Surprise Living Room Makeover

A few weeks ago a former client contacted us to furnish his living room. We had helped him and his wife with the kitchen design of their Calgary home in Mount Royal four years ago. We were very excited when he called and even more thrilled when we heard more about the project our client had in mind. After finishing the kitchen renovation, they had not furnished and decorated the living room. As a surprise gift to his wife, our client wanted us to finish off the living room while she was away without her knowing a thing about it!

We had a very tight deadline and got to work right away. Our first step was to cruise the local furniture shops to see what was available. Since our time frame was so short, there was no time to do custom furniture – we would have to buy floor models. We collected some images of furniture and pulled together two concepts for our client to approve before we started purchasing. Then were were off to the races!

Here is a before photo of the living room without the furniture. The previous sofa and chairs were a bit shabby and worn out and didn’t have a lot of style. Also, the furniture arrangement was awkward with the sofa cutting across the middle of the room facing the fireplace. Our clients had already had some window coverings custom-made  for the room. The fireplace cabinets needed to be organized with some new accessories and the painting over the mantle was not the right proportion.

Wow!! It is always amazing to me how furniture and accessories completely change a room! Somehow it just all comes together and starts to look like a home! We found this beautiful vegetable dyed wool area rug at a local rug shop and got an incredible price on it. We placed the sofa under the window with a large, comfortable armchair facing the fireplace. To soften the fireplace elevation we added a bench for extra seating in front of the hearth. The two small light blue chairs are from Maria Tomas and are the perfect size with room to pass behind them into the adjacent dining room.

Our clients had the radiators restored, floors refinished and the walls painted in the last renovation. Here is the before shot of the corner towards the foyer.

The furniture in this room is clean-lined and tailored. The color palette mixes warm beiges, creams, charcoal blue, and aqua. We picked up the sofa from a great shop called Domaine. It has a slightly retro feel with the button tufted back cushions and is very comfortable due to the feather seat cushions. The teal pillows, blanket, and steel-blue wool chair are from Maria Tomas.  The black lacquered coffee table, silver tripod drink table, and hurricane vase with candles are all from Chintz and Company.  This arrangement of furniture is much more pleasing for the proportions of the room and great for conversation.

This pretty mirrored side table and delicate glass lamp are from Maria Tomas.  The gilded starburst mirror we found at Chintz and Company and the tripod picture frame was purchased at Pottery Barn.  The arms of the armchair and sofa are a slightly different profile, but complementary to each other.

On the opposite side of the sofa we placed a little wood cabinet that almost has a retro feel from Chintz and Company. The bench on the right was reupholstered in striped velvet fabric which ties together our color scheme. The bench itself was a great find at Homesense and a fabulous price, but the fabric it came with was awful! Reupholstering it gave us the chance to make this room really customized and pulled all the colors together.

This is the corner looking towards the foyer. Our client had this lovely painting hung on this wall, but it was the wrong proportion. We relocated it and placed it above the mantle where its height is perfectly balanced on the fireplace.

This corner was perfect for a console and this mirrored one from Chintz and Company adds a touch of glam to the room. The lovely green glass lamp and the ivory boxes are from Maria Tomas. The boxes are actually faux shagreen which is shark skin and has a beautiful, subtle texture. Of course, we needed to find an incredible piece of art for our client and we had several of them delivered from our favorite galleries to try out. The winner was this piece by John Folsom who is represented by Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art. Once our client saw this painting, he immediately fell in love with it. The Bow River which is depicted in this piece has special meaning for our clients which was completely unknown to us when we selected it. Our client was absolutely elated with it – I guess that we knew them better than we thought!

The foyer needed a little attention too. This antique credenza provides extra storage for coats and mitts but needed to be dressed up.

We found a cute parson’s chair from Homesense that coincidentally was upholstered in almost the same fabric we selected for the bench in front of the fireplace. Other than that, we moved the credenza closer to the corner and kept it simple with some new accessories placed on top. This photo was taken before all the accessories were finalized. We chose a pretty bowl for keys and some celadon green and aqua blue ceramic pieces in the end.

Storage for coats and a bench seat cushion were desperately needed at the front door. The floor mats for this space posed a problem since they were an unusual size. We had some wool carpet bound and sized it to fit perfectly.

A pretty leaf patterned fabric in blue was used for the bench seat cushion. We also installed a few small accessories on the radiator to the right of the door and a new mirror above it. Coat hooks from Banbury Lane were installed all along the back of the bench, but after we snapped this photo.

