Decorating & Design

June 8, 2022

Vancouver Designer Tanya McLean Brings Bold Color To A Penthouse In The Clouds

Even on a gloomy, rainy day in Vancouver, sunglasses might be required in this two-level, 1,400-square-foot penthouse apartment in East Vancouver. Banana leaf motifs, a smile-inspiring beach-towel palette and don’t-worry-be-happy glamor are more likely to be spotted on a tropical island than in a city that often receives only a few hours of dim sunlight on a midwinter day. That’s why designer Tanya McLean gave this three-bedroom, new-build penthouse a sunny, Palm Springs–style disposition, no matter the weather. As owner and creative director of Mango Design Co, Tanya had worked with the penthouse owners — a busy professional couple who enjoy travelling, motorcycles and meditation — several times over the past 15 years. “I’m an artist and traveller at heart who’s inspired by people, cultures, art, music and nature in the world around us,” says Tanya, an intrepid colorist who isn’t wary of anything but beige.

In 2020, she opened the flamingo pink door of The Coast Goods, her own home decorating shop in East Vancouver with its laid-back, barefoot-at-the-beach interior, and focused on featuring local and independent artisans. “The people I’m inspired by — Spanish designers such as Jaime Hayon and Patricia Urquiola — convey an easy, timeless playfulness,” says Tanya. “Most homeowners are cautious, but when you have clients like this who trust your design direction and allow you to be so creative, it’s a rare event. They didn’t want boring or beige; they wanted it to be lighter, brighter, uplifting and whimsical.”

See how Tanya brought tropical summer style to this colorful penthouse!