Not the bad kind.
These are good blues. PPG brand eggshell latex ‘CAVALRY ‘ to be precise.
BEFORE we redecorated, we were greeted with the usual hum-drum institutional beige.
Everywhere. Throughout.
Which is OK if you’re into SHAKER STYLE and minimalism.
However the owner was downsizing from a 4,400 sq. ft. Edwardian brick and had a collection of cherished antiques and books that had to be incorporated into 800 sq. ft.
The lack of ANY Edwardian features (massive and ornate trims, plaster-work, cornices, parquet and plank floors, gorgeous windows) meant that COLOUR was the key here. It’s all we had !
Here’s what greeted us:
Then the fun began.
Instantly we knew that the tranquility of blue was the remedy to all this drab; and the glue necessary to cohesion. Like a great carved wooden bed, the choice of a complimentary quilt is vital.
And the client liked it too. Which is everything: the designer must always remember that he/she won’t live there, and that our guidance is often all that is required.
Our custom-crafted Library/Media Bookcase blends perfectly in a relaxed and distressed Canadiana finish, made with heirloom tools and methods.
A skillful and strategic placing of antique mirrors makes the 12′ x 24′ Living/Dining, and adjacent hallways, seem bigger than they really are. Mirrors are not always a sign of vanity; sometimes they are vital decorating tools.
The AFTER photos present a lovely contrast. It’s not everyone’s taste, to be sure. But the client is thrilled. And that is what makes the creativity and art of Design-Building so personally rewarding.