This project was so much fun for us to work on although it was nerve-wracking! The tight time line and the fact that our client’s wife was totally in the dark about our plans was a challenge, but our team of interior designers really enjoyed rallying together and being a part of our client’s special surprise. A big thank you must be sent to the fabulous shops and suppliers that had such great products and helped us coordinate this job. By the way, our client’s wife was absolutely floored by the final result! It was a great success!

Cheers!

Easter Table Settings

In preparation for a family gathering this Easter, I decided to get some inspiration for my dining room table setting and floral arrangements from some websites and blogs. Being a Calgary Interior Designer, I really enjoy spending time decorating my home before I host an event. There are so many different ways to entertain and your tablescape should reflect the style of the party. Is it a formal dinner or a casual breakfast? My family tends to have a brunch, and since our families include young children, there will probably be an Easter egg hunt involved! Here are a few images that caught my eye and got me inspired for my springtime entertaining.

Image courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

This is such a pretty Easter table complete with tiny bowls of colorful candy and baskets filled with tulips. I love the repetition of the coral color in the flowers, tablecloth, dishes, embroidery on napkins and even the drinks!

Image courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart’s team is really talented at creating seasonal decorations and this Easter egg branch tree proves it. I love the vintage silhouettes of the bunnies on the eggs and the color palette combining dark pink, lavender and yellow.  It is so whimsical and sweet but still grown up.

Image courtesy of House Beautiful Magazine

The mix of striped and polka-dotted china reminds me of Easter eggs! This casual setting would be perfect for a brunch. The tiny flower arrangements and little pots of moss are so charming!

Photo via Style Me Pretty

For a more formal dinner, this incredibly lavish table setting would be perfect. I adore the variety of sizes of flower arrangements, the individual blooms at each place setting and the use of ferns in the large arrangements. This table feels like a garden. Simply gorgeous!

Photo via Style me Pretty

This photograph and the previous one are both from a great blog called Style Me Pretty which features ideas for weddings, but is a great source of inspiration for me when I am looking for tablescape ideas. This particular arrangement is fresh and simple. The bright green apples and pink roses are such a pretty combination with the vintage china. Very Eastery!

Image courtesy of Country Living Magazine

Pink eggs grace this lovely table set for tea. I have such happy memories as a child decorating Easter eggs! Including eggs decorated by your youngsters on the dining table is such a nice way of displaying their works of art.

Image courtesy of Country Living Magazine

Buffet tables need to be decorated too and this simple collection of vases filled with white blooms in ceramic bowls is unfussy and relaxed. I also really like the inclusion of the cloche which is a glass cover that goes over top plants or flower arrangements. Check out how the silver ware is presented – great idea!

Image courtesy of Southern Living Magazine.

Butterflies float around this springy floral centerpiece. It looks like each setting is also decorated with a nest of moss filled with chocolate eggs. This arrangement is youthful and friendly.

Image courtesy of Good Housekeeping Magazine

If you are hosting an Easter egg hunt this arrangement would be adorable for the little ones. They could devour it after the meal was served!

Image courtesy of Family Circle Magazine

A simple and modern take on the Easter table is shown here. The ribbon and vibrantly colored eggs makes this setting interesting and bright. This would be a very simple, but effective way to decorate your table.

Each of these tablescapes has a different feel although they all celebrate the season. When planning your party you must first decide on the menu and style of service before you commit to the way the table will be decorated. Some of these settings work better for brunch, dinner or for family gatherings with children. I hope that if you are planning on entertaining during Easter that these images inspire you to create a beautiful tablescape for you and your guests to enjoy!

Cheers!

Designer Laundry Rooms

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home

When collaborating with our clients on their Calgary renovations we frequently get asked to pay special attention to the laundry room. Over the past few years this room which used to be relegated to a shabby corner of the mechanical room has now become an important space with carefully thought out design considerations. It has developed into a high priority and is often at the top of my clients’ wish lists. The unfinished, neglected and sad space next to the furnace or under the stairs is no longer good enough for today’s designer laundry rooms!

Photo courtesy of Hampton Design

The most logical place for the laundry room is near the bedrooms – the spaces that generate the most laundry. In some very large homes the master closet may also contain a washer and a dryer separate from the main laundry room. There has also been a trend to include more than one washer and dryer (as seen in the photo above) in large laundry spaces making the chore of cleaning clothing half the length of time!

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home

Often times the laundry room shares a space with another utilitarian room in the home, like a mudroom. This arrangement can work really well if there is lots of storage for coats and boots as well as cleaning products.

