Design that Reveals
Design that Reveals
Creativity is my love, interior design is my focus. Whether it be full service interior design, re-decoration or even online design through Design in a Box, I am passionate about all things creative. Here, I will share insights into projects, inspirations and what's going on in the world of design from Calgary and beyond. Would love to have you follow along.
my bedroom reveal May 10, 2011
exciting news! Jul 13, 2011
design: arbour lake house final reveal Nov 29, 2010
Last weeks *free* design notes was really fun. Many of you chimed in and shared what you liked and didn’t like about this bathroom. I loved hearing all the opinions and comfort levels and I even learned a few things! So I’m doing it again this week and would really love my ‘notes’ blog to become interactive and a place for you to share your thoughts and comments as well, so don’t be shy!
Since it’s Halloween today, I thought I’d share a dark and beautiful space. Walls, ceiling and floor are all black, yet so striking and gorgeous with pretty floral chairs overlooking a lovely yard.
I’ve got to know, does this scare you? Designer friends, have you ever done or had requests for a kitchen or space as dark as this? Non-designer friends, would you even consider doing something this dramatic in your own home? Correct me if I’m wrong but most of us look at this and admire the confidence and wow factor this room has. The question is, does it stop there? Could you…or would you dare to do something as dramatic and this? I must know!
Comment below and share your thoughts! Always love hearing from you.
Image via: Apartment Therapy
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
If you read my Halloween post last year, you’ll recognize this space. Don’t you find that each year it’s becoming more and more popular with stores, decorations and expectations of goulish delight increasing? Our girls were invited to a halloween party this past weekend so my oldest really wanted to have a scary(er) costume this year. Here she is in her ‘little miss monstrous’ costume we found via Martha Stewart Living, while sitting at our stylishly scary entrance. Can you tell she has the attitude to go along with it?! What are your kids dressing up as? Or maybe the question should be what are you dressing up as? My five year old thinks I should be a ‘Mummy’ :)
Hope you have a safe and fun Halloween!
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
I recently completed a design in a box for a client that I wanted to share with you. I was really pleased with how it all came together and judging from the email back I think she was too.
“I just wanted to thank you for your work on my living room design. I love it and I am so excited to make some changes. I will take some photos when I have everything done so that you can see what it looks like.”
Let’s hope she does because I would love to see the finished room!
Here’s a peak inside her design in a box:
This particular client wanted a bright, unique and modern space. After reviewing colour options with her, I decided to have fun with orange, brick red and neutrals such as linen, sand and ivory. A new furniture layout and selections as well as fresh fabrics will not only brighten the room, but offer a comfortable space for two, or several when entertaining.
Hope you enjoyed this sneak peak!
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
For today’s design notes I need audience participation. I want to hear from you!
I truly love the bathroom below from Martha Stewart Living, however there are aspects of it I’m questioning and would love your thoughts too.
Are you brave enough to put an orange vanity in your bathroom? How practical is not having a mirror above the vanity? What are your thoughts on the open shelf and the glass counter?
Chime in!
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
Starting a renovation, new build or decorating project is exciting and at the same time overwhelming. The fear of making a mistake is often paralyzing, causing unnecessary stress which of course takes away from the happiness you felt at the beginning. So you decide to ask for help and bring in an interior designer. Great! You won’t regret that decision but before you get to work, here are seven things you can do to get your project started on a positive note.
How much of an investment are you ready to make?
During an initial consultation this topic must be addressed. It is imperative in moving forward with a project. Knowing the dollar value of what you are comfortable with spending is a key element for a designer in narrowing down not only where they can shop but the types of fabrics and finishings that can be selected. It also saves time and money as neither are wasted looking for items that don’t fit the budget. Discussing your overall investment with your spouse or significant other will ensure everyone is on the same page . A designer will let you know how realistic that number is and what can be accomplished within that amount.
Put together an idea file
Most clients I work with know what they like, or at least what they don’t like. Designers have ways of assessing your current space, even how you dress gives an indication of your style, but we aren’t mind readers (although some days I wish I was!). Collecting images, tear sheets, websites, even blogs that you like is a great jumping off point in understanding your style and what appeals to you. Organizing by room, or category works well and be sure to note what about the room is appealing to you. Giving your designer as much information as possible will get the project off to a great start.
