Project Recap: Warm Minimalism

This week we are walking you through one of our most recent projects that is just in the finishing stages. The project started with a call from the builder, who asked for our design services to help with the interior of the house. We were asked to assist specifically with the fireplace and mudroom millwork design, as well as selecting the finishes and creating a specifications package for them. Once the build was complete, it went on the market and the new owner who purchased the home asked for us to finish off the rest of the space with furnishings and décor.

The reason this project was (and is) so unique, was due to our client residing in Hong Kong with her family. Needless to say the distance and difference in time zones has made communication and decision making take a bit longer than what is typical. Our client also wasn’t able to see most of the items we had chosen for her in person, it had to be done online. The pressure was on to create a dream home for someone halfway across the world. Now we know it’s possible, as the house turned out beautifully and the whole family is thrilled to get to see it (in person). It will be used for vacation purposes in the upcoming years, then eventually the family hopes to settle down here after retirement.

concept:

The family loves west coast, rustic and mid-century modern styles. They also wanted their home to feel cozy, warm and inviting. As it is their vacation home, they wanted that “retreat vibe on the coast/ in the mountains”.

execution:

As the finishes had previously been chosen by us, it was that much easier to ensure the space was cohesive. We made sure to use multiple different textural elements throughout each room such as velvet, linen and leather to help blend their three favourite styles. Accent colours used were deep blues and greens and tons of wood elements, as well as black metals were incorporated into the design – what’s more west coast than that? To ensure the space still felt cozy and inviting, we added some brass pieces and kept the main colours throughout the home light grey and off-white to soften the darker, richer choices.

Favourite Part:

Our favourite space you ask? It would have to be the Den/ Office. This particular space feels eclectic and a bit more mid-century modern than the rest of the home. The large desk with the stone work surface, olive green velvet “office” chair and leather guest chairs give that earthy, masculine feel. The beautiful coastal rug helps bring in more softness and texture into the space while the custom drapery (which is triple pleated, to give it the extra fullness) softens the overall space. The custom vintage map behind the desk that was printed on canvas, stretched and placed in a floating frame is the little cherry on top.

While the project is mostly wrapped up, there are a few finishing touches the team is working on. Unfortunately due to Covid, our clients haven’t been able to see their new house in person since we’ve gotten our hands on it :) We hope that somewhere in the very near future, they will be able to travel safely and enjoy the space in person and not just on FaceTime.

Happy Thursday!