2015...here we come! (aka TREND watch!)

Hello my sweet blog readers, 

I apologize for the lengthy absence. The last few months of 2014 flew by in somewhat of a blur. Now, at the tail end of what has been a very relaxing Christmas holiday, I am feeling refreshed and ready to look ahead at what's in store for 2015. And, from the looks of it, it is going to be a good one! I am inspired by the colours I'm seeing, motivated by the patterns and motifs that are popping up, and excited to incorporate the textures and materials into my design work "next" (tomorrow, I'll try to remember to change the "next" to "this") year.

So, without further delay, here are just a few of the trends that the design world is predicting will be BIG in 2015: 

This image captures several big trends for the upcoming year - a soft pastel palette, organic materials (natural wood, plants, plants, and more plants), a house motif, and geometrically-shaped vessels. 

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Here, we see an earthy, almost muddy, palette that is both warm and inviting. 

The look is time-worn and vintage, with muted, metallic tones and cozy textures. 

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Olive green is everywhere - warm, nostalgic, and approachable. Looking fabulous here with brushed brass, worn leather, and salvaged wood, this is just the tip of this colour's versatility iceberg. 

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Black and white and industrial elements will continue to be popular trends into 2015, with free-form, unframed gallery walls featuring instagram photos (and a mix of typographic prints, old maps, and other mixed media) that create a "working mood board" kind of look. 

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Pantone's Colour of the Year, Marsala, is a wonderfully rich and warm 

red, with loads of chocolatey, velvety undertones. Currently appearing

 all over the runway and at your cosmetics counter, look for this luxurious 

shade to make its way into home decor items everywhere very shortly. 

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Oversized canvases are popping up everywhere, challenging our previous notions about 

size and scale. The look is fresh, commanding, and fabulous! 

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Indoor gardening has been increasing in popularity over the last several years, but recently, I have been seeing more and more "practical" installations - like this vertical kitchen garden featuring an accessible and renewable supply of fresh herbs and baby lettuce. 

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Warm metals (brushed brass, copper, and rose gold) are finding their way into every room in the house - even the previously "chrome and nickel dominated" kitchen. Sultry, sophisticated, and still somewhat unexpected, the result is gorgeous. 

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Bright and bold large scale florals (these ones are from Marimekko's spring line) feature organic flora and fauna, a pleasing complementary colour palette, and lots of visual movement (a slight departure from the more static florals found in previous releases). LOVE!!! 

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And, while this is by no means an exhaustive list of decor and design trends for 2015, the above images do show some common threads and some exciting new ideas to explore and implement. I am both motivated and inspired! I hope this list and grouping of images leaves you with a similar vibe. 

For now, I wish you all a very Happy New Year and all the best in 2015! 

Kerry 

playing with neutrals

Hi, 

On this grey and rainy day (yuck!!!) I thought I would share these photos of a very soft and tranquil space. As you can tell, my client LOVES white. Layers upon layers of white, winter white, off-white, ecru, cream, ivory, bone, eggshell, and vanilla (just to name a few!). She did not have one single bit of trouble convincing me to help her pull this room together. I loved working on this project. 

Want to know a secret for successfully designing an almost completely white room? TEXTURE. Just as we layered in several different shades of white, so we layered in several different, and equally luxurious, textures. Buttery soft leather on the sofa and chair, smooth marble on the coffee table, faux mongolian lamb's fur on the custom round stools (swoon), wool on the area rug, linen on the drapery panels, velvet on the toss cushions, and I could go on...

Here are some pictures of this great space: 

Oh, I forgot a texture in the list above. A faux fur throw in a soft grey provides a
great contrast against the smooth leather of the chair. 

This marble topped coffee table was a great find by the client at Elte. The
sumptuously soft and subtly sparkly area rug is also from Elte. 

I love adding a contrasting colour to the bottom 1/3 of drapery panels. It really creates a custom look. 

These cute side tables (their short stature means that can easily double as stools) are from CB2.
The table lamp and canvas artwork are from HomeSense .

Love, love, love these completely custom faux Mongolian lamb's fur round stools.
They are so chic, and turned out better than I could have imagined. 

These nesting raffia trays are from West Elm and guess what? They add another great texture to the space. 

The tufted Italian leather sofa and chair are from Elte. I love the nod to Mid Century Design
and the rows of double stitching. It is also superbly comfortable. 