Assess your lifestyle
Knowing how you live, and everyone in the house for that matter, is essential to achieving a successful end result. Only you know the inner workings of your home, how you cook, eat, sleep, watch TV, store your clothes, what rooms get used the most…. you get the idea. This is all critical information to creating a space, or several that are personalized to your needs and lifestyle. Having a good sense of this prior to meeting with your designer is a great help.
Prepare to trust
When you hire a designer, you are bringing a professional into your home. A designer offers not only their opinion and advice but also knowledge and experience. Trusting their expertise will further enhance your experience. Second guessing, wanting multiple options and indecision all add time and in turn cost more money. Designers narrow down the choices to what they feel is best based on budget, lifestyle and the overall look that is being put together. Trusting their vision will yield fabulous results.
Create a need and a ‘would love’ list
With every project there are needs that exist and they must be prioritized, but let’s face it, there are wants as well. Get as much as you can out of your renovation, new build or re-decoration by preparing a list of both. Even the little details matter. “I need a place for recycling” > “I would love it to be in the the kitchen but easy to transport outside”. Communication is key.
Have an open mind
Designers will bring forth ideas you haven’t considered, show you things you’ve never seen before and pull it all together effortlessly, right?! That’s why designers are hired. Clients are typically less than satisfied with their space and realize they need help. Or they’ve embarked on a project that is far too overwhelming to take on without the expertise and knowledge of an interior designer. Keeping an open mind to the creativity that exists inside the mind of a designer will give you an end result that is sure to leave you feeling so great about your space you couldn’t image not hiring a designer for your next project.
Choose a designer that is right for you
I can’t stress how important it is to find the right fit between you and your designer. Look at this as a long term relationship and you’ll understand what I mean. You will spend hours together, planning, reviewing, preparing, debating, shopping…I could go on. Liking each other is critical. Respecting each other is essential. I have many clients who have become great friends and I value our relationship so much. And THAT is one of the reasons why I love what I do.
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
It’s no secret that October is Breast Cancer awareness month. People get involved with the fight for a cure on all levels, large and small, stylish and athletic. Every effort matters. Mottega‘s Hope Collection is pink, of course, and each purchase will benefit Susan G. Komen for the cure ®. It’s a win, win. Every room could use a little pink in it, don’t you think?
Your choice of two lamps at an unbelievable price of $99.00 (USD) for such high quality and style!
Camille is a lovely ceramic lamp in a soothing soft pink. She measures approximately 13″ in height and 8″ in diameter. Camille features include two finials, a silver metal and pink ceramic and an 8′ clear cord. The shade is a white drum shade measuring 13″ at the top, 14″ at the base and 9″ in overall height.
Alexis is a fun, feminine glass lamp with an 8′ soft pink cloth cord. She is approximately 11″ in diameter and stands 8″ tall. The shade is a small, white drum shade measuring 12″ at the top and 13.5″ at the base – with an overall height of 9″. Both a silver metal and pink ceramic finial are included.
To learn more, please visit mottega.com/komen
Every purchase, donation, run, walk and hug can make a difference.
Now go brighten your space and someone’s life with a new lamp purchase!
Links: Shoes, Coat, Sofa, Scarf (Burberry, last season), Earings.
I’m sharing a glimpse of fabrics and finishing details from a bedroom design that is near completion. Actually the house is almost complete and ready to be photographed. I’ve already shown a sneak peak of the living room fabrics as well as the competed study with the before & after, but that’s all I’m going to show you for now. Sorry!
This room is all about texture and warmth. It’s pretty dramatic, not to mention the beautiful view my clients have out their bedroom windows. We also have a play on patterns, a few of which you don’t see here. The bedding and daybed are missing elements in this collage of materials and as you can imagine important to the overall scheme. But alas, they will have to remain undercover for now.
