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
Tent London is a multi faceted design show and considered one of the most creative events in the design calendar. It boasts over 200 established, yet up and coming interior product designers. These companies are pushing boundaries, with colour combinations and graphic patterns, a trend I spotted each and every row I traveled.
Seaside inspired, Zoe Murphy uses textiles and imagery on recycled furniture encouraging a ‘love what belongs to you’ mindset.
Vintage toys, childhood memories and travel continue to inspire the designers of Mini Moderns where they’ve mastered the art of pattern in their own voice on such items as pillows, wallpaper, fabrics, rugs and ceramics.
Luxurious bohemian patterns is all you really need to say to pique your interest of Surfacephilia. A sketched approach to the design of wallpapers, cushions, bone china and greeting cards, the depth and interest in each pattern caught my eye instantly.
It doesn’t get more classic than black and white, however award winning print design company Erica Wakerly, has taken the graphic combination and softened it. Their approach to interior textiles and wallpaper is described as ‘Modern and delicate. Distinct, but not overpowering’.
Lovers of colour and inspired by their surroundings of nature, art and fashion, Parris Wakefield Additions collection is bold and graphic. With a strong and successful background in graphic design they’ve embraced interiors with their collection of cushions, fabrics, rugs and wallpapers.
What I loved about BlogTour London and the London Design Festival was the diverse visual eye candy that did not disappoint day after day. Each show, showroom tour and not to mention BlogTour London participants, brought a different approach to design, inspiring avenues of reaching their end product as well as a style so apparently unique to everyone, you couldn’t help but be filled with the vigor to go forth and create!
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 love receiving packages at my doorstep. They are often samples or small items for clients, however this particular package was addressed to me! Have you ever wrapped a present in a box, within a box, within a box, within another box? That’s exactly how this was delivered so needless to say it took some time to get to the final box and unveil the treasure inside.
Crate and Barrel is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year, which is a pretty big deal, no? The Arzberg Teapot has been a Crate and Barrel classic since December 7, 1962, when the first stored opened in Chicago. Inspired by the Bauhaus school, its perfectly simple shape was designed in 1931 for the Arzberg porcelain factory in Germany. A young college student by the name of Gordon Segal first bought the teapot as a birthday present for his mother who loved making tea in the afternoon. When he opened the very first Crate and Barrel store in Chicago with his wife, Carole, he bought it again. And again. And again. In a 12-month, 50th anniversary celebration, 12 international designers have been given the Arzberg teapot as their artistic canvas. Each is a limited-edition collector’s item, numbered and signed by the artist.
I was thrilled and honoured to receive a limited edition Arzberg tea pot as a gift from Crate and Barrel. A typography collage of 50′s, designed by Bonnie Cauble. Thank you so much Crate! It has a special place on my bookshelf.
There’s a new tea pot for each month and the January and February editions are already sold out. See the collection online at Crate and Barrel and pick up yours while you still can.
Here’s to another 50 years of great style.
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.
At Nyla Free Designs Inc. we have what’s called styling day. When a project is ready for install all furniture, accessories, artwork and the like are delivered, placed and styled for our clients. It doesn’t always happen in one day but we sure try. During this day, there’s so much going on and to be honest sometimes it gets messy before it gets beautiful. I make sure to bring along our toolbox filled with necessary tools and supplies to make styling day as smooth as possible. Every designer, decorator, stager or stylist should have one. If you do, what special tools do you have to make your life easier? Here’s a look inside mine ~
The other essential tool (not shown) is my phone or larger Canon camera to snap photos of the ins and outs of the day itself as well as the ‘after’ shots revealing all your hard work and vision coming to life. Don’t forget the photos!
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.
Ok, I’m being a tease. Just one image from my Vancouver condo install is all you’re allowed. I’m keeping the rest of the project under wraps for now, however I’m sharing one of my favourite shots which gives a sneak peek of the warm, West Coast natural and airy feel of the space.
At 3:15 I was furiously snapping photos when I was supposed to be on my way to the airport by 3 to return to Calgary. Oh the things we do for photos! Thankfully, many of them turned out, and I made my flight on time.
See my day in the life post as well as the project sneak peek for more on this exciting condo we furnished and accessorized from top to bottom.
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.
Hello! I’m off to Vancouver bright and early this morning to bring to life a condo project I started back in the fall. Delivery of all the furniture and drapery installation happens today, art and accessorizing tomorrow, flowers and final touches on Saturday. Sunday my clients will return home for the big reveal. Exciting!
Below is the inspiration behind the selections to give you a sneak peek at the overall feel. We’ve taken cues from natural elements and added touches of modern, alongside stunning colouful artwork and a city view.
If you missed Monday’s post, pop over to ‘a day in the life’ to see where it all began.
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 have to admit I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. It’s a tad over done for me and why do we limit all the fuss to one day a year aside from anniversaries, birthdays or other momentous occasions?
