interior design

interior design

Stylishly Small

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Use every inch
of your space

It’s so important to use all the vertical/horizontal space on your walls smartly. Put some shelves or a tall storage unit into a space. Avoid furniture pieces that use up your valuable floor space, and consider instead of a bookcase use shelves on your walls. 

 

Invest in a closet
organizational
system

If you’re serious about expanding your living area, then having a nice and organized closet is a must. You’ll be surprised at how much an organized closet will help. If you have to, have a professional designer design it for you, so you can have the most out of your limited space. 

 

Consider built in
systems

There is never enough space for clothing, books, CDs or your electronics, so instead of getting separate furniture like a desk, dresser or cabinets to manage them, consider using built in furniture and systems to use your space wisely. I often incorporate built-in furniture as it can be configured to fit your space whether it’s wall-to-wall, or floor to ceiling and the best thing is that they’re compact.

 

Using lighter
colour palettes 

We all know that lighter colours make the space look bigger. You can go just with a white palette, or you can go with light greys and beige. All these colours are good options; you just have to decide what kind of look you want to go for. The perk of going with a neutral colour is that you can just dress up the accessories and accents in your house and have a completely different look each season. 

If you’re like me and you’d like to expand your living space and you’re tired of everything being cramped up in your place, then you’re probably looking for someone to show you the light on how to make your small space look bigger. Our design firm often works with small spaces and believe it or not, there are many simple ways to give the illusion of more space

Mirrors

Large mirrors give the illusion of more space. Using them in your small space is a really smart idea. Mirrors help in magnifying any space, so remember mirrors are your best friend in small apartments and living areas. 

 

Multipurpose
furniture

Try to look for multiple uses in each piece of furniture you purchase. As an example you can buy a coffee table that has storage area, so it will cover up a portion of your clutter; or a storage bed allows you not to have a separate dresser. Also remember to use furniture that is mobile and easy to move, this way you can just pick them up and move them to suit your needs. 

Another good tip is to use furniture that blends in with your walls or floors, either the same colour or just clear furniture. Clear furniture can do wonders in terms of making your space look bigger. 

 

Use lots of lighting 

Ensure you have enough lamps and lighting; this makes your place look brighter, hence look more spacious.  >

Use wallpapers
or big art

Don’t be afraid to use art or wallpapers. You don’t need a big place to be creative with it. Try to make your space look visually interesting in the space that you do have. 

 

Use furniture to fit the scale of your apartment

It seems obvious, but many of us forget to incorporate this in our place. Keep in mind that if you have a small space, you need to use small pieces of furniture to make your space look bigger; for example use small side tables instead of a big coffee table. It will give your place a visually interesting look and it’s very practical.

 

Quick Tips:

• Be organized and have a place for everything. When there is a space for every single thing in your house, you’ll just put them back when you’re done, and this avoids unwanted clutter. 

• Keep in mind that furniture items with legs look less heavy than furniture sitting on the floor. The negative space in the furniture will trick the eye into thinking there’s more space. 

• Arrange your space in the way you truly use it, and try to invest more on where you spend your time most. 

by Aisan Ahmadi

|Bio-Photo-Aisan-Ahmadi

Recipe for a Small Kitchen

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At our firm, one of our key design principles is to never compromise on style or functionality on any project. As a designer I believe that our environments often affect our mood, our productivity and general well being. When I’m presented with small kitchen renovations, my primary objective is to carve out as much space as possible from any nook and cranny for added function for the space, while still keeping the aesthetics as the main priority. The kitchen we designed here lives in the rear area of a typical two storey Toronto home which is narrow and somewhat dark. We decided to open the space to the dining room which allowed for us to continue the wood floor from the living area right to the back for a seamless look. The back wall houses cabinets from floor to ceiling; this area was originally wasted space with only twelve inches of wall on either side. Designing shallow cabinets with adjustable shelves inside provides the homeowner with a huge amount of space for dry goods. We selected a crisp white satin finish for these cabinets to allow a seamless transition from wall to cabinet while the shaker doors gave the illusion of paneling.

Often an island is a very useful addition to any kitchen; here I chose to accentuate the island with a beautiful deep grayish blue colour. Though it is relatively small at about 40″ × 60″, its colour looks great against the wood floor and there is plenty of added prep space. The fourteen inch overhang opposite the sink allows for shallow stools to make this area a great place for a quick meal or entertaining. Choosing a dark colour for the base cabinets creates the illusion of more space because it visually recedes and your eye is carried to the white cabinets above. Open shelves are a real benefit in any small kitchen. Especially in a tight area, the absence of doors allows for easier access.

