Meet the Designers: Jessica MacDonald and Kate Snyder

Founded by Jessica MacDonald and Kate Snyder, Studio Roslyn is a Vancouver-based interior design and creative consulting studio known for crafting bold, intelligent, and deeply considered environments across residential, commercial, and institutional spaces. Their work blurs the lines between art, design, fashion, and architecture—grounded in a belief that creativity and commerce can coexist with purpose and precision. Guided by their muse, Roslyn—a fearless and provocative spirit—the studio approaches each project as its own ecosystem, defined by curiosity, collaboration, and an unrelenting pursuit of beauty that serves function.

About the Project

In this episode of Design Unlocked, Kate and Jessica of Studio Roslyn take us inside a 400-square-foot office that’s anything but small in character. Designed for a client whose personal style became the project’s muse, the space layers mood, texture, and colour to create something deeply expressive and highly functional. From dark moiré walls to lilac lacquered cabinetry and a lipstick-red rug, it’s a study in how personality and precision can coexist—even within tight parameters.

Small Spaces with Big Character

Limited square footage doesn’t have to limit expression. By leaning into colour, proportion and material, a small space can feel layered, intentional, and complete. Using custom pieces that fit the room make a space feel intentional rather than constrained.

Embrace Contrast

Balancing mood and function, light and dark, minimal and dramatic can make even compact interiors feel dimensional and alive. In this project, a lilac-lacquer kitchen meets veined stone, a moody entry opens to a brighter lounge, and the enclosed office shifts palette and texture for acoustic calm. That tension adds dimension—especially in small spaces.

Make it Personal

Design resonates most when it reflects the person who inhabits it. Let your own taste—whether rooted in fashion, art, or instinct—guide your choices. Here, the client’s style became the muse, unlocking palette, materials, and momentum. When the personality is clear, the design becomes both bolder and more precise.

Watch More on Youtube

Explore quick-fire interviews with featured designers, bonus clips, and past episodes that dive deeper into the ideas behind the spaces. It’s where candid moments and extra inspiration live—all in one place.