I am pleased to see this main level space come together for my client. My busy male client requested a main level that was “not too manly and not too girly” that had a “neutral colour scheme”. A place that was cozy, inviting and homey for him and his two young boys (age 5 years and 4 months old). He also needed the furniture as soon as possible as he currently had no living room furniture or counter stools, and Christmas was quickly approaching.
Keeping these factors in mind, I went to work to design and curate a happy place space for his family. Let me walk you through the design!
Firstly, in his main level area, the focal point is the fireplace, so we wanted the layout of the furniture to help feature the fireplace feature wall. Choosing to position the couch and two accent chairs across from each other, while leaving the sight lines to the fireplace helps amplify the tall ceilings and focal point.
Choosing a sofa for a 6’2″ client was an interesting challenge, especially with him needing seating immediately! During the end of 2020 we were also experiencing high demands for furniture and home decor items, along with kinks in the supply chain which left the delivery times for many items quite delayed. His desire to have seating ASAP prevented us from being able to order custom couches, and all these conditions at play really narrowed down the options to needing to find the perfect couch – that was in stock today. I searched many stores to see what our options were for items that were of good quality build and available within a week or two. Zack from Perfect Home Furniture in Airdrie was a true asset to finding a solution, he showed us this gorgeous sofa chaise that they had in stock! (I would highly recommend him, should you be in need of some new furniture)
I love this couch for this space because:
- Built locally in Calgary with quality craftsmanship by Dynasty Furniture
- Deep seat depth
- Reversible sofa chaise
- Great grey neutral fabric
- A good fit for the space
- Long enough for my client to lay down and comfortably watch TV
Once we decided on the couch, we were able to move forward on selecting the remainder items for the living room to ensure it all complimented each other through colours and styles.
We went with these faux leather accent chairs which help bring out the accents in the granite counter tops nearby, and create some contrast and interest in the space. Wanting to keep a peaceful yet cozy space for the family to unwind after a busy day, I found these abstract art pieces which help connect the multiple colours of the space, and bring in more touches of black, which was an accent color in the space. These interesting pieces are timeless! Our color schemes were grey, black, cream, and browns through wood pieces. We mixed multiple wood tones together as the client already had the mix of the dark fireplace mantel, warm multi colored floors, the medium brown dining table top, and the antique white wood in the chairs. As a general rule, in design we like to have at least two pieces of each type of wood to help create unity in the room. The antique white side table helps balance out the white chairs and table base, while the round nesting coffee tables and the side table pair beautifully, the mantel connects with the dining console table, and the wall decor accents and tray tie into the dining table top. Repetition is key in design to create flow and harmony. There are also multiple touches of black metal throughout the room, such as counter tools, lamp, and table legs.
Accent Chairs
I am a huge fan of the black faux leather Centiar counter stools (on right in photo below) from Perfect Home to complete the seating for the space. These trendy counter stools were a great fit as they are dark and washable, which is a great feature for my client as he has young boys who are sure to get they messy while eating. Being a mother myself, I am well aware of the special needs required to help accommodate children and choose items that will stay looking great for a long time. Another feature of these stools is the foot bar which will help the youngest the climb up in a couple years when he is a toddler.
Over in the dining room, we had a local craftsman, Edward, from “Screw-It” custom build this dining console table that I found the design for on Pinterest. The cost of a custom solid wood item was very reasonable, and we were able to select the perfect stain to help tie in the fireplace mantle and round coffee tables. It always feels good to support local; furthermore, we were so pleased with the customer service, quality workmanship and turnaround time that Ed provided us.
Accessorizing the console with some artificial plants helps bring in joy and grounding through nature and greenery, which I believe is crucial to any space within a home. The playful layout of the picture frames and wall art above the console provides a space for family photos to be viewed and enjoyed during family meals at the table. I personally love the rustic wooden “L” monogram. I wanted to incorporate the “L” for the family’s last name as it is extra special having two sons who will carry on the family lineage. I always like to tie in meaning behind the designs I put together for this clients. As a final touch here, I brought in some functional yet gorgeous storage bins to incorporate more nature and texture and provide space for toys for the children.
Adding in cushions, curtains, luscious blankets, tray, accessories and an area rug to bring in some comfort, textures, soft colours and unify the space to complete the design. I found these items at Homesense, and I must admit that these shopping trips were my favourite part of designing this room! I even have a fellow designer, Sarah Kirkpatrick, from Unshelf Design join me with the accessorizing fun! Its always nice to have a second pair of eyes. Together we hung the art, and accessorized the space.
All in all, this was a great project, and I came in just under budget. I hope this family enjoys this space as much as I do.
Shout out to Sam with Iconic Images for these stunning photos!