Not compromising on the quality of appliances makes any kitchen, no matter how small, more fun to use. Purchasing a range that has a double oven will certainly give you added functionality. We did not have space in this kitchen for a microwave, so we came up with a creative solution — we simply repeated the luxurious colour in a cabinet which was built around a post on the dining room side of the kitchen (inset photo above). It houses the microwave as well as ample space for glasses, platters and other items for dining.

Small spaces can often provide a challenging journey in the design process, however with clever and creative solutions, you don’t have to compromise style or functionality. Investing in the expertise of a professional who has knowledge and experience in the design process will provide you with personalized solutions which suit your needs.

More tips for small kitchens:
• Choose the same cabinet pull or knob on all the doors; this keeps the area from being visually busy.
• Upgrade your lighting with pot lights, under cabinet lighting, in-cabinet lighting, and hanging lights, and always use dimmers to create various moods.
• Add decorative details such as crown or posts to the cabinets to add a more customized look.
• Paint your walls similar to the upper cabinets for a more expansive look.
• Consider purchasing smaller appliances which now are not only stylish but offer better cooking efficiency options.

— Evelyn Eshun

Evelyn Eshun • Toronto-based accredited award winning interior designer, Principal of Evelyn Eshun Design. For almost two decades Evelyn has concentrated on and known for her custom designed residential projects throughout the GTA. Known for making your space showcase and bring out the best in you.
www.evelyneshun.com

It Comes In Many Colours

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By GLEN PELOSO | Choosing the colour scheme for an entire house is a daunting task for most people. I once had a “design 911” call from a woman even as the painter was on the ladder, with half the room painted. She liked it in a friend’s house but hated it in her own.

Without going into the whole history of colour, there is a simple starting point when looking at painting a whole house. It’s what we refer to as the “public colour.” This is the colour that remains the same throughout the hallways of the house, as well as in any room where there is no natural break from the hallways. It is the colour with which all of the others must work, and that will set the tone palate for the house.

It doesn’t matter if the colours of the individual rooms co-ordinate with one another, provided they work with the public colour. For instance, we worked on a house that was serving double duty as a live/work space. The main floor was a living space and the second floor was used as offices. The owner wanted the office to have vibrant colours conducive to creative work, and the main floor to have the elegance of an older Annex house.

As a public colour we chose Benjamin Moore’s HC 172 revere pewter — a very pale grey brown. It worked well with the living room colour, as a warm, golden yellow and the office on the second floor, where we used Benjamin Moore’s 2157-10, which is an electric orange.

If that yellow/gold and orange were side by side, it would have looked like the inside of a food processor after making that special curry dip. But the two colours were never seen together.

There is no real science to choosing a public colour, but start noticing the spaces that you like — are they painted in warm tones or cool tones? (We are attracted to colours for unknown reasons, just as we are to people.)

Once you have a feel for that, either work with a professional to help or if you must, go to a paint store and look at similar colours. It is worth the little money it costs to get a ‘large chip’ and carry it throughout the main hallways of the house. Colour is greatly affected by light and each of those spaces will have a different light quality. Also when looking at colour chips hold them parallel to the wall. (ie wall colours are held vertical and ceilings and floors horizontal) The way the light hits those surfaces will also change your perception of colour.

Once you have chosen the “public” colour, you need to make a decision about sheen level. Matte tends to hide the most sins in older homes — uneven walls and plaster — but it is the least amenable to cleaning. We tend to select the Aura brand from BM because it is flat and easily cleanable.
The ceiling and trim should be kept the same throughout — it will give the feeling of flow from room to room. I don’t recommend using a real white as it contains a blue tinge hence gives all of the rooms a cold hue. Try something with a slightly creamy tone. These will still seem white in contrast to the other colours.

Always choose a matte finish for the ceilings. Trim should be an eggshell finish as it is touched so often. As a designer I say be brave with colour. It’s only paint and can easily be redone if you really don’t like it! With a bit of time spent on the process of selection, you can avoid a “design 911” call. Instead you will be calling friends and speaking about how happy you are with the house and joking about how you can “freshen up your spouse”!

Playful Patterns

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by Paul Semkuley | Every individual will have an opinion, good or bad, and decorators and designers are no different. Some feel that a room can carry itself based on the design of the room and the furniture, however I often find they usually end up laying flat. With these rooms that are devoid of pattern, it opens up scrutiny to a flat and uninteresting space.