The toss cushions are custom and sewn by the fabulous Lisa Sinclair. I love the
mitred corners on the grey and white linen cushions. That detail just kicks things up a notch. 

The weathered grey finish on the media stand from Structube adds another interesting texture to the space. 

And here's a wider angle view of the room. 

Isn't this space warm and cozy, especially considering the fact that there is so much white? I love how it turned out. What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments. 

Have a great night, 

Kerry 

warmth and sophistication

hello,

I am so excited to share photos with you from a recent shoot of one of my favourite-to-date finished projects. I LOVED working with these clients and I ADORE how the space turned out.

Some of the goals to be accomplished were: 

1) To balance the lightness of the space (fabric and leather upholstery, gold and silver accents, lots of mirrors and mirrored surfaces) with a few bolder choices that work to ground the rooms and add some visual interest (black pendant fixture, wall of custom and one-of-a-kind vintage stamp reproduction prints, accent cushions).

2) To visually connect the two rooms (living and dining). Continuity in colour palette (paint, upholstery) and the repetition of materials (hardwood floor, area rug, mirrored surfaces) help to achieve this goal.

3) To create a relationship between a formal layout and a relaxed atmosphere. Layers of softness (cashmere throw, velvet toss cushion), playful pattern (geometric area rug), a variety of shape (a pair of custom round leather ottomans), and some natural elements (houseplants, fresh cut flowers, a petrified wood sphere) all serve to make the surroundings warm and inviting.


And here is what we came up with: 

If you scroll down a few photos to the image of the dining room hutch, you will
see that the base of this table has a similar shape to the mullions on the cabinet
doors. Repetition of shape is another way to unite two spaces. 

This oval side table is a great conversation piece and is a good height
for resting your cocktail. Through Elte. 

I love mixing "high" with "low" to create a space that is both visually interesting
and budget friendly.  Here, I incorporated pieces from Elte, West Elm, and HomeSense. 

Mixing metals is a little bit daring, but very sophisticated! 

The wall colour is HC-172 Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. Round brass
mirror is through CB2, quatrefoil mirror is through West Elm, and the pendant
fixture is from Prima Lighting. 

The gorgeous sideboard, as well as the "bubbles" mirror
are from Union Lighting and Furnishings. 

Here is a cool aerial view from the upstairs balcony. All toss cushions were
sewn by the talented Lisa Sinclair. Fabric sold to the trade by Duralee.  

It was love at first sight for me when I found these amazing images of
vintage postage stamps.  They were printed as giclee on textured watercolour
paper and professionally framed for a customized look. 

Spherical table lamps (as well as round ottomans and an oval side table) work to balance
out the rectangular shapes in the room (sofa, chairs, art frames). 

Best photo prop ever! Three weeks later and these blooms are still alive! 

The sofa and occasional chairs were custom through HomeSource. Wall colour in this
room is HC-173 Edgecomb Gray  by Benjamin Moore. 

Here is another example of "high" meets "low." Accessories from HomeSense
are perched atop custom Italian hide ottomans. 

The Italian leather used to make these gorgeous ottomans is buttery soft and supple.
Custom area rugs through Magnum Opus Carpets.

I can't decide what I like best about this space.  Hmmm... What do you like?  Post a comment, I'd love to hear from you!


A special thank you to: 

• my wonderful clients - Jackie and Peter 
• Lisa Sinclair Sewing
• Joelle Segal of InBloom Studio
• Sarah Leeman of Bean Shoots Photography
• my awesome assistant - Denise Sharp 
• Stefan Brol at House of Upholstery and Slipcovers
• William Oldacre from FineArtPrint Studio

Thanks for stopping by. 

Kerry 

Fab Five!

hi,

I've been seeing so many beautiful, fun, and interesting things this week that I just had to share a few of my very favourites (I could have shared one hundred!)

100% Mongolian cashmere infinity scarf - designed in Toronto
and ethically made in Mongolia. From Cloud Cashmere. 

Woven in Sweden from 100% New Zealand lamb's wool, these
throws look so cozy! From Terrain. 

I am obsessed with art prints from The Rifle Paper Co. This palette and
theme is perfect for the season. 

SWOON! I love these black leather booties from Kate Spade. 

Round ottomans are everywhere right now! Their pleasing lines really soften a space and work as additional seating OR as a surface for serving drinks!!! This Ikat beauty is from One King's Lane.

