree National Park.
The minimalist palette of walnut, Corian, concrete tiles and matt black continues in this bathroom. Details that give it its own personality include the large-format black marble floor tiles, artwork of 50 powerful women’s silhouettes, and a square white three-dimensional wall tile. “The wall’s texture makes it look like folded paper,” says Leavitt.
Take a video tour of this space and watch an interview with the designer
Your turn
What do you love most about this apartment and the mix of styles? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and save the images. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Keen to peek behind the front door of another talented Houzzer? Don’t miss My Houzz: A Textile Artist’s Home Workshop in France
Take a video tour of this space and watch an interview with the designer
Your turn
What do you love most about this apartment and the mix of styles? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and save the images. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Keen to peek behind the front door of another talented Houzzer? Don’t miss My Houzz: A Textile Artist’s Home Workshop in France
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Ben Leavitt and radiologist Vish Anand
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Size: 149 square metres with two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Ben Leavitt, creative director of PlaidFox
“Both Vish and I have travelled extensively and have a lot of favourite things we’ve brought back as mementos,” says Leavitt. “But with all of the chaos he faces in the hospital every day, he wanted to come home to a serene and calming space. I’m more of a maximalist.”
Leavitt loves to mix styles, so no single category can describe the result in this home, born from mixing Scandinavian-modern, mid-century modern, industrial, eclectic and a Zen-like vibe. What does describe it is calm and collected.
The 1910 Terminus Hotel building was converted into apartments in the 1990s, and the couple’s unit had undergone several renovations since then. They changed out the flooring (now engineered white oak), paint and lighting; completely renovated both bathrooms; and added a brick wall in their bedroom.
Leavitt finds constant inspiration in the neighbourhood, and that helped guide the design. “Gastown is a vibrant design district full of cobblestone streets, charming streetlights and old brick-factory buildings,” he says. He added industrial elements inspired by the neighbourhood to the home’s stylistic mix.