High school sweethearts Tamiza and Cory Marcinkow married in September 2012 and wanted to personalize their first home together. Their design process involved very few compromises, as the couple was starting from scratch. “We didn’t own any furniture or accessories,” says Tamiza.

The Marcinkows found an apartment just 10 minutes away from both of their families in the Highgate Village area of South Burnaby, British Columbia. “We fell in love with this one immediately,” Tamiza says. “We liked the layout and the open concept. It’s very central, and we have great views of the mountains.”

Cory, an electrician, updated the place within a year, with some help from his father, Frank. Together they painted the entire apartment a cobblestone shade, replaced the generic carpet with rich walnut flooring and added statement wallpaper in both bathrooms. The couple also tapped their friend, interior designer Daniel Meloche, to help decorate the interior.

To read the full article and see sources and comments follow me on Houzz.