Photo courtesy of Velvet and Linen

Look at the size of this dream laundry room! It is as big and as beautifully detailed as a kitchen. Check out the marble countertops, furniture-style island and cabinet bases. This laundry room has loads of counter space, but just a little will do. One way to achieve this in a smaller space is to run the counter over the top of your washer and dryer. European washer and dryer manufacturers like Miele or Asko make models that run under standard height counters, but North American companies like Maytag make taller models. If you go with a taller version, just be careful of how high the counter will be and what is above it. In this laundry room, the counter is higher over the appliances then it is in the rest of the room and it looks lovely.

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home

This laundry space is cleverly disguised by folding doors. Concealing the appliances is a great idea if the laundry space is shared with a bathroom or if there is a sight line from another room and seeing the washer or dryer is not ideal.

Photo courtesy of Asko

Asko makes a washer/dryer that can be completely built-in. This is a perfect solution for spaces like condos where laundry rooms are often incorporated into kitchens.

Photo courtesy of Simple Effects

Since folding takes a while to do, why not incorporate a TV? This little laundry room had got it all. An entertainment system, a fold down counter, space for drying clothing, and storage for hampers. Plus, the wallpaper is really cute too!

Photo courtesy of the Washington Post

Speaking of wallpaper, this delightful laundry room in a designer showcase sports a pretty floral print, metal mesh cabinet fronts and a pewter lantern. There is no reason why the laundry room can’t be high on style!

Photo courtesy of My Home Ideas

Apple green walls, turquoise backsplash and a bright red blind make this laundry room funky and fun. Don’t forget to dress up your laundry room with artwork and accessories like the vintage detergent boxes on the shelves of this room.

Photo courtesy of Country Living

Fold down drying racks, rods and hangers are a must for delicates in the laundry room. This type is easy to get out the way when not in use.

Interior design by Sarah Richardson, photo via Alkemie

Try displaying your detergent in apothecary jars or easily accessible on a tray. Think about incorporating overhead storage for extra towels and linens.

Photo via Alkemie

Don’t forget about finding a home for the ironing board! They are large but not bulky when stored against a wall. This ironing board has a cheeky cover which becomes the design feature in this laundry room.

As you can see laundry rooms have come a long way design wise. These images show that they can be not only functional spaces but also good-looking rooms too. Hey, if you are going to be doing a mundane chore like the laundry, at least do it in a beautiful room!

Cheers!

Decorating with Green – Happy St. Patty’s Day

Interior design by Ashley Whittaker, photo via House Beautiful

Green is such a versatile color to decorate with. It can be soft and soothing like sage or mint or energetic and vibrant like chartreuse or emerald. Green is a popular choice for my clients, and as a Calgary interior designer I am always excited when a client requests green. Reminiscent of nature, green is an easy hue to live with. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and the onset of spring, here are rooms employing some fresh green shades for you to enjoy.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

For this Arts and Crafts Calgary renovation that we completed in the neighborhood of Mount Royal, a vibrant shade of lemongrass was chosen for the wall color. This space is a reading loft between the bedrooms and has a view on to the river valley. Green was the perfect choice to reflect the abundant foliage in the summer months.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Wasabi green pairs beautifully with charcoal in this family room. For this client, we designed custom furniture and provided slip covers for the cubes and extra pillows all made in a shade of red so that our client has a summer and a winter scheme. The green is perfect in the summer look! It’s so fresh against the tailored grey furniture and crisp white paneling.

Interior design by Jamie Drake,  photo via House Beautiful

Pretty spring green wallpaper is paired with soft yellow-green bedding and pink accents. This room is ready for spring!

Interior design by Tobi Fairley

Kelly green is preppy and spunky. This room mixes traditional and modern elements beautifully and the green shade is youthful and energetic without being over the top.

Interior design by Mary McDonald, photo via My Domicile Style

Stripes of avocado green, black and pink are vibrant in this family room! Otherwise the room is very white, but the green backdrop makes it lively and fun.

Interior design by Mary McDonald, photo via My Domicile Style

This collection of green pottery is dramatic and makes a statement. Remember when displaying your collections that they are more powerful grouped together then they are sprinkled around the room.

Interior design by Amanda Nisbet

Just a touch of green is all you need to add to your room. In this serene bedroom, leaf green is used on the drapery, blanket, accessories and bed skirt trim. The overall effect is bright and fresh.

Interior design by Amanda Nisbet

A chartreuse wall livens up the neutral furniture in this cozy spot. I can picture this look working well for a media room. The gold accents look gorgeous against the charcoal and chartreuse.

Interior design by Palmer Weiss, photo via Simplified Bee

This rich emerald green sofa is a stately and pretty when paired with softer green drapery and accent pillows. The contrast tape detail on the sofa back and skirt is just delightful. This color is evocative of the hunter green color used in so many interiors during the eighties, but this combination is updated and new again.

