Gallery – Distinctive Spaces
Buckingham: Creating new spaces
People often decorate rooms without an overall plan. This project was a perfect example of that: the home felt disjointed. By painting the living and dining rooms the same lighter colour, we gave the area the feel of one larger room instead of two smaller ones.
The furniture arrangement also wasn’t working. The huge dining room table imposed on everything, and there wasn’t much storage room. Just by rearranging the furniture, we found the space for a computer nook. Suddenly, the space seemed larger, brighter and much more comfortable.
Hamilton: Working on a budget
When Pam and Ken moved into this two-storey brick home in Hamilton, they felt the décor needed some touching up. The carpeting was old and dated, and the wall colour didn’t match their furniture. It was time to spice things up.
Pam and Ken wanted to keep their original furniture, which meant decorating around that style. We decided to take it up a notch by lightening the wall colour and carpet, and adding elegant touches to the crown moulding and wainscoting. The result: A living-dining room that’s elegant and traditional, but not fussy and formal.
Little Italy: Transforming a sunroom
Katie wanted to transform a 20-year-old sunroom at the back of her home. The room was being used as a storage shed, and had unfinished walls and doors. Katie wanted a sanctuary – a place where she could curl up with a good book or enjoy a cup of tea.
The budget was very tight but we were able to find a beautiful vinyl hardwood floor. By adding an electric fireplace, draperies, an area rug and a pair of club chairs, we created a room that is warm, cozy and relaxing … exactly what the customer was looking for.
Milton: Colour coordinating
With its seven paint colours, the décor of this open-concept home in Milton was a confusing mix. The space didn’t flow and the rooms didn’t relate to each other. The kitchen cabinets were very dark and heavy, and the countertops were old and worn.
We reduced the colours in the shared areas of the house from seven to three. We refaced the cabinets in bright white, added some new brushed nickel hardware, and installed granite counter tops. The kitchen became much cleaner and brighter, and the home felt much more relaxing and comfortable.
Navy Wharf: Adding Personal Touches
When Craig approached me looking for help with his downtown Toronto condo, his exact words were “I hate my place.” It didn’t feel warm and inviting; he was unable to entertain at the dining table, and the space felt cramped and disorganized.
We related the living room and bedrooms by painting a dark brown accent wall in both of them. We relocated a chair to the den, added some casters to the bottom so it could be wheeled into the living room as additional seating if needed, and we rearranged the furniture to enable Craig to seat four people comfortably around the dining table. We introduced accent pieces in reds and oranges, and framed a couple vacation photos, creating some very personal artwork. The result is a peaceful, comfortable home.
Clarkson: Fixing up the family home
This home was in desperate need of an update. The carpet was old, the walls hadn’t been painted in ages, and the family room, with its large stone fireplace, was dark and heavy.
By painting the wood a bright white, and the walls a soft blue, we transformed the family room from a pioneer cabin into a Cape Cod beach house. We painted the dining room a neutral colour and removed the carpet, revealing beautiful hardwood floors. The home is now much brighter and more comfortable.