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
publications: my home in avenue magazine Jun 14, 2012
exciting news! Jul 13, 2011
One of the most popular concerns I address with my clients is the fear of commitment. A neutral palette is often the safest option with hits of colour tossed in with the intent on changing pillows, paint colours and accessories. Yet, at the same time people are drawn to the WOW factor of images they see in magazines. Those rooms did not get there because they are safe. They have an outside the box approach to design and fearless installation of bold colour and pattern, often in items not easily changed. This is where designs gets interesting. Take for instance the entry way below. This small space is a mighty force to walk into. I love it from top to bottom and guess what? It’s neutral. You can’t get much more neutral than black and white. The impact comes from the play on pattern and textures, from glossy to fine line sketches on the wallpaper. Is it too bold for you? How is your level of commitment when it comes to design?
Image credits: Interior Design by Phillip Gorrivan, Photographed by Michael Graydon, Image via House and Home
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 hope you’ve had a great week and an even better weekend planned for yourself. If you have a moment I hope you’ll take wander over to the wonderful world of Carrie Bond. Carrie is a fashion photographer with a certain allure about her photos, captivating the audience with romance, mystery and adventure. This is one of my favourites. Looks like she’s reminiscing about a special someone…. or planning her next hand bag purchase.
Enjoy! and happy weekend.
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 couldn’t help but be drawn to this vignette in Gucci on 5th Avenue in New York City. It has the allure of travel and far away places. Tailored and textured, simple and classic, I imagined what a room might look like built around this image. Inspiration is everywhere. Whether in fashion, nature, vacations, I could go on. If it impacts you in that moment, chances are it will do the same in a room scheme. Listen to the ooohs and ahhhhs within to provide ideas for your home.
I took the bottom photo at ABC Carpet & Home. It’s a textured wall with incredible depth and colour. Doesn’t it work well with the Gucci image above? I love them together and in fact, I think the ‘wall’ image would make an amazing area carpet to work with the scheme of furniture. Hello?! Can you stay stunning? It would cost a pretty penny but I’m positive it would make the room famous. Just a suggestion should you wish to take these ideas and make them your own.
1. Baladi Rustic Mirror from The Cross 2. Anjeo Distressed Gold Mercury Glass table lamp from Arteriors 3. Harrison two drawer file cabinet by Alexa Hampton for Hickory Chair 4. Vaughn leather chair in Brighton Col. Giacomo from Crate and Barrel 5. Missoni Masuleah cushion from Provide Home 6. Auburn small stool, design by Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair.
Oh…and if the adorable Gucci skirt is a little out of budget, I found a similar one at Jacob for a fraction of the cost. Definitely the look for less :)
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.
Not long ago I blogged about those who may have a pillow problem. The type who feel pillows will solve their decorating dilemmas overnight and with no success secretly have a graveyard of pillows stashed in a closet taking up valuable storage space. You know what I’m talking about right?
There’s no doubt pillows are an important finishing touch to a room but I’m here to say, get a plan. No different than creating a furniture plan for a room, pillows deserve the same attention.
Fun, personality and unexpected elements are indeed part of pulling a room together and certainly in the final details, don’t get me wrong. Not every selection needs to be planned perfectly or you risk a contrived feeling. It may also depend on the type and overall style of the room. (Have I convinced you to hire a designer yet?)
The living room featured in the April/May issue of Dabble is one where we planned the pillows. We sourced fabrics, organized sizes and mixed colour and pattern. We also created two schemes or options if you will, one for spring/summer, the other for fall/winter. Within these two colour combinations we also have a mix and match approach where a certain pillow could be used for both. The fact is, a multitude of options and combinations exist but as you can see in the photos below, varying the pillows, changes the look of the room.
With a neutral colour palette focused on textures, we incorporated pillows with pattern and colour, arranged in an asymmetrical way within a symmetrical room.
Keeping a stash of pillows in your closet or cupboard is not a bad thing providing they have a purpose and a place. So get a plan together and brighten up your sofa or bed with a little pillow love.
I admit my favorite of the two is the turquoise. Which one is yours?
ps. I’ve uploaded the images from this photo shoot into my portfolio if you’d like to see more :)
Photography by: Lori Andrews
Art credits: Painting by Barbara Milne courtesy of the Paul Kuhn Gallery, Photograph by David Burdeny courtesy of the Herringer Kiss Gallery
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.
During our recent vacation to Palm Springs, my friend Jacqueline gave us a generous list of some of her favorite spots while visiting the area. Le Parker Meridien was on her list and although we did make it there, it was bad timing and regrettably we left sooner than I would have liked. I think ‘paparazzi’ or ‘stalker’ would have described me to a tea as I walked the grounds, snapping photos of everything I could in an effort to capture the sense of oasis and feeling of wanting to stay there.
There’s something about walking into a hotel lobby, an exciting first impression, the feeling of a getaway, girls weekend, vacation or exciting business conference. At least those are feelings I’ve had during my recent travels. Hotels are special, a home away from home, yet a fantasy world at the same time as the decor and atmosphere would not be seen in our everyday living spaces. The point exactly.
