Colin Griffinson Inc

Colin Griffinson Inc Six Generations of Master Painters | European Craftsmanship for Canadian Homes

08/18/2026

Not every project fits a standard scope.

This cherry blossom tree was built up in layers, carved, painted, and finished with hand-placed flowers as part of a full-room installation in a nursery.

Some requests you just say yes to.

CGI is the only certified installer in British Columbia.That didn't come from placing large orders. It came from years...
08/11/2026

CGI is the only certified installer in British Columbia.

That didn't come from placing large orders. It came from years of training, testing, and applying these systems on real projects until the suppliers noticed.

The same goes for our relationship with Consistent use and a genuine understanding of how these materials behave is what earns that kind of partnership.

For designers specifying at the highest level, who you work with determines what you have access to.

Some designers call us before the scope is finalized. That's not a bid. That's a relationship.Clear communication, depen...
07/27/2026

Some designers call us before the scope is finalized. That's not a bid. That's a relationship.

Clear communication, dependable work, and a smooth, issue-free process.

The finish is what the client sees. The trust we build is what brings us back.

Photo: Steve Woods
Design: Hodgon Design Associates
Builder: Eyco Building Group

Most people meet CGI on site, but Su Jin has already been working on your project for weeks.As our estimating and pre-sa...
07/14/2026

Most people meet CGI on site, but Su Jin has already been working on your project for weeks.

As our estimating and pre-sale lead, she's the first person on a new project and stays engaged until it hits the field. She examines the plans, catches inconsistencies, and visits the sites weekly to ensure that what was specified is what's actually happening.

The work starts long before the first paintbrush stroke.

What works on a sample doesn't always hold at full scale.On this Southlands home, we encountered a mix of existing and n...
06/16/2026

What works on a sample doesn't always hold at full scale.

On this Southlands home, we encountered a mix of existing and new Douglas fir. Wood behaves how it wants to, and we knew that going in. The differences were worked through during sampling before installation began.

Once everything was in place, tone and finish were refined on-site until the beams, millwork, and details read as cohesive under real lighting.

Small adjustments, made at the right time, make all the difference.

Builder: Linden Construction
Design: Julie Hodgson

Before and after don't always tell the full story. The middle is where the work happens.This is silver leaf with a warm ...
06/09/2026

Before and after don't always tell the full story. The middle is where the work happens.

This is silver leaf with a warm glaze, applied over grasscloth wallcovering in the entry staircase. The pattern was stencilled first. Then came samples — different materials, different glazes, different application techniques — because the grasscloth texture changed everything.

Design: Kelly Deck Design

Preparation isn't extra. It's the job.In a space like this, the painting is almost the easy part. The floor, the artwork...
06/04/2026

Preparation isn't extra. It's the job.

In a space like this, the painting is almost the easy part. The floor, the artwork, the architectural details; everything around the work has to be protected before we touch a thing.

Every surface covered, every edge taped. No shortcuts.

Some jobs come back around. This one came back with our signatures still on the wall.Behind a theatre panel, we found wh...
05/27/2026

Some jobs come back around. This one came back with our signatures still on the wall.

Behind a theatre panel, we found where the original CGI team had signed their names 25 years ago. This renovation brought us back to finish what a different version of this team started.

The curved plaster ceiling in the great room, the metallic finishes throughout. We knew what was here because we put it here.

Some finishes don’t allow much room for error.They rely on timing, application pressure, and consistency across the enti...
05/05/2026

Some finishes don’t allow much room for error.

They rely on timing, application pressure, and consistency across the entire surface. Once the material is on the wall (or ceiling), there are very few second chances.

That’s why these systems are so controlled. From product specifications to application methods, everything is designed to ensure the finish performs as intended.

It’s not just about how it looks. It’s about how it’s handled.

Details matter. This is Istria, a mineral plaster used to create a textured stone matte finish.The surface develops in ...
04/28/2026

Details matter.

This is Istria, a mineral plaster used to create a textured stone matte finish.

The surface develops in stages.
First layer >> Second layer >> Then burnishing to refine the texture and adjust the sheen.

Small shifts in timing and application pressure can change the final result, which is why sampling plays such an important role in specialty finishes.

The finish you see at the end of a project starts here.

Address

102 8380 Street George St # 102
Vancouver, BC
V5X3S7

Telephone

+16042661938

Website

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