When interior designer Bryn Nicholson toured the 1992-era Whistler condo her clients had just purchased, she immediately understood what they wanted. The early-90s design style didn’t exactly land in the timeless category; it lacked style and was highlighted with multi-hued oak hardwood floors and choppy layouts. The 1,163-sq.-ft., two-bedroom mountain view condo hadn’t been updated since it was built, so the finishes were also outmoded and visibly worn.
“It was very dated and the young couple, with two small children, wanted to use it as their ski getaway, but also be able to rent it out,” says Nicholson, founder of Bryn Maryanna Interiors Inc. “The couple had requirements; they wanted it to be warm, fun, mid-century modern, with elements of industrial chic and pops of colour.”
Nicholson’s first and biggest challenge was the timeline. The clients took possession of the condo in October 2022 and wanted to spend the Christmas holiday in Whistler. That meant the renovations had to be completed within two and a half months.
Functionality a must
Because the condo would also be a rental when the owners weren’t using it, functionality was a key focus. Nicholson went with durable vinyl flooring throughout. In addition, the owners needed more storage, so a wall of built-in cabinets with eye-catching black concrete countertops that ran from the fireplace to the dining room, was added.
“By using elements of black, it really grounds the space, adds drama and contrast,” explains Nicholson.
“Then, when you add light-coloured floors and walls, it brightens up the room and gives the illusion of more space, which is important in a small condo.”
The main floor
The condo’s floorplan remained the same, but some of the interior still needed to be gutted and refreshed. The living room facelift consisted of contrasting shades of the basic colour scheme throughout the condo, with matching patterns and textures offering a cosy, invitingly chic appearance. The furniture was placed to balance all the element in the space. Meanwhile, the fireplace went from drab to dramatic by framing it in with floor-to-ceiling concrete panels; an ode to industrial chic.
“We kept the fireplace insert and got rid of the mantel,” says Nicholson. “Now, it is clean, sleek and fits in seamlessly with the modern industrial look they wanted.”
Nicholson gave the kitchen the most dramatic transformation with a complete re-do. Swapping the old white cabinets for fresh, modern ones and adding a new, small island with built-in microwave, resulted in a mountain-modern cooking space that’s chic for hosting guests and fully functional for crafting post-ski dinners.
Upstairs
The second floor is where the views come into play. Both bedrooms look out to a forested canopy of pine trees.
In these rooms, Nicholson didn’t want to detract from the stunning vistas, so she kept both palettes pretty neutral, opting for soft greys, navy blues, black and white.
“Because the condo will be rented, we had to go with a gender-neutral look that ages well in the kids’ bedroom,” says Nicholson, adding all of the furniture was sourced locally. “It also had to appeal to adults, so they didn’t feel like they were in a kid’s room even though there are bunk beds (with storage).”
Wishes do come true
Walking in now, it’s hard to even imagine that the space ever looked tired and drab. In the end, the clients got their wish and moved in for the holiday season. They told Nicholson they especially loved the living room.
“We definitely spend the most time there, and the kids love the window seat in particular. When the kids are in bed, there’s nothing better than throwing on the fireplace and watching a movie in that room...especially if it’s snowing outside. It’s very idyllic.”