OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 5, FREE GTA EDITION homeanddecor.ca HAVE CONFIDENCE WITH COLOUR IT S HIP to be Plaid RENOVATING SMALL SPACES MORE THAN JUST A DOOR
Cover Story HIP to be PLAID By William MacDonald Photos by Stephanie Buchman
ONE OF THE HOTTEST INTERIOR DESIGN trends happening this fall also happens to be one of my favourite design staples. Plaid or tartan as some like to call it is, without a doubt, a classic design statement. It often evokes warm, cosy, fire-lit rooms perfect on cold winter nights. But that is only one take on the traditional fabric. Lately plaid, as well as check and gingham, has seen a revolution of sorts particularly in fashion. It s being sported by the hip of the hip, the cool urban hipsters who run amok in most major cities. Along with their tattoos, beards and dour expressions they have ironically breathed new live into an ancient fabric. Fashion is usually a good barometer of what will happen in interior design down the road, but one can argue that plaid has always been there. I know myself, as a boy growing up in the 1970s, that plaid seemed to be everywhere. We had plaid pants, jackets and suits and sofas, chairs, wallpaper and carpets. As a child of the excessive 80s, I remember how Ralph Lauren and the preppy look influenced me to the point where I still where plaid and gingham shirts regularly. They are classics that make me feel comfortable and connected to a happy time. And that s why I think we still love plaid today. It has a resonance, an ability to connect us to the past that, for better or worse, we all seem to want to do lately. I recently completed a project in which I was asked to create two seasonal living rooms, one for winter and one for summer. The house is set in the countryside, and part of it is a rare Ontario log cabin constructed in the early 19 th century. The other part is an addition built in the early 21 st century. It was a challenge because the entire interior of the 19 th century section was wooden, had very small period windows and was quite dark. I had to find the right fabrics and use them in a way that was current and comfortable. As a designer I love to mix fabrics, it s a signature Why not throw a little plaid into a room this fall and mix it with a floral or stripe and you ll be so hip it hurts.
look for which I am well known. In this project I knew I would use plaids, checks and other bold fabrics to bring life and excitement into the heavily wooded traditional space. I settled on dark yet colorful graphic floral. I brought in a bold large check mixed with stripes and a small check, and use plaid accents. I also used large check/plaid carpet. The whole space came life and is a great success. For the much brighter, modern summer living room, with its large windows and vaulted ceiling, I took the same approach but used lighter colored fabrics. I still incorporated checks, gingham and plaids with colourful mid-east inspired florals. It too turned out extremely well. Although a trend at the moment, plaid and all its relatives, are classic in the design lexicon. It can be used traditionally or in more modern hip spaces and mixed with other equally bold or demure fabrics. Why not throw a little plaid into a room this fall and mix it with a floral or stripe and you ll be so hip it hurts. William MacDonald is the principal of WillMac Design. His firm is best known for creating stylish approachable spaces that evoke a simple timeless elegance. Servicing clientele throughout Canada, the United States and overseas. www.willmacdesign.ca @willmacdesign
Designer Advice The science of colour: CREATING THE PERFECT PALETTE By Melissa Davis
COLOUR IS ARGUABLY THE MOST POWERFUL ELEMENT IN A DESIGN scheme. I ve studied colour and its psychological affects in much detail. The advertising industry, out of necessity, has championed the topic. Perusing any number of articles on the subject helps add a bit of science behind the selection process. Remarkably, 90 per cent of an assessment for trying out a product is made by colour alone. Imagine how that notion is translated into interior design. Whether my clients fancy a trendy colour scheme or timeless palette, I pull it together with the same arsenal of information. I promise finding the perfect white is not the elusive unicorn us pros claim it to be. Here are my top tips and kernels of advice for to help you venture to the paint wand with confidence. 1. Understanding the effects by colour Red (warm)- Has a physical effect, raising blood pressure and respiration rates. Enhances human metabolism which is why we often see it used in dining spaces. Brighter: more energetic Darker shades: powerful and elegant. Orange (warm)- Vibrant and energetic, friendly, inviting Muted forms are associated with the earth and with autumn. Association with changing seasons: can represent change and movement in general. Associated with the fruit: health and vitality. Yellow (warm)- Brightest, most energizing of the warm colours. Bright yellow: sense of happiness and cheerfulness. Light yellows: more calm feeling of happiness than bright yellows. Dark & gold-hued: can look antique, have sense of permanence. Blue (cool) - Light: relaxed and calming. Bright: energizing and refreshing. Dark: strength and reliability Green (cool) Easiest colour for the eye to look at. Has a balancing, harmonizing effect. Brighter: energizing, vibrant Dark: most stable representative of affluence. Purple (cool) - Associated with royalty, creativity & imagination. Attributes of both red and blue. Dark: sense wealth and luxury. Light: softer associated with spring and romance. 