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
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared a before and after! This particular installation happened early December and we transformed this empty room in a day from basic to beautiful. See the colour and inspiration story here.
Due to the overall size of the room, a sense of coziness and warmth was important to achieve. My clients also requested a sitting area (desk included), with a place for family photos and travel memories. The result is one of stylish comfort, embracing neutral colours, natural textures and an infusion of aubergine in a subtle way.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Using their existing mission style bed, we added painted bedside tables and dresser in a warm gray. Attention to detail in the circular pattern on the dresser is repeated in the large wood framed mirror above and the night stand hardware.
It’s always a great feeling when your vision comes to life and your clients are thrilled with the results. From what I hear the daybed is everyone’s favorite!
All images are my own.
Nyla Free Designs Inc. 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 Inc. also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
© 2013 Nyla Free Designs Inc.
I’m always amazed when I look back at the before photos at the end of a project. I kind of forget what things were like before the walls came down and floors torn up because soon into the start of a project the end result is already in my mind. The photos speak volumes to the changes and confirm the decisions made along the way to better the space. This project is no exception. A long time client of mine recognized it was time to not only update her basement bathroom from a style perspective but create a space far more efficient and practical then what she currently had.
The ‘before’ bathroom was a divided space, a sink/vanity area out in the open (notice the carpet!) and through the door, a shower, toilet and additional sink. Not practical and certainly lacking in style, my clients requested a makeover. On the list: create a stylish, yet practical bathroom with tub, shower, vanity AND storage. With the bathroom 6′ wide by 10′ long and still a rather small space, decisions had to be made carefully and thoughtfully. We also needed to take into consideration the grandchildren who would use this space as it is close to the ‘play room’ and TV watching area of the home.
If you’d like to see our initial concept please visit the bathroom reno sneak peek.
AFTER!The tub was one of our first selections, a Victoria & Albert free standing beauty. We offset the white tub with black granite tiles on the wall to create a dramatic visual from the doorway as well as a surface with easy maintenance for any splashing from the tub. After all, creating drama in a space need not compromise practicality.
We opted to make the surface area of the custom vanity smaller in order to accommodate a pantry style unit, floor to ceiling, offering the space a huge amount of storage. To give a more spacious feel we lifted the vanity off the floor allowing the tile to continue to the wall. This a great tip in making spaces feel larger!
Because this bathroom is in a basement we needed to deal with a foundation wall we could not move. Embracing the ‘issue’ we created a ledge for display and decorative storage. Renovations do bring about surprises but finding creative solutions will often yield great results.
The bathroom is also a mix of masculine and feminine touches and rich textures. We used cafe mocha colours along with dramatic black, yet softened the space with finishing touches of pinks and a hint of red. Along with the graphic black and white geometric prints, three custom canvases from Bijou et Boheme‘s shop Wink of Pink add the perfect amount of softness in the space. If you’re not familiar with Christine’s new shop you must check it out. Please!
We used a mix of natural stone and porcelain tiles, a give and take approach to the budget. The natural stone mosaic ‘area rug’ is surrounded by less expensive 12″ x 12″ porcelain tiles to offset the costs and allow the carpet to take center stage. Natural stone in the shower adds texture and interest, a great visual through the glass shower walls….
….which is another way to create an open and spacious feel in a small bathroom. This way the site line is not impeded by walls and the flow of natural light carries throughout the space, even with such a small window.
Let’s recap: Here are 5 tips for a small space bathroom renovation
I’m pretty thrilled with the results, as is my client. And that my friends is a great feeling!
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.
Besides the kitchen, family rooms are the hub of the home and I believe a space where good design and functionality are able to live in a successful marriage of beautiful, family friendly furniture and fabrics. This room was feeling tired and ready for change. My client wanted a fresh feel all while using the existing teal velvet sofa and loveseat as well as the wall colour. I put together a palette of fabrics (see the family room sneak peek), using a mix of patterns and colour to liven up the room.
Family room before. The dog really liked the area carpet as you can see by the corner. Time for a new one! We originally intended to use the existing wood frame curved chairs but opted for new ones to achieve the right scale for the space.
