As a designer, there’s no better client for me than someone who cares about the details and wants to fill their home with heart. I was thrilled to work with this family to renovate and furnish their home. Every room is filled with items that tell a story and speak to the homeowner’s soul.
When my client called me, she knew she wanted to update her furnishings and renovate the kitchen. During the preliminary planning stages we created a general design concept and a list of items that needed attention. Her life was busy with kids at home and a job that involved travel, so the project was put on hiatus until she was able to fully commit to the renovation. This pause gave her time to really think about her personal style, which in the end, allowed us to create a home that honours her history, appreciates who she is now, and leaves space for what is to come.
At the start of the design project, I decided to set 4 intentions and relate all design decisions and selections to these statements. This made the process easier, as we had a definite look and feel we were aiming for. There are so many beautiful choices available that this is an efficient way to narrow down what needs to be included in the design plan. When the intentions are clearly stated, the entire project becomes much more manageable, providing harmony and flow.
If you’re doing a renovation or refresh of your own home, I highly recommend compiling a list of intentions. The first intention on the list below is the most important and I think belongs on everyone’s list. Work on this intention first, because when you understand your aesthetic, you’ll be able to easily add 3 or 4 more statements that are unique to you.
Define A Personal Aesthetic
In order to get a sense of what she was attracted to, my client spent a lot of time looking at magazines and ripping out pictures of spaces that spoke to her. Whether you go through magazines or create a pinterest board, a theme will emerge and this sometimes can be very eye opening. For my client, the commonality of the images were rooms that were comfortable, balanced and layered. They were on the traditional side, but definitely had a contemporary feel. Interiors by British designer Rita Konig showed up many times and Rita became our project muse. My client especially loved the rooms that embraced a layering of textiles and mix of patterns. We decided to lean into traditional British decor and looked to Rita for inspiration on ways to modernize traditional style.
Combine Old With The New
For this project, ‘combine old with the new’ had a double meaning. My client had some very beautiful furnishings that we wanted to continue to use, so we kept this ‘old’ furniture and made it all look new by moving the case goods around and recovering some of the upholstered pieces. The addition of new custom sofas, chairs and ottomans from Gresham House, made the entire home look new and fresh.
Vintage items and family antiques were brought out of storage and incorporated into the design plan. I loved hearing the stories behind the pieces and especially enjoyed learning how my client grew up in a CPR station. These pieces are a tie to past generations, bringing a sense of connection and kinship. We didn’t want her home to look like a museum, so we included a selection of contemporary art. This provided the style relief needed to ensure it didn’t feel like a museum.
All Items Must Have Meaning
At a time when trends are everywhere and social media is flooding us with design images, it’s okay to fill your home with pieces that aren’t currently considered ‘trendy’, but have intense personal meaning. Every item in this home is loved and has a story behind it.
My client has an amazing art collection that includes pieces brought back from travel, family heirlooms and works collected because she loves them. We spent a lot of time deciding where to place each piece and how to group them together so every work of art could shine.
Colours and textures can also provide meaning to a space. My client carefully considered every surface material and textile that was selected for her home, making sure that it felt like her and was an extension of the story we wanted to tell. We incorporated a lot of passementerie to elevate furnishings, draperies and cushions.
Embrace Character
For my client, creating a home that speaks to her soul meant paying attention to architectural features. This home already had many lovely features, such as crown mouldings, arches, gorgeous windows and a curved staircase.
When planning the kitchen renovation and the fireplace surround, we focused on creating character with our choice of door profile, cabinet hardware and counter edges. Any time we could add an interesting detail, we layered it in. The hallway had a beautiful curved wall that was the perfect backdrop for the addition of mouldings. Nothing too bold, but lots of small details that adds a richness to her home.
If you want to create a home that goes from ordinary to extraordinary, then attention to detail is what makes a room stand out. Your home needs to be a reflection of your personality, full of colours, shapes, materials and items that are meaningful to you. My client cared about the details and together we created a home that speaks to her soul.
