Masculine Chic Design

Who says guys don't want to have chic spaces too?

Have I got your attention?
If you thought Adam Levine was cool before, check out his LA home that he helped designed here!

One of my favourite bachelor clients contacted me recently to help him with his main floor renovation.
I did his spa bathroom a while back, and now the kitchen, living room and dining room needed updating too.

We will be taking down two main walls between the kitchen, dining room and living room for an open concept space - totaling about 23' x 18' including the foyer.  Not a huge space, but it has a lot of potential.

The look he wants includes clean lines but classic too; is modern but not stark;
and very functional but not overly stodgy... no problem!
He has NONE of this now by the way and, not a lot of furniture or storage either.

 The kitchen currently looks like this

I pulled some inspiration shots to get him thinking about the feel of the space. 

Here are some ideas for the kitchen

This kitchen feels very masculine - reclaimed wood beams, industrial lighting & hood vent,
stone backsplash, even the hardware on the cabinets is "manly"


We'll be doing something interesting on the end of the kitchen island
because it has a clear view from the front hall and living room.

We are going with a palette of light cabinetry (probably off-white or dove grey)
Dark quartz countertops
 Hardwood floors throughout the main floor

Cabinetry in a classic shaker style

Lighting and hardware aged bronze industrial, maybe forged iron

         

My client also wants to store his liquor somewhere in the kitchen....um, so not cool!

I'll make space for it in the living or dining room so that it can be displayed nicely 

and be easily accessible when needed...kind of like this!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the living room/family room/everything room, he needs shelves for books, storage and minimal display - there would probably be only books if he had his way, but as a designer, I can't let that happen;
we need some styled shelves for this open plan space.

The living room's wood-burning fireplace isn't working so it will be replaced with a new gas insert and flanked with shelving & storage and a place for a new TV.  

Of course, the first question he asks me is "how big of a TV can I put in here?".   

My reply,  "let's see what works in the plan first".  

Good thing he's actually not a huge TV watcher, so I don't have to decorate around a 60-inch screen.

I love the warmth of the caramel, tufted leather with the dark walls and velvety teal (or navy) pillows.  

This may be the start of a very chic colour scheme for the living & dining room!

The contrasting textures make this desk area really interesting:

grasscloth walls

lacquer & chrome desk

leather chair

wooden accents on wall and desk

black glossy paint on mirror and lamp

So Delicious Dahling!

as Martyn Lawrence Bullard would say!

Here's the living room now... dark & dated, no lighting and no personality!

I've got my work cut out for me but I love a challenge.

Sourcing for fireplaces, fixtures and tiles - then the dining room next.  

Stay tuned!

All images via my Pinterest Boards - Masculine Spaces & Kitchens

Chic & Worthy - Holiday Gift Ideas

I was invited to Faulhaber PR's Client Happenings - Holiday 2012 event last week to preview some of their clients latest product lines for consideration on our Holiday gift lists this year.  It was a fun tour including great fashions, jewelery, accessories, beauty products and furniture pieces.  

These were some of my favourite items:

Ted Baker's entrance to Canada via Yorkdale Mall this fall means we have some stunning new fashions and accessories to tempt us this season.  I totally went mad for their Ipad cases and beautifully tailored dresses.

1.  Bolty asymmetrical dress

2.  Glitz cluster bead bracelet

3.  Lilsy patent ipad case (picture doesn't do it justice)

4.  Men's Toteman leather tablet case

5.  Prunela bow Ipad case (comes in black with pink bow too!)

And staying in the "all about me" category:

I loved the very chic Thomas Sabo collection of sterling silver jewelry - but especially the charm bracelets and the ability to completely customize them with a huge selection of charm pendants.  

I have this Obsidian black bracelet and I've added these 4 charms from the "Charms and The City" collection to my holiday wish list.  Even the black & white striped packaging is chic!!

Cause Worthy

Just so you don't think I'm only about the bling, every year I make a point of selecting a charity that gets some of my holiday wallet.  I often purchase multiple items from one source that I give as gifts to clients or friends, which in turn makes them feel good about receiving a worthy gift instead of another little trinket that sits in a drawer.

When I heard about this organization called FITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship), championed by well known skin care brand Dermalogica, it really struck a cord for me because I am also a female entrepreneur and I know how hard it is to run and grow a business.  

You have to visit joinFITE.org to read about how a small contribution can make a huge difference in empowering women entrepreneurs around the world so they can start or grow a business.

