I know it can’t just be me that’s soooooo bored of cookie cutter design and seeing the same “design trends” show up everywhere.
Whatever happened to the art of creating spaces that truly feel like our own? Has Pinterest created a world where everything is toned down, bland and totally forgettable? Or is it the fact that everything we have today is deemed disposable? Rather than collecting pieces that have meaning and staying power, is it too tempting to buy throwaway, trendy items? Or maybe it goes deeper than that?
An eye-catching Andrew Martin wallpaper encases this eating nook. Creating an edgy vibe that offsets the more traditional furnishings and decor ensures this home is not wedded to any one particular style.
Letting our true self shine is not as easy as it should be. We humans have a fundamental, psychological need to belong to a group. Throughout our evolution, this ensured safety and survival. So deeply ingrained is the need for herd acceptance that we continually adopt group behaviours and opinions, whether or not they truly align with our authentic selves. For early humans, being part of the herd offered real benefits such as cooperative hunting, division of labour, and child rearing assistance. Survival on one’s own wasn’t possible. In today’s modern world, our survival doesn’t hinge on conforming to the group, yet this primal instinct can kick in strong.
The clean, pared-down look of this family room showcases this homeowners collection of Martha Sturdy sculptural pieces. Sturdy’s work is big and bold and the simple lines of the furniture show off the collection well.
If you want hard evidence of this phenomena, just pop into any thrift store and take note of the shelves filled with last year’s on-trend water bottles. Or consider the story of bullion fringe. Prominent during the Victorian era, bullion fringe made a brief comeback during the Regency and Art Deco periods of the early 20th century. During the era of minimalism, this elegant, twisted fringe sunk into oblivion. It emerged again in 2013 on Instagram, when Liv Tyler debuted her bright pink sofa with a fabulous soft pink bullion fringe, giving permission to once again decorate with this passementerie.
Moral of the story, love what you love, hold it close and guard against falling victim to the whims of our capitalistic society.
Dramatic black walls create a stunning backdrop for this original art piece. The big window and warm wood tones make this room a favourite for not only dining, but also homework, puzzles and moments of quiet reflection.
Dear reader, you know how strongly I believe that our homes need to be our sanctuaries, the place where we feel safe and our unique personalities can shine. Every home needs to tell the story of the person who lives there. Just as every animal has a specific type of dwelling, we too have within us a blueprint for the type of home that best meets our needs. We don’t need to read a “What’s Hot What’s Not” list to tell us what we love.
These vintage salt and pepper shakers sit in this modern styled kitchen as a talisman for my client. Originally her grandmother’s, this set is a cherished memento from childhood and imbues her space with a sense of connection and belonging.
Instead of worrying about trends, I encourage you to surround yourselves with colours, textures and styles you love. Pieces that reflect your story. Artwork, travel souvenirs, heirlooms and books are all great ways to inject your eccentric personality. Filling your home with furnishings and decor that bring joy is key to feeling comfortable and safe. And I always tell my clients that creating a home that’s uniquely you is very personal. Don’t worry what other’s might think. If you create a beautiful space that radiates your individualistic, slightly weird personality, you’ll always feel comfortable and at home.
In this living room, my clients wanted their unique coffee table to take centre stage. To play up the organic feel of the table, heavily textured fabrics and decor items were thrown in the mix. The delicateness of the sheers and the glossy fireplace tiles add a beautiful contrast in this distinct living room.
This is not to say that throwing a bunch of cherished things together in a room will make a beautiful space. There’s a little more to it than that. In order to curate a space whose decorating style is “loved items only” there are a few things to keep in mind. Balance becomes critical. Ensuring the visual weight in a room is evenly distributed creates a sense of composure. Symmetry is often easiest to achieve, but asymmetry will create a more modern feel. By assessing colour, contrast, texture and scale, a harmonious and coherent look will be achieved.
This space needed to serve two purposes, a cozy reading corner a place for musicians to gather and create. Touches of black dance around the room to ground the eye and add visual interest to an asymmetrical furniture layout.
Equally important, but often overlooked, is the value of repetition. Repetition does not mean every item in a room has to be matching or come in pairs. It’s more about bouncing the eye around a space by creating rhythm with consistency. Repeating elements like colour, texture, shape and pattern will bring a harmonious feel to a room. If a space is lacking something and feels a little flat, try a few touches of black. A black lamp, vase or wrought iron sculpture often provides the right amount of drama.
Symmetry always is pleasing to the eye and creates a sense of calm. My client loved her existing dining set and was worried it might be too dark for the look we were going for in the renovation. We brought out its rich beauty by contrasting it with light walls decorated with mouldings. Contemporary art and lighting fixtures keep it looking fresh.
One of the best ways to make a space unique and personal is to turn challenges into opportunities. Whether it’s awkward corners, too small of rooms, or a poor layout, these constraints will push you to get resourceful and sometimes downright weird, which makes for a very interesting and unforgettable space. And if it’s budget that’s the constraint, there’s a lot of cheap and cheerful tricks to make a room chic without overspending. And very often these spaces made with love offer the most joy.
Originally a maze of small rooms, this 1950s bungalow was opened up to create larger living spaces. This left the staircase in the middle of the kitchen and living areas. We created an island type counter on one side and a walnut desk / eating bar on the other, providing the perfect solution for gathering.
A soulful home takes time to create. It shouldn’t be rushed, as this often leads to choosing the “safe” option, like the beige sofa or big box art. Purchases should be made with passion. I can share stories of clients who tell me they want to play it safe and choose neutrals, and yet, when I show them a colourful wild choice they just light up and start bubbling. This is how I know that they’re allowing their authentic self to lead the design process.
Pairing traditional and contemporary furnishings in a room creates unforgettable spaces. I love how this homeowner let her personality shine and showed off her affection for sleek architecture, lush rich fabrics and unconventional art.
Navigating the ups and downs of daily life is hard enough, and I can tell you that living in an unoriginal, commonplace home doesn’t help. It’s time to start embracing authentic decor, no matter how weird and quirky your style may be. Living in a home that’s full of meaning and personalization creates a sense of comfort, contributing to overall happiness. Be strong and unapologetic in your design choices. Create balance through weight, colour and texture and don’t forget to employ repetition with pattern and shape.
Custom draperies in a rich floral pattern were chosen to balance the brown leather sofa. A vintage needlepoint chair is a family favourite. When combined with a modern Gresham House ottoman, walnut overlaid table and contemporary art, the room is unique and highly personalized.
If you’re feeling a little shy or hesitant to authentically decorate your home, I’ll be your cheerleader. Can you hear me loudly and exuberantly encouraging you to decorate from the heart? I’m giving you permission to embrace your unique personality in your home and not become a casualty of the trend machine. I promise you that authenticity never goes out of style. Fly your weird flag high.