Well, there you have it. My fab five for the first week of Autumn. What's caught your eye recently? Post a comment on the blog - I'd love to know!!! 

xo Kerry 

bubbles and blush!

(or, in other words, champagne gold and pale pink) 

Long before I was a "blue" girl, I was a "pink" girl. If asked my favourite colour, I would instantly answer "pink." To this day, Sarah Bernhardt peonies are my favourite flower, and given a rainbow of options to choose from at the bakery, I always choose the pink macaron. 

Recently, I began thinking about a colour palette for my home office (currently just a desk in my unfinished basement - but an upcoming reno will see it transform into a space I can call my own). As I was searching through images on Etsy (a favourite pastime, I must confess), I found this pretty art print and fell in love with this girly and glamorous, yet uniquely understated colour combination. 

Yes, I am talking about pink and gold. 

And, the more I looked, the more I was convinced that this dynamic duo had lots to offer the world. 

Whether as pretty nail art, 

Or as a delicious looking dessert.

I love the feminine qualities of this pairing, as well as their subtlety. Youthful and restful, they look adorable in a nursery,

or as the pleasing palette at a bridal or baby shower.

And then we enter the vast world of interior decorating and design. A place with limitless possibilities for colour combinations - and I love so many of them!!! But again, I keep coming back to this pairing.

So in love with these toss cushions that I found on Pinterest!!!

Is it the sophistication I am after? The femininity (after all, I am the only female in my house)? Or is it possible that, being a very practical person (and being married to an even more practical man), I like the idea of having a slightly indulgent, different-than-anything-I've-ever-had-before kind of room?

If you know me and have the answer the the above question, please feel free to fill me in!!! :)

Here are some other decor images featuring my latest fav combo: 

Do you know what is EXTRA fabulous about this pretty image? The pictured shelves
 are courtesy of an IKEA hack! Just amazing what can be done with a can of spray paint. 

I love the Art Deco vibe in this image - especially the geometric wallpaper.

Today must be the day for featuring IKEA hacks - this trestle desk has had
gold leaf added to amp up the wow factor!

OOH! Lovely display here of framed art prints (can't get enough), apothecary jars, and other assorted treasures. 

So, there's my favourite colour combination (of the moment!) - it really does change all the time. And, while I don't know that I'll commit to this palette for my home office, I may just try out the pretty manicure pictured above.

Have a great day everyone!

Kerry xo

a HIS and HERS bath

Yes, it IS possible to design a space that meets the needs and wants of BOTH sexes. 

I must admit to being a bit skeptical when I initially met with this charming couple. He, a practical and skilled contractor with an eye for clean lines and purposeful finishes. She, a warm and gracious person looking for elegance and a touch of glamour. Hmmm...

Here's what I did to ensure that both parties were satisfied with the end result: 

• dark wood custom cabinetry by Kitchen Pro for HIM 
• warm gold accents - including the stunning Clarendon mirror from Crate and Barrel for HER 
• contemporary chrome fixtures from Grohe and Union Lighting for HIM 
• soft and "pretty" elements (floral roman blind, basket of towels, designer bath products) for HER 

Chrome fixtures were softened with the addition of warm gold accents (mirror,
tiered side table, picture frame)

A spacious shower, complete with marble niche and bench, by Chaplin Home Improvements

To lighten the look of the dark cabinetry, we added glass knobs from Anthropologie  and a
beautiful white Quartz countertop (through Delsur Marble)

Calacatta marble tile in a beautiful hexagon pattern (through Ontario Tile)

Chrome faucet (and coordinating shower fixtures) from Grohe

Geometric area rug from Dash and Albert. Their rugs make me happy! 

The Clarendon mirror from Crate and Barrel reminds me of a sea urchin and
creates a stunning focal point in this space

Fabric for the sweet roman blind through Tonic Living and
sewing by the talented Lisa Sinclair 

The home owner calls these the "no-no" towels (in other words, look, but don't touch!) 

I found this photo on Shutterstock and love how it mimics the "spiny" shape
of both the mirror and the floral print found in the roman blind

An apothecary jar filled with simple bars of Ivory soap makes for a pretty display 

Bath products from Tuliptree and Saga 

I would like to thank Sarah Leeman of Bean Shoots Photography for capturing this space so well, the guys at Chaplin Home Improvements for their hard work and expertise in implementing the design, and to the lovely homeowners for putting their trust in me to work on this project with them.

Have a great weekend,

Kerry