House Beautiful did an article describing on the personality of color and here is what they had to say about people who are drawn towards green.

“This is someone who exudes positive energy and a ‘we can make it happen’ philosophy. With a discerning sensibility and an innate desire to put others at ease, this person is a natural when it comes to social endeavors.”

So if you are looking for an interior that is welcoming and easy to live with think about one of the many gorgeous shades of green. There are so many beautiful hues to consider.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Cheers!

How to Decorate a Console Table in a Foyer

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Console tables are such versatile pieces of furniture and look great in practically any room of your home but they are especially nice in a foyer. Having a piece of furniture with a countertop and some storage is also a practical idea. These tables can be the focal point of the foyer and look spectacular.

Interior design by Kimberley Seldon Design Group

The collections of items displayed on a console are often referred to by interior designers as tablescapes or vignettes. Many home owners are not certain on how to create these lovely arrangements. Positioning and assembling your mementos boils down to creating a pleasant composition and interior designers use the basic tools of balance, color, contrast, texture, scale to fashion these vignettes. Here is an assortment of some of my favorite tablescapes and some tips on how to create them.

Interior design by Phoebe Howard

This classic vignette features a collection of etchings that are each framed differently. Even though all the drawings are slightly different sizes there is symmetry. For more information of hanging a gallery style wall take a look at my earlier post How to Hang a Picture Wall.  Symmetrical arrangements usually look more formal and ordered and they are easier to pull off if you are doing it yourself. Take note of how the lampshade, sculpture and flowers over lap the bottom picture. This is called layering, and creates depth and shadow. The overall effect is a restrained, tailored, classic look.

Interior design by Suzanne Kasler

Ornate furniture gets casual in this asymmetrical foyer arrangement. Leaning the drawing in front of the mirror keeps it from feeling too proper. When designing foyers in our Calgary Renovations, I like to also add a chair or bench. The position of this chair balances the height of the mirror beautifully.

Interior design by Elizabeth Kimberly Design

The crispness of this arrangement is what catches my eye! The contrast between the grey wallpaper and dark wood credenza with the white wainscoting, mirror and ceramics is very fresh. Take note of the variety of heights of the objects on display. When arranging your items include an assortment of items that are different shapes and sizes. Also, I really like the flexibility for seasonal changes in this composition. Replace the white ceramics and floral arrangement depending on the time of year and you have a completely different tablescape!

Interior design by Jan Showers & Associates

Repetition is a design tool that is very simple to use and helps to create an interesting display. In this foyer, the pink color is repeated in the lamp, bowl, flowers, painting and chandelier. This is a very simple arrangement and since each object is the same color, it reinforces the importance of the vignette. The ultra rich dark chocolate walls contrast against this color making it pop out. I love this color scheme because the femininity of the pink is balanced with the masculine brown. Just lovely!

Interior design by Ashley Whittaker Design

Summertime is completely embodied in this simple and clean composition. If you have a collection of items, consider showcasing them all together for more impact. In this photo, the blue porcelain makes a much more powerful statement because there are three vases. Sprinkling these items around the room would lessen their importance. Notice how the mirror provides a bit of sparkle and makes the flower arrangement look fuller.

Interior design by Jeffers Design Group

This unusual piece of furniture is quite interesting on its own so it’s best to keep the display of accessories very simple. I like how there is a theme stringing these items together – can you see it? Every piece aside from the flowers is about the human form.

Interior design by Jeffers Design Group

Heavily patterned wallpaper is the backdrop for this retro console in a foyer. The mirrored panels on the console resemble the shape of the vases on the wallpaper. A tray has been used to corral the vases on the left side. Trays are a terrific way of adding weight to an arrangement and creating a composition within a composition. This foyer is spunky and fun. It gives visitors a glimpse into the character of the rest of the home and its home owner’s personality.

Interior design by Windsor Smith

Don’t you just feel like you know the person who lives in this house after seeing this console? The items have such personal appeal and this is one of the reasons I am so drawn to this tablescape. The simple color palette and high contrast of the dark and light items are very dramatic.

Interior design by Markham Roberts

Here is another example of how a collection is more powerful when grouped together. These shells are sculptural and interesting. Mixing textures is another design element that needs to be incorporated into your arrangement. The shells, faceted shiny mirror, ribbed lamp, glass bowl, glossy walls and cut velvet on the chairs are a variety of textures and keep this monochromatic scheme interesting.