I bought these prints for a little girls room yesterday and while they do have an underlying Valentine’s theme, I think they are perfectly adorable, and why not celebrate candy hearts and kisses all year long?
Pretty in pink: the bedding and paint colour already in place. 
As of late, I’ve been more conscious of supporting smaller businesses so sourcing wall decor and accessories via avenues such as etsy is not only cost effective, you also get something off the beaten path and I love the idea of supporting a ‘little shop’.
Check out more of amanda catherine designs on etsy.
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.
Last fall I embarked on a distance project in Vancouver, outfitting a condo top to bottom. I flew out for a day to visit the site and start the sourcing process. By the end of this week it will be complete and I’m looking forward to seeing our vision come together. Thursday I’ll share a sneak peek at the colours and concept but for now, here’s a look at a day in the life…
Caught the first flight out of the day.
Watched the sunrise during my flight.
Arrived at Layers and Layers.
A busy morning sourcing fabrics and furniture.
Took a cab to Granville Street. Vancouver is still so green in October.
Found furniture pieces and accessories in Granville shops.
Walked across the Granville Street Bridge to Yaletown.
More furniture and accessory sourcing in Yaletown.
Walked to site via the Vancouver Public Library.
Arrived at site and re-connected with Sharon from Layers and Layers to see the space and site measure.
The before.
Homeward bound. Caught the sky train back to the airport.
Watch for more sneak peeks via instagram, twitter or facebook later this week!
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.
While we’ve moved into our new office, there’s still lots to do in order to bring it’s personality to life, but I thought it would be fun to share an inspiration board of the pieces we’re using in the space. Embracing the utilitarian concept of Calgary’s old military base, we’ve gone vintage 50′s with mid-century modern meets school house and bursts of colour on the side. One of my favorite pieces are the vintage swim bins, 25 wire baskets encased in a worn, kelly green metal frame. Perfect for client samples!
Rest assured we’ll show you the completed space when we’re all done.
1. Swim bins via Queen West Antiques, image via Shawn Hoke Photography, 2. Modern weave handled baskets via West Elm 3. Harmon pendant via Restoration Hardware 4. Vintage Eames management chair via Queen West Antiques 5. Weathered oak laminate flooring via Mannington 6. Eames marble top dining table via Queen West Antiques similar to Saarinen Tulip table shown 7. Bauhaus side chair via Restoration Hardware 8. Emory single wall sconce via Schoolhouse Electric 9. Industrial task tables lamps via West Elm 10. Rhapsody wool woven rug via Dash & Albert.
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’ve got new digs! I know many of you have been wondering what I’ve been up to and how I’m doing. It’s been a challenging few months but I’ve started the new year off with lots of excitement, development and changes in my business. Things are happening, they are really happening. We’re not completely ready to show you the inside of our humble abode quite yet but we will. Promise.
Along with our new office, we’re expanding. Brita is the newest member of our team and will be managing the office (and me for that matter!). She is stylish, smart, savvy and I’m thrilled to have her on board.
Our new space is industrial chic as it was once the Canadian Forces Base in Calgary, before it moved north to Edmonton. The building is nostalgic with terrazzo floors in the hallway, exposed pipes and hollow sounding stairwells. It’s a small space in a large building amongst other creatives and exactly what I need right now in order to take my business to the next level.
I can’t wait to welcome you inside!
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.
Samuel Heath has been in business for almost two centuries. Founded with a focus in brass, it has evolved into bathroom fittings and accessories with a worldwide audience. Attention to detail in all areas from design and build to assembly and packaging, Samuel Heath takes pride in manufacturing in Birmingham to ensure quality control as well as environmental consciousness. While tradition is important, the company is driven to be a leader in the design and development of both modern and traditional faucets and fittings. These are no ordinary faucets.
Victoria + Albert bath tubs are sculpture for your bathroom floor. Freestanding tubs in classic, contemporary and premium designs, you’re sure to find a style to suit your discerning taste. Bathing has become more than a means to stay clean, it is an oasis, a quiet moment and relaxing pastime to unwind at the end of a busy day. While each tub have been designed with lines and details in mind, comfort is of utmost importance. Boasting handmade finishing details with a combination of high performance resins, Victoria + Albert is setting the bar high for beautiful, luxurious bathtubs.
The best part is, Victoria + Albert and Samuel Heath play very well together. They compliment and support each other when placed together. Kerri Russell’s bathroom in Elle Decor is the perfect example of this.
As both were sponsors of BlogTour, we were invited to tour their showrooms while at the London Design Center. Exquisite detailing, innovative in their approach to design and a supporter of bloggers and writers as we journal our way through each inspiration we see and find, I thank you both for believing in the power of blogs and welcoming us into your showroom.
Photo credits: collage of images are my photos, fairifield exposed shower via utopia kitchen & bathroom, elle decor, metallic toulouse bathtub via essential kitchen & bathroom business,
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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