This Vancouver loft renovation, designed and built by Designers at Large, embraces a complex set ofdesign challenges and functional needs of living in a small space to produce a flexible live/work loft for a young professional couple and their dog.

The primary needs ofthe clients were firstly, to open up the main floor while creating a large storage and laundry room and secondly, to extend the mezzanine level to accommodate a bedroom and reading room.

In general a strategy of multi-use elements was deployed to maximize the potential of each zone in the loft. A gently sloping stair doubles as a seating area and work surface.The door to the storage room is concealed by shelving and houses a coat closet within its depth. The generously sized kitchen counter doubles as a layout table and computer desk.

To reduce costs while still allowing for a desired level detail the millwork was fabricated using CNC technology, in this case water jet cutting.

click to see 'before' images