Interior design by Jonathan Adler

In a very stark foyer, this grouping provides all the interest and gives your eye a place to rest. Everything is neutral in this room except for the accessories. The overall effect is that the space is quite colorful. Don’t be afraid of color and use interesting items that can be a conversation piece.

Interior design by Tobi Fairley

High contrast, shape and form play a major role in this impressive foyer. The black outlined dresser plays up the pretty shape of this bow front piece of furniture. Displaying the unique sculptures in the acrylic box makes these items feel important as well as protecting them. In order to layer the sculpture in front of the painting, a stack of books with graphic titles gets the acrylic box at just the right height – a little trick used by designers all the time! The books used provide additional insight into your personality.

Photo courtesy of Decorpad

Yet another collection! This grouping of turquoise items is stunning! Each vase is different in height and shape which is crucial when mixing like objects. It adds visual interest to this tablescape.

Photo courtesy of Decorpad

This ultra simple and modern white parson’s table is mixed with the rustic benches below. The stools ground this arrangement keep it from looking too light. There is a great mix of textures in this tablescape. Displaying rustic and modern, traditional and casual pieces together creates an unexpected, dynamic display.

Interior design by Kimberley Seldon Design Group

What’s not to love about this arrangement? Of course I adore the zebra print bench and glam mirrored obelisks! But the best thing about this arrangement is that in a traditional home these items freshen up the look. The symmetrical composition is loosened up with the animal print and objects on the mirrored tray.

Foyers are your first impression. Normally, we do not linger long in these spaces so have some fun and amp up your design choices. A console or dresser is the perfect spot to show off your collections, inject some personality and provide some storage. I hope that this post gives you the confidence to boldly march forward and decorate your foyer, but if not – call Corea Sotropa Interior Design for some help! We are at your service!

Cheers!

Tips and Inspiration for Decorating a Nursery

 

Interior design by Sarah Richardson

 My sister is about to have her second child, a boy, and our whole family is happily anticipating his arrival. His nursery is all set up and ready to go and now we are left to sit on pins and needles until we are finally introduced to him! Decorating the nursery is one of the biggest jobs for an expectant mom, but also one of the most rewarding. There is so much that needs to be finished, and there is a serious deadline looming! Luckily there is that extra burst of energy at the end of the pregnancy that enables moms to complete their to do lists just in time. Newborns require very little in terms of gear. There are only a few things that are necessities. All the rest comes down to style.

Interior design by Elizabeth Kimberly Design

 When working on our client’s Calgary renovations we are often asked to help design the baby’s room. It is so exciting when we are able to work on a nursery since it is all about fun and our imaginations can run wild! There are only a few things that I feel are vital elements for a nursery. Here they are:

 1)      Change Area – a safe place to change the baby with nearby storage for diapers, creams and other accoutrements. Think about reusing an existing piece of furniture with a change pad on top, or a dresser that can be later used as the child grows.

2)      Storage – a well-organized closet with double hanging rods is ideal along with shelves for books and toys.

3)      Firm Crib Mattress – it might not sound very comfortable, but a firm mattress is better for baby’s back.

4)      Black Out Lined Window Coverings – a dark room makes it easier for baby to go to sleep during the day or in the summer when the sun sets late. Watch out for the pull cords on blinds and have a method to get them out of the way.

5)      Comfortable Chair – this doesn’t necessarily have to be located in the nursery, but make sure you have a comfortable chair to feed the baby in. Avoid those ugly gliders – there is no reason why you can’t have something nice to look at that is comfy too!

6)      Safety – make sure any bookcases are bolted to the walls if you have a climber! It’s a good idea to have a professional check your room for hazards and help you make this room as safe as it can be.

 And now on to the inspiration! A baby’s room is the perfect opportunity to try out some color and pattern. Go for a mural, grid of color or add wallpaper. Don’t forget about the ceiling – some of these rooms have some ingenious ceiling details that can’t be missed.

 Photo from Domino Magazine via Habitually Chic

Photo from Domino Magazine via Habitually Chic

Photo courtesy of Ohdeedoh

Interior design by Windsor Smith

 Interior design by Sarah Richardson

Interior design by Sarah Richardson

 Photo courtesy of HGTV

 Interior design by Jeffers Design Group

 Image courtesy of Spearmint Baby 

 Interior design by Little Crown Interiors

Interior design by Little Crown Interiors

Interior design by Little Crown Interiors

Image courtesy of Parents Magazine

Image courtesy of Parents Magazine

Image courtesy of HGTV

A baby’s room that is fully decorated and organized is an expectant moms’ dream come true! Having a special place for your little one is a real joy. There’s no better way to welcome your new family member to your home then to have a special place that is all their own.

Cheers!