Living
JMS
Welcome to JMS LIVING, our journal dedicated to thoughtful living through design, renovation, and everyday inspiration. From Vancouver homes to travel, style, and spaces we love, we share ideas to help you create a space that feels like you.
Our Perfect Vancouver Day: Mount Pleasant Edition
When Josh and I talk about a “perfect day,” it’s never about packing in as much as possible. It’s about moving at the right pace, choosing places we love, and spending time together as a family in a neighbourhood that feels like home. It’s nothing extravagant—just good food, familiar places, and time together. For us, that’s a perfect Vancouver day.
When Josh and I talk about a “perfect day,” it’s never about packing in as much as possible. It’s about moving at the right pace, choosing places we love, and spending time together as a family in a neighbourhood that feels like home.
We usually start with coffee and pastries from Purebread. It’s familiar, comforting, and always a good idea. From there, we head to the Vancouver Seawall for a walk. The water, the fresh air, and the space to slow down instantly set the tone for the day.
Late morning is for wandering. We love popping into furniture shops and vintage stores, even when we’re not buying. It’s where ideas sneak in. Somewhere along the way, we’ll duck into Neptune Records or Red Cat Records. Flipping through records feels nostalgic and grounding, and it’s one of those small moments that stay with you.
Lunch is almost always at Burgoo. Cozy, unfussy, and exactly what we want in the middle of the day. Afterward, if timing works, I’ll sneak off for a quick reset at Formula Fig. The 30-minute facial makes it effortless and easy to fit into a full day.
Before heading home, we grab a few essentials at Welk’s General Store, then stop by Mercato di Luigi for pizza dough and a few Italian staples. These stops are small but important. They set the evening up nicely.
We always finish with a stop at Yum Sweet Shop, so the kids are covered for movie night. And if the stars align and we’re kid-free for the evening, Josh and I will finish the day with a cocktail at The Watson.
It’s nothing extravagant—just good food, familiar places, and time together. For us, that’s a perfect Vancouver day.
Love,
ASHLEY XO
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Mount Pleasant Townhouse Renovation
Our clients wanted a fresh look for their townhouse that reflected their style—a mix of vintage, modern, and heirloom pieces passed down from their grandparents.
THE ASK:
Our clients wanted a fresh look for their townhouse that reflected their style—a mix of vintage, modern, and heirloom pieces passed down from their grandparents.
THE APPROACH:
The staircase was a focal point in the main living space but lacked any personality or “wow” factor, and the fireplace was dated and off-center. We used custom millwork to update the space and centred the fireplace. Because the staircase was one of our favourite spaces in the home that gets plenty of natural light, we gave it a crisp white wall, black banister for contrast, carpet runner, and art to make it feel extra special.
Sourcing furniture was a fun collaboration with the client. We reupholstered chairs from their grandparents and added local ceramics and lots of texture to make the living space feel refreshed and cozy.
We leaned into the moody vibe for the powder room, and colour drenched the entire space. The lighting was the jewelry in the room, and we showcased it above the toilet for added interest. We used a tile with a subtle shimmering mica for contrast against a charcoal backing—every element of this room is a conversation piece.
The clients needed a larger ensuite, so we removed the linen closet in the hallway and extended the shower to double the existing size. We wanted this space to feel like their own little oasis, so we used a light colour palette, black accents, and a vanity with storage options above the toilet.
The bedroom had a unique slanted ceiling and a back wall with openings that disrupted the flow. We covered the openings with millwork to add texture and interest. The goal with the bed was to find something comfortable, cozy, and functional with additional storage space—we’re always looking for ways to maximize storage for our clients, especially those who live in urban homes with limited storage!
The entryway and office were refreshed with new paint, decor, and lighting to complement the rest of the space.
We loved working with our clients on this renovation and creating a finished product they’re beyond happy with.
Let’s work together to make your home your favourite place to be!