The vibe is certainly mid century, but with a groovy, hippie-like twist. The grounds are lush with greenery and winding paths revealing places to ‘hang out’ and relax along the way. All so private you forget where you are. So. Dreamy.
A lemonade stand in the grounds where you’ll find ‘adult’ lemonade and a small but tasty menu. This area is only for hotel guests, another reason to go back!
Although kid friendly, my husband and I immediately commented on how we should return to the Parker for a weekend getaway. Ummmm….how about next weekend? I hope to take it all in another time but for now I will enjoy it through the eye of my camera lens.
Interior Design by: Jonathan Adler Architecture by: David Mann Landscape Architecture by: Judy Kameon
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.
Although warm, at first glance this space may appear sparse. Take a closer look and you’ll see the selections, thoughtful placement and design details have made this area so much more interesting.
I simply adore it on so many levels. What do you think?
Interior Design by: Thom Filicia
Ahhhhh…it’s Friday. Thank goodness because it’s been a busy week, ok let’s get real, busy few months. The days are going by at lightening speed and I can’t possibly believe it is mid April already. Anyway, I’ve scheduled a casual day for myself today and I’ve been looking forward to it all week! A couple of dates with friends and I’m one happy girl. Perhaps a little shopping would be icing on the cake as I would love to put together an outfit like this. It says spring is in the air but warmth is still necessary. Perfect weekend wear for our Calgary weather these days. With that said, it’s going to crest +20 this weekend so I may just pull out the shorts.
Happy weekend!
Image via: Atlantic – Pacific
It’s April, so time to start thinking about spending time outdoors (if you haven’t already). If you’re dusting off your patio furniture and wondering if you need an update, let me introduce you to St. Tropez from Alfred Sung.
I first laid eyes on this new collection at the Interior Design Show in Toronto and was instantly impressed. The hit of colour, open weave pattern, fade and crack proof resin, endless configuration options and equally good for small and large outdoor spaces are all reasons why this collection is such a hit.
It’s neutral palette combines well with other neutrals and textures of course, but why not add other summery colours such as yellow, hot pink, lime green or even a print to compliment the citrus orange? So fun.
Use as an ottoman or table, the cubes are versatile pieces in check and chevron patterns. I love the attention to detail this line offers. It’s overall modern feel is flexible and easy to work with to suit your space and style.
I imagine adding over scaled planters into the scheme to complete the look. Think large resin pots filled with grasses or modern greenery.
Mix and match your way to create an outdoor oasis with the new St. Tropez collection from Alfred Sung. Available at the Bay.
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home tolife 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’m a detail person. Perhaps it comes with being a designer, but it’s the finer elements, the additions and extras that really do it for me when it comes to design and detail. During a recent trip to Los Angeles, we took a wander down the design district of La Cienega and I fell in love with the quaint boutiques with courtyards and tiny walkways between the buildings. We walked into Therien & Co., a store filled with period antiques and I couldn’t help but admire the addition of tassels to many of their pieces. This small detail hung from the keys opening doors and drawers to armoires, chests and desks. So pretty I had to share.
For me, the finishing touches really make a difference, whether it be contrast button tufting, moldings and trim or something as purely decorative as a tassel. I often think of tassels with drapery and pillows, but what a clever way of introducing them to a piece of furniture. And why not, right?
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.
On Friday I heard some pretty great news via AphroChic. Domino is back with a special edition of best makeovers, decorating tips and an insiders source guide. (Even us insiders love the source guides!) I can not wait to get my hands on a copy.
I admit my print magazine consumption has gone down. With blogs, online magazines and quite frankly not enough time in the day (sadly) to sit down and read through them all. IF however, Domino was still in print I’m pretty sure it would continue to grace the inside of my mailbox each month.
I’m on the hunt for this issue. If you see it around Calgary let me know! I haven’t seen it anywhere yet.
I also discovered a photo stream of Domino images on flickr that Cassandra from Coco & Kelly put together. I was so delighted to find this and honestly came across so many images I love and didn’t even realize were from Domino. There are far too many loves I couldn’t single out just one as my absolute favorite but this particular room is high on the list for sure.
• for me this is white done right. It’s warm and soft, not cold and stark.
• there is a feminine feel to the room but the clean lines and simplicity says a guy could hang out here too.
• love the combination of creams, white, soft pinks and caramel.
• the volume of this room is stunning, not to mention the Victorian details in the architecture on the ceiling and fireplace.
On a side note: I am madly in love with peonies right now. I bought two stems for a recent photo shoot and wish I’d bought an entire mound of them, and this weekend we purchased a (now empty!) tub of sweet and salty caramel ice cream that was to die for! Two images that felt right at home in the above room :)
Now, if only Metropolitan Home would resurface with a special edition…. who’s with me here?
Image credits: Warm modern living room via Domino flickr gallery Marielle 23′s photostream, Peonies via Paper Doll Romance, fireplace via flossy and me, sweet and salty caramel ice cream image via butter sugar flour
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.
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