The streetside view of Sierra Gallagher and Gerald Nimchuk’s 1920's character house offers a well-loved, beautifully maintained view into the heritage homes of Mount Pleasant. When you walk through the front door, however, it's a welcome dose of playful modernity that greets you. Sierra and Gerald have designed a space that balances the traditional structure of the house with the fun personality of a creative young family. The home has also been configured in a way that fosters the entrepreneurial spirit of its inhabitants: Sierra and Gerald both run multiple small businesses and have created their dwelling space to also function as a workspace. I love when historical features are given a place in modern design, highlighted when married with edgier characteristics; this house offers just that, staking its place as the ideal urban family home.
What is it?
The main floor and attic of a 1920’s house in the Cedar Cottage neighbourhood in East Van.
Occupant:
I am a hairstylist at The Nightingale Salon and owner of Etsy shop Fox + Rebel. I live with my partner Gerald, owner of Gerald Nimchuk Design and co-owner of East Van Vinyl, along with our three-year old son Royce.
Major Selling Feature:
We love the character in our house, the original hardwood floors, French doors and wood-burning fireplace.
First thing I changed:
We updated the kitchen and took down the wall between the living room and kitchen, which created a much better flow throughout the main floor.
Feature I brag about:
My salon. People are always surprised to find out there is a full service hair salon in my house.
That one conversation piece:
The light fixture in my salon. People always comment on it and I love telling them that Gerald made it for me.
The decor:
A constant work in progress. We are always changing things and have multiple projects on the go. Our home is a mix of thrift store finds, modern foundation pieces, custom furnishings and DIY accents.
The story behind the art/antiques/collectibles:
A mix of hand-me-downs and thrift store finds. We also have a custom portrait painted by my mom, some DIY’s, and bits and pieces we’ve picked up travelling.
Downsides:
We have the smallest bathtub I have ever seen.
Neighbourhood haunts:
Our Town Cafe, Midland Liquidators, Famous Foods, Green Lettuce, The Black Lodge, Sal y Limon, Earnest Ice Cream, Glen Park.
Compared to your last place:
Before we bought our house, we spent a year living with Gerald’s parents. It was a great way to save some money and look for a house without any pressure, but it was so nice to finally have our own space.
Favourite apartment/house/condo/activity:
We love to have family dance parties, and we do a lot of crafting and DIY.
