Linda Reeves Farmhouse, Princess Margaret Hospital

This past weekend I had the pleasure of touring the stone Farmhouse in Oakville which is the main prize in the Princess Margaret Lottery to help conquer cancer.  The home was in part designed by Linda Reeves who was our personal guide for the tour of this exquisite $4.3 million home.

 

 

 

I did enjoy the decor and design of the house, although I would've preferred a few more window treatments and cozy area rugs. Overall there was a nice mix of both high and mid end  finishes ranging from Ralph Lauren to Ikea.  I will let the pictures do most of the talking on this one. Enjoy!

 

The Herringbone pattern was prevalent throughout the home

No big fridge in this kitchen, just pull out drawer fridges.  The main fridge was in the Butlers' pantry.

This wall unit was repainted and fit the space perfectly.  I believe its' value is around $30,000.

Gorgeous black windows on the main floor provided a dramatic contrast against neutral walls.



One of the only rooms to actually be painted a colour rather than a neutral.

The cabinet looks like a piece I sold to 'Paint it Like New' that they finished in a similar way!

Here the Chevron pattern makes an appearance on the accent pillows.

More Chevron...

 

 

These doors slide all the way across to make an extremely wide opening.

Wow, Linda is really tall...or I'm really short. Maybe a bit of both!

I did enjoy this urban farmhouse with it's organic feel and subtle colour palette.  I loved the patterns used not only for the fabrics but also in the tiles and flooring.  Lots of stripes, chevrons and herringbone! 

If I was lucky enough to win the house I would need to fill up some of the negative wall space with more wall art as well as incorporate some additional soft furnishings.  But the final reveal and design gets a thumbs up from me!

 

What do you think, would you like to call this farmhouse your home?

 

To buy a ticket for your chance to win and to donate for a great cause, visit the website here.

Chevron Pattern

When I wrote my Passionate about Patterns post, it reminded (as well as amazed) me that we really are spoiled for choice when it comes to the variety of patterns available to us.  However, there are a few patterns for me that stick out as classics like the herringbone, houndstooth and chevron.

As I promised you in this post, here are some more fabulous ideas for using the chevron pattern in every day life, fashion and home decor.

Chevron patterns are here to stay

Chevron draperies

Paint the stairs for an added punch to your hallway

(For more ideas on staircases read this post I wrote back in July)

Frame an accent wall with Chevron patterned wallpaper

To see more on accent walls, check out my blog post 'Why more than one accent wall can be boring'


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Chevron backsplash definitely makes a statement in this kitchen

Custom flooring like this is a big commitment, but if you love it then go for it!

Here the thickness of the chevrons changes it's look quite dramatically

The injection of colour of the year Tangerine Tango injects a punch here

Used here for the exterior patio, just enough to add interest but not overwhelm



A great way to add style to a place setting

Love, love, love these planters!!!



Easy way to make a one of a kind tray

The chevrons on the wall here remind me of a heart monitor

More than just for home decor, the chevron pattern is great for fashion too!

I only wish I could get away with wearing such a cute top!

I love the red Greek key patterned accent on the waist of this dress

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I currently have no chevron patterns in my home but am thinking I could sneak some into the bedroom.  The pattern is like a neutral, so I'm sure it's something hubby could live with too!

What about you, have you embraced the chevron into your home?  Or as a decorator have you used it in any of your designs for client's?  If so, I'd love to see it!

Passionate about Patterns, a continuation...

Incorporating patterns within a space is a fabulous way of establishing a style or setting the tone for a decor project.  In researching for part one of my 'Passionate about Patterns' post, I quickly began to realise that -WOW, there are a lot of patterns out there! 

Feeling blue? I adore the nautical feel of crisp blues and whites.

Although I am exposed to various patterns all the time,  even I was blown away with the countless designs that continued to emerge.  I guess I never actually stopped to consider just how lucky we are to have such a variety to choose from. 

So now, if I can get over my 'A..hah' moment, let's look at some more patterns!

Herringbone - simply put - An arrangement of rectangles

Love the contrasting colours of a herringbone design on this table top

Herringbone is a popular and classic choice for flooring as well.   It has been used in retail commercial applications and I recall seeing it often in old estate homes in England.

Warm and weathered herringbone flooring contributes to a natural feel in this room of understated elegance.

A pattern very similar to the Herringbone is the Chevron design.  Until now, I never really considered that there was a difference between Chevron and Herringbone - or maybe it's better to say that I just never gave it a second thought in the first place.  

Chevron - an inverted 'V' shape pattern

So not my personal style, but man do I love this room!

I found this article from 'apartment therapy' that describes & illustrates the subtle difference between these 2 similar designs. I will dedicate a post solely to the 'herringbone' and 'chevron' patterns in the near future because I just adore how versatile and timeless these designs can be.