3. Palette Messaging Historic and Neutral Palettes Muted, rich, and muddied tones. Depth and strength that speak to permanence. Association with a history of success. Offer a feeling of trust and comfort in consistency. White and Grey Clean white or grey palettes feel orderly. Very peaceful like that of an art gallery. Nothing can be concealed and the space must be used efficiently to maintain and guest will relate to that message. Pop of Colour Obvious colour applications apply a definitive date stamp. In motion, change and evolve: reinforce with use of current colours. Youth gravitate toward the most current of everything, colour is a powerful way to demonstrate that. 2. Undertones and Mass Tones What you see at first glance is the colour s mass tone, but what is less obvious is the colour s undertone. Use undertone to skillfully emphasize or downplay elements within a home. For example, a beige with a red undertone will create a harmonious palette when used with other warm and red tones, but will highlight those with cool undertones like greens and blues when used together. Melissa Davis Toronto-based celebrity designer and contractor Melissa Davis, is known for her appearances, creative design and reno work produced for various HGTV shows. Her work has been profiled nationally in print publications. With almost two decades of reno & design experience her firm continues to service clientele throughout Ontario & GTA, specializing in value-adding ROI and resale consultations www.melissadavis.com @melissadavis
Style File GIVE BACK BY DESIGN By Catherine-Lucie Horber AS A DESIGNER I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE power of design. The magic that transpires when I transform a room is rewarding. It s not only because of the positive changes that were made to enhance the space but mostly because of the emotion and feeling I am able to evoke in people after they see the finished product. Design affects how we live and feel. It is beyond the furniture, pillows and layout it is about the look on their faces, the tears of joy and amazement this is the rewarding part of my work and makes me want to continuously do more. It is not only their home we ve changed but their life and life style and how it improves how they feel every day. That very feeling, that happiness is what inspired us to want to share it with others that needed a boost in their life. This is how the Give Back by Design Initiative was started. Every year Royal Interior Design ltd selects a few families who would highly benefit from a boost of happiness in their life. Our recipients are in need due to extreme lack of financial resources: a struggling single parent, senior retirees, new immigrants, families struck with illness or a tragic event in their lives. Royal Interior Design donates its full design services, from conceptualization to full implementation and realization. In many cases, whenever budget permits, even full funding for the projects. Sometimes it doesn t take much to go a very long way.. Our last donation was for a family of five in a small condo. They had immigrated as government refugees, as they were under extremely difficult and life threatening circumstances in their country of origin. Heart breaking stories it makes us realize how fortunate and lucky we are to live in such an amazing country with all the daily abundance we have and enjoy. Our hearts went out to this family, although we wish we could have done more, they were grateful and thankful and tears of happiness were shed in amazement at the results of what we had done in their little apartment. Although small, it was cozy, functional and inviting. And that is why we do what we do, that feeling and gift is priceless! Our dream would be to help a lot more families. Unfortunately we alone can only sustain and sponsor a select few per year. In order to do more we would love to receive more support from leading community groups or partnerships with firms interested in also assisting families in their local community. In 2015 our goal is to service a minimum of 10 families in the GTA. Together this priceless initiative can continue to grow stronger and help more even more families in need. Anyone is welcome to help! Currently when we design a home some of the clients older furniture is donated towards the program. Any furniture company, accessories retailer, or anyone wanting to help are welcome to contact www.royalinteriordesign.ca Catherine-Lucie Horber Designer Catherine-Lucie Horber is the Principal of Royal Interior Design Ltd.The firm provides decorating, staging and renovating services for both small and full scale residential projects throughout the GTA. Known for creating elegant & affordable design solutions tailored to suit different lifestyles. royalinteriordesign.ca