This bracelet is made by talented artisans in Ethiopia of old bullet casings as a wearable sign of hope.  

I think this is a great gift for anyone as a reminder of how lucky we are to live in a great country and to appreciate what we have.  It's even cool enough that my 11 year old son wanted to wear it!

Thank you again to the lovely ladies at Faulhaber for taking the time to introduce us to some great brands and letting us have a little cookies and cocktails in the middle of the day 

- never a bad thing!

Fabulous Finds

I love to pop into my favourite antique shops whenever I have a chance.  

A couple of weeks ago while between client meetings I found these little goodies:

I loved this wrought iron chair in antique brass - the back is gorgeous and the patina really gives it character. I was thinking to put a cushion on the seat and use it in my client's bathroom at the make-up vanity.

I found this Chinoiserie fabric at one of the many little fabric shops I like to visit.  Sometimes there's nothing and sometimes I strike gold... or silver in this case.  

I'm thinking this fabric will be framed and placed on a wall. 

 

This Chinoiserie dragon fabric is stunning.  Although I'm not generally a big fan of yellow, in this pattern it really works.  Again, this may get framed for a client - or it may have to stay in my office!

Staying on the Chinoiserie theme (and it's crazy that I found all of these on the same day!), 

these lamps were a steal at $32 for the PAIR!!  

They'll get a little fresh touch up gold paint on the base and a black lamp shade and then they will be looking for a fabulous place shine. 

Right now they're in my front hallway and I smile every time I walk by them... 

am I getting attached again??

I can't resist animal prints (as you've seen in recent post) so when I finally found the right zebra print in the right fabric at the right price, I snagged the last 3 yards of it!  

Then I found this adorable jungle-scene fabric with monkeys and birds and antelopes, oh my! 

 I put it together with a few fabrics I had left over from other projects, 

and voila... an amazing fabric scheme for a child's room!  

Anyone have a child's bedroom that needs a makeover? 

Give me a call, I may let you have this fabric...maybe.

Stay True to You!

"one of the great challenges of a creative life is to stay true to yourself, while keeping your antennae up, to remain relevant and aware of change without blindly following needs" 

 Amanda Nisbet, Interior Designer

In last month's Lonny magazine there was a great feature story on Nisbet's design philosophy and she talked about the legendary Designer Bunny Williams' ability to evolve while remaining absolutely true to herself.

This story really got me thinking about how as Designers we can truly lose a part of ourselves while trying to translate the client's needs and wants into a beautiful vision that is uniquely theirs - yet influenced by ours.  

Although many designers develop a certain look or style they become known for, others like Williams, consistently express themselves within the client's space and bring their unique ideas and creative vision based on things they love, while knowing how it will work in a specific space.

Here are some of the things I love now. 


The images selected are my current interpretations of things that make my happy; make me think, or just grab my attention somehow.
I'm certain that my attraction to these things influences my design sensibility and if I'm true to who I am, parts of myself will manifest into my client's space as well.


Here it goes...

I love animal prints

Leopard, zebra, tiger...oh my!  The fastest way to add raw energy to any outfit or room 

 

 

 

I love extravagant light fixtures 

and their ability to dazzle even a dull room 

 

 

Mid-19th Century Louis XIV style chandelier via 1st Dibs ($19K, if your interested!)

I love clouds

 

Started in grade seven when I first learned about wispy cirrus, puffy cumulus and stratus forms (can't believe I just remembered all those names).  But I love to look for images in the clouds with my son, especially when he was young and dinosaurs roamed the skies (I'm vaklempt!)

I love beautiful displays

Etageres filled with memories, bookshelves stacked with stories of far away lands, 

fabulous store windows or inviting consoles in a hallway...

they all make me stop and smile to take it all in and enjoy the art of decor

 

 

 

I love nature photography

 

 

 

I love daschunds

the smaller the better, maybe it's their vulnerability or those eyes?

 

 

I love high heels

although I don't wear them as much anymore, they always make me fee sexy
and the extra height makes me feel powerful and in control

 

Cavalli

Louboutin 

 

Missoni

Paris

I dreamed about Paris most of my life, and after visiting a few years ago, I love it even more.

I'll be back someday for pain au chocolat and pink champagne (maybe together...hmm?)

 

 

I could go on... but part of being true to yourself 
is knowing when to listen to your inside voice saying...that's enough!

Au Revoir

all images via Pinterest