Houndstooth - a duo tone textile pattern characterised by broken 'checks' or abstract four-pointed shapes, often in black and white. Wikipedia definition

This pattern has long since been one of the favourites on fashion runways around the world.

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But houndstooth is also very prevalent in home decor.  Pictured below is the 'Hotel de Vendome' in Paris where the houndstooth design has been used on the upholstery fabric for the chairs and...

So clean and fresh, I wish to sip wine here during a posh lunch appointment. Care to join me?! Say 'Oui!'

...on the bar stools.

The black and white pattern paired with the baby pink is soft and so cute.

When decorating, bear in mind how many different patterns you want to include in your space.  As we have observed, patterns are not limited to fabrics but can be seen all around us in many areas such as flooring, accessories, tiles and more.  Be careful not to go too crazy with patterns (like I showed you in this post) - or your eyes will not have a place to rest.

Lattice - typically known for its' diamond design (like the picture below) but today there are many variations in this repeat vertical pattern.

This radiator cover plays double duty with a shelf to display accessories as well.

Fun accent pillows

And my favourite...

Room divider, accent cushion and wall paper lattice designs. What a fresh office space.

With so many patterns styles & colours to choose from, you can be overwhelmed with choices. If you want professional advice for mixing patterns in your space please do not hesitate to contact me.  I can help you fall in love with your home again!  My new cell number is 905-599-2588. 

Tomorrow I am off to Toronto for a 3 day workshop to become a True Colour Expert.!!  This course is with Maria Killam, a decorator, blogger, author and internationally sought after colour expert from Vancouver.  I am so excited to attend this course and you can be sure I will be taking pictures and posting about it all very soon.

Passionate about Patterns - Part 1

Whether you are looking at wallpapers, fabrics, wall tiles or flooring, there are an abundant amount of patterns to choose from.  But what do patterns say about you and which styles are best for each application? 

Let's start by looking at some of the more traditional patterns used in the past that are making a comeback in today's modern world.

Paisley - a twisted teardrop or a droplet-shaped vegetable motif of Persian and Indian origin (wikipedia).  The paisley pattern for me was always associated with my grandfathers' suit ties, but this funky little shape is working it's way into home decor once more.

I like the shape and detail of this headboard. The matching green rope piping is a nice added touch.

Above -  the white and green paisley fabric on a pastel blue backdrop gives this headboard a fresh, clean and updated look. 

Damask is typically known as a more traditional and elegant pattern often used in wallpaper and for fabrics.  The motif design is generally raised against the background which is usually a different colour.  This isn't always the case, but as with any design it helps make the pattern pop more when the colour scheme is not a monochromatic one.

What an unusual and refreshing way to see this pattern used in a space!

Because Damask is quite a busy pattern, it tends to work best on larger applications like bedding and drapery.  Wallpaper is also a great place to use damask patterns.  I always remember when I was younger one of my mom's friends had a raised velvety black damask pattern on top of a gold background. How I loved to touch that wallpaper!

Modernised Damask with pops of colour for today's trends.

Scroll Designs are great if you are looking to add some movement to a space.  This type of pattern is ideal for adding softness to cold and hard surfaces.  The picture below is a perfect example of this.

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Geometric shapes are popular in today's contemporary design.  There are so many varieties and colours that there is no excuse for boring or uninspiring spaces anymore!  Here are some pictures of pattern styles seen in current home decor trends.

Moroccan

Black and White Moroccan styled pattern on a contemporary ottoman

Greek Key

My current favourite colour combination is featured here- Orange & Purple, very fun!

The area rug pictured above has a Greek Key pattern and the mirror on the wall behind the couch is Moroccan inspired.   I like how the decorator has repeated the same same purple and white hues for consistency but mixed up the pattern styles on the chairs and throw cushions.

Garden Gate

Classic contemporary setting - the side lamp repeats lines found in the 'Garden Gate' pattern.

When using patterned fabric for upholstering, be sure that the scale of the pattern is appropriate for the size of the furnishing.  A large scaled pattern will not work on a small stool for example. 

Also, if you are taking a piece to be re-upholsterered by a professional, they should know how best to place the patterned fabric on the piece of furniture so it complements it in the best possible way.  Discuss this with them first though to be sure.

Mixing patterns look fabulous when done right



There is such an array of patterns that I decided to have this be a Part 1 in my series of my 'Pattern Talk.'  Otherwise, this post would be never ending! 

Puzzled by all the possibilities of patterns?  Contact me and I will help you choose the best patterns in the best colours and for the best applications.  e-mail me:  claire@creatingcontrastdesigns.com

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