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We’ve Been Keeping A Secret…
Exciting news! Josh and I have been keeping a secret for a while. We’ve been working on something big and are finally ready to share.
Exciting news! Josh and I have been keeping a secret for a while. We’ve been working on something big and are finally ready to share that we have been featured in Reno + Decor’s December 2024 issue! In the article, we discuss home renovation trends and provide expert insight to help you achieve a timeless space and a seamless renovation experience.
Let’s work together!
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Allow Us To Reintroduce Ourselves
Welcome to the JMS Blog! We’re going to be sharing a little bit of everything here - from highlights of some of our favourite projects to design and project tips, local business features, and more.
Meet Josh & Ashley, the Team Behind JMS Projects & Design
Welcome to the JMS Blog! We’re going to be sharing a little bit of everything here - from highlights of some of our favourite projects to design and project tips, local business features and more. To kick things off, we thought we’d share some fun facts about ourselves and our approach to design and renovations. Let’s get into it!
HOW WE MET:
We met thirteen years ago at a mutual friend’s birthday party at Pierre’s Champagne Bar in Yaletown—because we’re fancy like that. Two kids, a chihuahua and business later, and here we are!
OUR GO-TO DATE NIGHT SPOT IN VANCOUVER:
We live in Mount Pleasant and love supporting all the local businesses in our neighbourhood. From a nice dinner at Savio Volpe to playing pool at Hero’s and crushing some tacos and margaritas at El Caminos—there are so many amazing options just outside our front door. We also like to switch it up and keep things fresh with cooking classes or concerts. This city has so much to offer and we like to take full advantage!
WE COLLECT:
Vinyls! Since we started dating, we have always loved going to the record store and picking out albums for our home. Dance parties are a regular occurrence in our living room with our kids and guests. We love hosting and always let our guests play DJ. Whenever we’re travelling or at a concert, we always pick up a record for our collection. Music connects us to these special memories.
THE BEST TRIP WE’VE EVER BEEN ON:
We loved Bali and Paris. We went to Bali before we had our daughter, and Paris for our honeymoon. We love to travel and explore new places!
THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE IN BUSINESS WITH YOUR SPOUSE:
It’s fun to get to see each other in our skill sets, collaborate and celebrate work successes together. It’s tough to set boundaries and turn off the “talking shop.” There are all kinds of challenges but we’re proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.
OUR CURRENT DESIGN CRUSH:
Athena Calerdone & Studio Mcgee
Shifting gears into the business side of things…
OUR CLIENTS CAN COUNT ON US FOR:
We are a one-stop-shop for design, contracting, project management and more. JMS takes a customized approach with projects of all sizes. We invest in building long-term relationships with our clients so they can come back to us when they are looking for anything from a design refresh to a full-scale renovation!
We ask a lot of questions when working with our clients to learn more about their vision and budget. Our goal is to provide our clients with a high-quality guarantee for projects of all scales. We’re always working to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
BEFORE TAKING ON A PROJECT, CLIENTS SHOULD THINK ABOUT:
Choosing the right design and build team. This hinges on finding partners you trust that can give honest feedback. Forging a strong working relationship leads to a higher quality of work and project results that all parties are stoked about!
THE KIND OF PROJECTS WE’RE MOST EXCITED TO TAKE ON:
We love kitchen and bathroom design. Custom millwork projects are always a favourite because they help us build functionality into our clients’ spaces.
IN THE FUTURE, WE’D LIKE TO DO MORE:
Full-service design projects that involve helping clients create a cohesive design aesthetic through their home or business. We are also always looking to build long-term relationships with clients.
RENOVATION PROJECTS SHOULD BE:
Easy & Delightful! We want customers to feel at ease and inspired while they are working with us. From spending time in their homes and helping them make big decisions about their space or business, we’re present for some major moments in their lives so we prioritize creating authentic relationships and building trust.
There are lots more exciting things to come from us and the JMS Blog—stay tuned and get excited!
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