Pattern is a great creative way to bring intrigue and novelty to any space. Most patterns are usually used on furniture by way of fabric in the decorative pillows; stripes with florals, zigzags and suzanis, both large and small scale. You can still have pattern on your larger furniture pieces, but mostly small scale and tonal which will add that needed texture to a space.

Firstly choose your first pattern as a large scale as it will dominate. Your second one should be half the size and contrasting to your first: if you started with a floral, then the secondary pattern should be a stripe or geometric. Your third pattern can be a smaller version of either pattern, so that it reconnects them all together. A fourth pattern could be a very small check, which will read almost like a solid.

Occasionally the pattern that you love the most is the most expensive one, so we often like to use the trick of using a solid fabric on the back of the pillow to keep in line with the budget, but still have the impact of the pattern in the room.

Pattern should not always be limited to the fabrics of a room. They can be used in a multitude of ways: a herringbone layout in your hardwood flooring, wallpapering your walls and alcoves with chinoiserie, painting the walls in stripes, and basket weaves in your tiles of your shower floor. However, not all patterns need to be busy, so for a simple and clean look, use ceramic subway tile and stack it in glossy and matte white, creating a modern and chic pattern.

Pattern can also be utilized in bookcase displays, by aligning the books together first by size,then by colour, you can instantly create large blocks of pattern by alternating the books standing, stacking, standing, stacking until you achieve a pattern.

Pattern plays an integral element when decorating. It can and will add so much more to the room. If you do dare to do a lot of pattern, push the boundaries, and make it a stunning and dramatic room. Take a chance and let it play on itself. It’s nothing serious … just pattern.

5 Tips to remember
• Use a minimum of 3 patterns
• Money Saver: Use a solid or different fabric on the backs of your pillows
• Mix different scales of pattern
• Use it in unexpected and unique ways; trims and bindings
• Add in solids and textures to balance out the patterns

Of Colour Past…

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Colour comes in such an array. One would guess that is why a rainbow makes so much sense: a beautiful arc of every imaginable colour in the universe. What’s even more astonishing is that  a lot of the colours that we use and know of today were made from natural organic materials: earth, minerals and vegetation. It wasn’t until the 1800s when chemicals were used in conjunction with minerals to create one of the most beautiful colours: mauve. This was the beginning of the modern colours.

When it comes to painting ones room or home it can be a very daunting exercise. It is one element that challenges people the most when they begin to decorate. Colour is one of the first things people notice when they enter your room or home. In an instant it will create the mood, style and ambience of the room, and will truly enhance the architectural and design elements therein.

When I work with a client I first look for inspirations. Being inspired starts your journey into creating a beautiful and well thought out room. Finding inspiration for colour can come from many things, but taking a look at the past and its history will provide you some of the most important colours that we still use today: look to the renaissance for ochres, siennas and umbers, the ancient Egyptians and the Greeks for their use of blue and purple, or the Chinese civilization for their use of Vermilion. By choosing the right colour, it will provide you with the foundation necessary to build your room. 

All colours can be changed or enhanced to create nuances of colour. These are called Tint, Tone, and Shade. 

Tint: Any colour with white added, creates soft, youthful and soothing colours.

Tone: Any colour with black and white added, creates a “greyed down” colour. These are the most pleasing to the eye. They are complex, subtle and sophisticated.

Shade: Any colour with black added, creates deep, powerful and mysterious colours.

paul1

Your colour choice for your walls can take your room from calm and serene to bold and energetic. Painting a room is the easiest and most cost effective way to introduce change or simply update your surroundings. At times we will make suggestions to our clients that wallpaper is also considered a colour, but a treatment of walls and ceilings. It not only provides you with colour but can also bring texture and pattern to the room or halllway. Consider it as a feature wall to create a focal point as well as adding an additional design element to the room. 

Now that the walls have been painted or papered, we start to look at the furniture and how it works in the room. Larger pieces like sofas should be upholstered in neutrals (not necessarily beige) and it will give you a clean foundation to build upon. We can easily update and change the colours of the room through the use of accessories; decorative pillows, glassware/ceramics, found objects, and artwork. These all begin to add layers to your room, giving it the well curated and manicured aesthetic. If you’re willing to take a risk with colour, do one chair or smaller piece of furniture in the room to give it the unexpected “bang” of colour. With several tints, tones, and shades, there is myriad of colours to choose from.

Whatever colour you choose to work with remember that it must please you and make you want to be in the room. Not all rooms need to be full of colour, nor do they need to be sublte and subdued. Take the one colour you love and start to build on it. And when you’re not thinking about it, throw in a colour you wouldn’t ever dream of … it might just be that colour that will bring you and your room to life!