Attempting to make a change from working as a set designer in the film business, Janaki Larsen and her family bought a corner building nestled in a calm residential area of East Vancouver. After two decades of patient work, the family, such as sister Klee Larsen and aunt Marie Brennan (who are co-owners), has made a neighborhood treasure: a European-inspired grocery shop and café, Le Marché St. George, which occupies the ground floor, along with 2 completed apartments above. Larsen and her young family reside in one of these and let out another for small parties, short-term remains and pop-up stores.
The 1914 construction has had a few owners through time, some of whom visit Le Marché. It has become a community space where patrons gather for morning coffee, to buy new seasonal produce or to scope out both local and imported goods, including olive oil, teas, spices and fabrics.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Janaki Larsen, spouse Pascal Roy along with their young family
Location: Vancouver
Size: 326 square feet (ground floor); two second-floor apartments: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom; two bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Megan Buchanan
The Lease Apartment
The building’s unique gas fireplaces function as economically today as they did a hundred decades ago.
Whitewashed bricks along with a slim wooden mantel are a blank canvas for showcasing artwork and tiny paintings, such as these original paintings by Patricia Larsen and Ron Crawford, Larsen’s parents. Both apartments are hung in by their functions.
Megan Buchanan
An archway leads to an eat-in kitchen, where an industrial-inspired bistro stools and table are paired with a silver Acquatinta Suspension Lamp set to a thorough ceiling medallion.
Megan Buchanan
The bistro dining table, which features a reclaimed wood top, and yet another earthy, abstract painting by Larsen’s mommy anchor the dining room.
Megan Buchanan
Original bricks from the rear of the fireplace were utilized as the backsplash behind a freestanding professional gas stove and cooktop. The wall is lined with undercounter cabinetry, and shelves made of wall-to-wall retrieved wooden siding hold the bulk of the kitchen’s essentials.
Megan Buchanan
Offering a little bit of glitz is a Cellula Chandelier, whose extended lines echo those of their shelving. A stainless steel worktop and new white subway tile backsplash include a contrasting modern note.
Megan Buchanan
As a potter and performer, Larsen has an eye for form and texture that is reflected in the rental apartment’s style, which feels organic, unstudied and distilled. Original hardwood flooring, doors and moldings; vulnerable bricks and mortar; natural fabrics and antique furniture exude rustic charm.
Megan Buchanan
Light from a south-facing bay window matches the living room. The sitting space is designed to encourage daydreaming, reading, relaxing and dialogue.
Megan Buchanan
The remodeled bathroom is outfitted with a soaking tub, a slick vanity and more reclaimed wood shelving.
Megan Buchanan
In the bedroom, a neutral palette showcases fabrics Larsen found on buying trips to Mexico.
Lamp: Tizio X30, Artemide
Megan Buchanan
In the entry, layers of paint which have gathered over the years on the flat’s front door have been left in place as a reminder of their building’s history. A abstract floral print cloth over the glass pane in the door offers solitude.
Megan Buchanan
A skylight matches the stairway with light which bounces off a crystal chandelier and illuminates a intimate picture by Klee Larsen.
Megan Buchanan
A muted fragrance of dried flowers sitting on a classic pair of catalogue drawers welcomes people to the tiny second-floor landing. The open door on the right leads to the leasing space.
Megan Buchanan
The Family’s Apartment
This flat, known as “Old Havana,” has a distinctly different feel. Patinated walls and ceilings function as a background for artwork, antique furnishings and neutral fabrics.
Megan Buchanan
The furnishings are one-of-a-kind rustic and reclaimed bits that Larsen has collected through time. “The majority of the furniture is from Craigslist and assorted secondhand and consignment stores. Our whole family is hooked on treasure hunting,” she states.
“There were times of stripping off all of the layers of background,” Larsen recalls. “The ceiling was sealed, along with the walls have a skim of plaster to soften the feel.”
Megan Buchanan
The dining space is adjacent to a different gas fireplace. The surround and mantel are topped with a classic glass mirror framed by 2 wall sconces. A tumbleweed adds an unusual sculptural and textural element. In this neutral space, a glowing orange division is a standout accent.
Megan Buchanan
More natural components, like wooden tables, a wicker chair and a natural-fiber area rug, make a sense of tranquility from the living space. Another painting by Larsen’s mother, which matches with the neutral colour palette, would be the focal point within the room.
Megan Buchanan
A re-covered antique sofa using a hand-carved wooden framework sits under another pair of bay windows which overlook the peaceful street. A classic metal reading lamp evokes the feeling of a bygone age.
Megan Buchanan
The family’s kitty is right at home in the bedroom, basking in the sunlight amidst natural white and gray fabrics.
Megan Buchanan
The compact kitchen features a classic Gurney petrol stove. A dry-cured sausage, herbs, oils and syrups are available.
Megan Buchanan
Right off the kitchen is really a solarium, ideal for curling up and reading on rainy afternoons.
Megan Buchanan
The Store Downstairs
In the retail café and shop downstairs, Larsen has created an atmosphere which encourages visitors to explore and unwind. Stacked wooden crates display a variety of local and imported goods.
The deliberately faded and worn-looking walls were made using a combination of coffee grounds, elbow grease and a lot of scrubbing, resulting in a look similar to that of an old sepia photograph.
Megan Buchanan
Larsen and her loved ones are now celebrating two decades in their home and business. What was once a dream is now a success. The shop has become a place where neighbors, farmers, farmers, chefs and musicians gather to collaborate and inspire, and the flat is getting a welcoming family home.
Megan Buchanan
Around the corner from the shop entrance, a pair of bright red entry doors — complete with the original mail slot — opens to the staircase that lead to the two upstairs apartments.
Megan Buchanan
After Larsen purchased the building, she removed a stucco exterior, revealing the original siding which since was repaired and simmer for paint. She replaced the existing windows with wood-frame ones which are more suitable to the age and style of the building.
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