We’re knocking on doors and taking a look around peoples’ homes to see where your neighbours relax, hang out with their pets, and create! It’s an invitation to snoop, but we’re staying away from their medicine cabinets.Photos: @art3fact

Our Host: Gina Rossi and Steve Wood

Whose that? Gina is a realtor and Steve is a communications coordinator

Beverage Offered: Chai Rooibos Tea

Where do you live?

Steve-We live by Oakridge in an old 1950s vintage penthouse, built by one of Vancouver’s first architects who did “New Formalism”. This is one of the first apartment high-rises in the city. It’s kind of a form of modernism. It’s the same guy that did the planetarium; Gerald Hamilton. He designed the planetarium and the really cool Greek Orthodox church on Arbutus Street. He also did a lot of towers and office buildings downtown.He’s like the first guy to bring the modern style into Vancouver.

 How long have you lived here?

Gina-We’ve been here about 2 and half years.

What attracted you to this place?

Steve-Architecture.

Gina-It was the architecture and the really big deck and the views. I’d seen a couple of really cool stand alone penthouses come up in the West End, and when this one came up, I decided that this kind of style was what I really wanted; a stand alone penthouse with just one little unit on top of the building, huge decks all the way around with big views.  Also there’s enough space for us to have a bedroom, and for each of us to have an office. We really like being in a space where there’s no one on the same floor as us.

What do you do?

Gina-I’m a realtor and because of that, I see lot of homes and so I’m kind of particular about what I like and it’s important for me to be in a space that I like a lot. We like to be in a space that’s a little more unique and just has a little bit more personality to it.

 Does your place help you work?

Gina-Sometimes-because I want to be home and working and seeing all the views. Other times, it’s 5pm and the sun in setting and all I want to do is jump in the hot tub and field my calls from there.

What are your favourite parts of the place?

Gina-I really like the kitchen. I like the huge island. I love the tiles. When we did the kitchen we tried to do a nice contemporary kitchen but tried to keep the same lines that are in keeping with the era of the building, so we chose the rounded fridge and the slightly rounded stove and hood fan. We went with walnut cabinetry to match the walnut wall panels in the living room and dining room. I love that I can watch the sunset over the mountains while I’m cooking dinner. Sometimes if I have somewhere to go and it’s just before sunset, I’ll be late because I don’t want to leave. You can see the Gulf Islands, you can see the water, you can see ferries coming in the south side, you can see the North Shore mountains and downtown on the North side and you get really beautiful sunrises over Mount Baker. I also really like the tiles in the bathroom. We tried to pick tiles that were not standardly used, but had a reference to the era. The ones in the bathroom are bright and colourful, they’re recycled glass tiles that we ordered from Spain. They are called “Joy” *laughs* and they do fill me with joy when I’m taking a shower.

 Now you are moving-so what will you miss the most?

Gina-The views and the deck. Sitting in the hot tub, in the winter, watching the sunset is pretty much the best thing I can think of, especially if you have an ice cream sandwich