Family room after. Fret work style drapery fabric from Schmacher in ivory and grey offers a much higher impact than the previous neutral solid pleats. New chairs in a classic style, upholstered in a modern speckled Designers Guild ultrasuede, ideal for easy maintenance.
New area carpet from Weavers Art, a gorgeous fresco pattern in muted colours of yellow, ivory, taupe and grey.
New art work by David Burdeny from Herringer Kiss Gallery adds a calming feel to the room, a perfect addition to this busy house but also holds sentimental value as the family has fond memories at this particular beach.
Details make a difference, especially on a coffee table. Close up shots of the table vignette and the punch of yellow is a perfect hit in small doses both here and in the Arteriors table lamp (shown above).
I love the soft mix of colour and pattern. It’s a stylish, comfortable and welcoming environment suited to lounging in front of the television, reading a book or gathering with friends.
Up next is a master bedroom re-vamp. We’ve just started ordering furniture so stay tuned for more!
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.
A current project that I have fallen in love with is coming to life and almost near completion. One of my favorite rooms in the home is the study, a second floor retreat for my client to read, send notes written or digitally and even watch a little TV. Our goal was to surround the room with books creating floor to ceiling, wall to wall bookshelves housing an eclectic collection of inspiring reading material. The transformation is quite dramatic. Here’s where we started.
Palm tree drapery and bright orange walls. Wow! With those elements removed, fabulous windows, blonde maple floors and a large open space we had the perfect base to bring the room to this…..
The view of the study as you enter the room. Inviting and calm, filled with a passion of reading.
Keeping the floor and millwork the same colour the books become the focus, alongside the traditional area carpet adding colour and texture to the room.
Wall sconces and art hanging directly off the millwork add dimensional elements.
This image reminds me that one of my goals this summer is to read a book. Crazy I know but my ‘extra’ time has been so limited lately that reading has been far removed from my schedule. *sigh*
You can see more of this space in the latest issue of Dabble Mag where you’ll find insights and information on Custom Millwork.
Photography: Lori Andrews. Contractor: Foothills Renovations.
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.
You’ve seen the ‘after’ in the March/April issue of Dabble Mag (pg.68-72), and now see where it all began.
After moving into a previously owned home typically there are grand plans to make it your own, however it’s common to settle in and watch years go by before a renovation occurs. In my client’s case it was thirty and high time to bring this bathroom to life by removing wallpaper, carpet and drapery.
Quick sketch of the bathroom layout and floor tile configuration.
The layout of the bathroom remained the same. We took advantage of the large window by adding a glass wall in the shower and opening up the space which involved moving the plumbing to the opposite wall. This was the biggest change in the bathroom and well worth it. Replacing and re-sizing the window was also a worthwhile change as the original window was too low to allow a new tub to fit properly without compromising the window frame.
As you know tile was a large part of our design scheme. Natural materials were also important in our decision making using marble, granite, glass and walnut wood to name a few. I originally blogged about creating interest with neutral tile at the start of this renovation.
A photo during the renovation. Floor is complete and counter has been installed. Next the tub deck is to be tiled so the glass can be measured for the new shower wall.
After…a world of difference. Bright, warm and inviting. A perfect place to wake up to and finish off the day.
Renovations can seem daunting and overwhelming at times. There are many decisions to be made during the process, but having the right team working with you will smooth the process and ensure a fabulous end result.
You can learn more about choosing tile from my Reality Check video on the Dabble website.
Sources:
Accent table and chair: Maria Tomas, Painting: Kate Schutz through Domaine, Accessories: Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Homesense
During a recent family trip to Toronto we stayed with my brother and sister-in-law. Blynda is a wonderful photographer and also has a keen eye for fashion and design. Upon entering their new home, I couldn’t help but be instantly drawn to these chairs. When I learned that she bought them at a flea market for $10.00 each – YES! I said $10.00, I fell in love with them even more. Blynda stripped and re-stained the wood to a rich chocolate brown and re-upholstered the seat in a natural linen fabric. Voila! A chair completely re-invented!
The before:
The after: A fabulous flea market find, turned beautiful chair with a modern elegance. Isn’t it just lovely?
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