Some things quintessentially define an era, shag carpet? The 60s and 70s. Boy Bands? The 90s. Golden Oak? The 80s. Perhaps not the worst thing to come out of the 80s, (my hair could top that list), but definitely a ubiquitous feature in homes. Our Coach Hill Project was no exception. There was golden oak – everywhere – except, shockingly the kitchen – because it had been renovated.
Sometimes open concept, isn’t quite the right concept. As was the case at our Bel-Aire Project. The previous owners had done what so many do when updating older homes – they opened it up. The result was a space that lacked function and intimacy.
No design project is a straight line. Despite all the planning, attention to detail, thinking and over thinking (me!) there are always twists and turns, unexpected issues, delays, balls get dropped, it happens. And at our Canyon Meadows Project it all happened. Things I could never have imagined happened … for instance the seller passed away days before my client was set to take possession … perhaps setting the tone for things to come.
Thankfully my client weathered each disappointment and test of patience, even when they felt relentless with a spirit of adventure and sense of humor, because at a certain point all we could do was laugh.
If you’re anything like me, you devoured Anatomy of a Scandal on Netflix. Based on the book by Sarah Vaughan, the psychological thriller tells the story Sophie (Sienna Miller), the attractive albeit long-suffering wife of James Whitehouse (Rupert Friend), an ambitious Tory MP in the British government. While the story itself is predictable, the stunning interiors, Sienna Miller’s impossibly chic style and my love of Rupert Friend, had me captivated.
For me the design process has always been a fluid one, navigating unexpected surprises, while maintaining budgets and timelines, but never more so than in the last year and a half. The endless pandemic related shortages and delays, have challenged all of us in the industry and most especially our clients to be nimble and patient.
Nothing could be truer for my clients at our Livingston Project. Having worked hard to build their new home, my sweet clients reached out early to start the furnishing process. Despite the extra lead time we couldn’t get ahead of the Covid supply issues, which had us re-evaluating, re-selecting and finally releasing – trusting that things would show up and be worth the wait. Thankfully, I’m happy to report, that nearly a year to the day we first met, my clients home is complete and it was indeed worth the wait.
Every so often a project comes along that feels like magic, the kind where it seems the stars have aligned perfectly. That was the case with our Altadore project. From amazing clients who trusted me completely, which was both humbling and empowering, to the exciting scope, perfect location, and trades who brought us over the finish line on time – during a global pandemic – this project was a dream.
While I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of a tone on tone, neutral space, I do like to inject colour into the spaces I’m working on from time to time. And when it comes to choosing a colour to add, I invariable end up leaning towards jewel tones. In particular, those that look a little weathered and worn. Like they’ve been around for a while. Nothing adds soul to a space like something with history and these weather jewel tones add a depth and richness that I can’t get enough of. I’ve rounded up some of the spaces and colours I’m most inspired by below.
Cane furniture has been making a slow resurgence over the last few years. But it’s popularity seems to have been kicked into high gear as I’m seeing it pop up everywhere.
There is nothing new about cane, it’s quite literally been around for centuries. Originating as basket material and evolving into furniture later. A woven cane bed was buried in Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1323 BC, and a cane coffin holding a Moche princess was buried in Peru around AD 750. Cane was used all over Asia and Africa throughout history, woven on objects like Tibetan shields from the 14th-16th centuries AD.
There are a few things that always mark the start of a new year … a fresh day timer, new set of goals and a new selection of colours of the year. While I can’t say my design decisions are overly impacted by the colour announcements, I do love seeing what everyone is forecasting. The chosen colours are often reflective of the what we’ve experienced in the previous year and the hope for the future. After a year like 2020, I think the selections for 2021 are especially hopeful and inspiring. Scroll through and let me know your favourite!
2020 has disrupted the way we live in so many ways, from how we socialize, work and learn to where we live. For some of us, the shelter in place mandates had us re-evaluating the space we call home. For many the lack of outdoor space or a functional workspace became glaringly obvious. For others fluctuating markets and employment uncertainty had us putting plans to upgrade our homes on hold. Given all of this, it wasn’t entirely shocking to see so many people take on home improvement projects to enhance the efficiency and function of their home.