Featured fabrics: Kravet, Donghia, Zoffany Paint: Pratt & Lambert
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
Thank you to all who entered this years design in a box contest! I can’t tell you how much fun it was to receive each of the entries and I was surprised to see that bedrooms were the most popular room in the house that needed attention.
These are just a few of the words to describe the existing spaces:
And a few of the words describing the desired end result:
Oh how I wish I could help each and every entry! A huge thank you to all who entered and shared with friends via email or facebook. So without further adieu, here are the winners:
Natalie is the winner of a personalized design in a box for her master bathroom. She says it’s currently “builder basic • uninviting • lackluster”. She would like it transformed into a space that is “warm • elegant • sophisticated”.
Can’t wait to get started Natalie!
The second prize goes to Dana who has a 1920′s character home. Congratulations! You can put your 25% discount towards your bedroom or one of the other spaces in your home for a personalized design in a box.
Thank you again to all who entered and shared in the contest.
xo
Nyla
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
Each day I stepped outside our condo while on summer vacation in Vernon, British Columbia and saw these rocks. Now, most would walk right past, not giving them a second glance but I was intrigued by the colours that were found within. So simple and subtle. What a beautiful colour story! I imagined taking these natural rocks and transforming them into a sophisticated living room. Such a natural looking colour palette that infuses on trend colours also offering longevity and timeless appeal. What do you think?
1. This painterly pillow of blooms from ABC Carpet & Home dresses a wonderfully curved 2. sofa from Montauk (image via The Design Tilt). Elegant lamp from Mottega that stand tall and proud. 3. Love the introduction of this pierced resin accent table from Oly Studio reflecting a reverse rock pattern. 5. Wall colour in Benjamin Moore Grant Beige HC-83 (image via House Beautiful) 6. Flank the sofa with functional and stylish modern glamour clarkson nesting tables from Ethan Allen 7. The serene colours of Patricia Larson artwork would be striking above the sofa 8. Complete the conversation grouping with two chairs in Designers Guild 100% linen brera lino fabric.
Who knew a pile of rocks could be so pretty?!
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
Today’s post is a little more on the personal side, but that’s ok right? It’s important that you know me for me and sometimes that doesn’t always revolve around design.
Perhaps its the Thanksgiving weekend that has brought on these thoughts of nostalgia and tradition and the fact that I miss my Grandma. I like to think that everyone’s Grandma is super special to them but if you had met mine I’m pretty sure she would have topped your list. She was one amazing woman.
I am reminded of her gracious ways and welcoming spirit. I remember large gatherings in their home. Family, friends and neighbors, it didn’t matter, everyone was welcome. My Grandparents’ home had a door that was always open and it seemed as though the bell would ring regardless of the occasion with people just stopping by to say hi. My Grandma would be fussing away in the kitchen and upon hearing the bell, would throw her arms up walking towards the door, proclaiming, “Oh…it’s Phyllis!” so everyone could hear and welcome a new guest to sit for coffee or even dinner. There was always room for one more.
We’ve had a wonderful weekend with family and friends. We are thankful. We are blessed. I’ve got a roast in the oven today and I find myself wishing we lived in a time when people would just pop around, uninvited, but not any imposition in the least. Today we’re busy, aren’t we? A sense of community has been lost along the way. Families spread out and it’s not always easy to connect.
My family loves to entertain. Our girls are always asking when we can have someone over next. They are little social butterflies and I can only think that they inherited this from their Great-Grandmother.
Sweet memories of my Grandma. She will always be close to my heart.
Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! I hope you have had a chance to enjoy the company of loved ones this weekend.
Image sources: Top image Dottie Angel via Sweet Sweet Life, 1. A pack of chiclets tucked away in a drawer was a staple in the kitchen 2. I played jacks by the hour on the floor while she cooked or baked 3. In their front yard was a massive birch tree. Maybe that’s why I love this wallpaper so much? 4. I come by my love of travel honestly. My Grandma was ready to go at anytime and it didn’t matter if it involved a car ride or an airplane, her luggage was packed and waiting by the door 5. Grandma’s make it look so easy! Image via: Photobucket 6. Grandma would bake and I would eat…welsh cakes by the dozen. 7. With a love of knitting there was always a ball of yarn around.
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