Filed under: STYLE FILE
By Glen Peloso
It’s that time of year when everything seems to be hearts, chocolate and red. Valentine’s Day permeates just about every retail shop in the city, and strong reds seem to be so associated with this Hallmark holiday that we rarely look at the colour unless it’s in the month of February. In my opinion, cupid has run off with this colour but it is time to hang on to it as a great one to use in the home.
I have to say that red is one of my favourite colours to use in a space, largely because it is a strong colour that often overpowers the other colours that are part of the room. As a result, it offers the person entering the room for the first time – or anytime really – a place to start the experience of the room. We subconsciously look to the brightest colour in the room to start the experience of that room, and by offering a very clear focal point in a strong hue, we remove the feeling of being overwhelmed that you can get in a large space.
I have to say that there is something very enticing about the excitement the colour red invokes, and that may very likely be the reason that it has been selected as the colour that has come to represent Valentine’s Day – which is all about passion. That same kind of passion is great to inject in to the home, but the question remains how to effectively do it so that it isn’t overwhelming, but is an exciting experience.
Red is certainly a great colour for creating intimacy and romance in the home. It can often be a wonderful colour to use in a dining room, for instance, where you may cover all of the walls in a warm red shade. Generally, the dining room is used in the evening when it is illuminated with the warm flicker of candles or other sources of soft lighting. You want to create a sense of intimacy and closeness, whether you are using the space for a group of friends having stimulating conversation or just for two people celebrating a significant day, like Valentine’s Day. Creating a room that is both somewhat dark and aesthetically “close” helps to create that feeling of familiarity.
Deep reds can also be a pleasing choice for an accent wall in a master bedroom. Whether you use the colour in a detailed wall paper or as a solid block for a featured wall like the headboard wall, the depth of colour gives a feeling of sleep and passionate intimacy, which is generally what you hope for in the bedroom.
In other rooms, red is a fantastic colour as an accent. You can use it in accessories that may be placed on a bookshelf to offer pops of colour to the area. Having pieces of glass in a bright red can offer excitement to coffee tables, side tables, or elements on a mantel shelf. I have also used larger red glass bowls on a kitchen table, which serves to ground the table and the area.
Speaking of grounding an area, traditional Persian rugs filled with deep reds can be wonderful to ground the furniture in a room. I don’t suggest red as a colour to use in flooring, like the red cherry-stained floors that have been used in the past. Red works best in the home as a “spice” but not as a “flavour.”
Selecting the right red can be a bit of a trick and you certainly don’t want to work with a primary colour unless you are creating a kids play area. Opt for a
deep red when used on walls, and a slightly brighter shade when used it as an accent. Benjamin Moore’s “Rapture” is one that I really like and have used effectively in the past.
If you ask me, I think that every room should have some element in red, whether that be a throw cushion, an accessory, a carpet or an entire wall. It creates a sense of excitement, passion and good design. With
all that said – have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Glen Peloso
Glen Peloso, design editor at Home Décor and Renovations and principal designer of Glen Peloso Interiors, has been designing spaces for commercial, corporate and residential clients for more than 15 years. You’ll recognize Glen as the host of such television design shows as Restaurant Makeover, Take This House & Sell It and Renovate My Wardrobe, to name a few, as well as from speaking engagements at home shows across Canada. glenpelosointeriors.com
February 4, 2012
By Yanic Simard
photo by Ted Yarwood
Are you in love with your home but have a hate-on for the kitchen? You’re probably thinking of renovating sometime down the line, but the thought of it may overwhelm you to the point of wanting to put up the “For Sale” sign, pack your things and move into a home with a brand new kitchen. But before you do that, take a minute to stop and think about it. If you re-design the space yourself it will be your own, created the way you want it. Just about everything is customizable and nothing’s worse then moving into a home where the layout or function of this main room just doesn’t work for you and your family. Sure, it might look pretty, but it may actually be quite unpractical.
The kitchen is a space that should be well thought out and well planned – especially since you’ll probably only do this once. Hiring a professional and experienced design firm can be very beneficial. Not only will they make the design process a whole lot easier, but they will help you avoid costly mistakes. I’m going to take you through the course of action I took when creating this beautiful space.
PERSONALITY
Constructing a space that is well-suited to the homeowners is very important to me. I really like to bring the personality and character of the family to life through the design. The kitchen is the hub of the home, which means that investing in this area is a very wise decision – not only for the time while you live in it, but also if you decide to sell in the future. This kitchen is completely customized, made exactly how the homeowners wanted it.
photo by Leni Johnston
THE OVERALL DESIGN
I always like to begin a project with some sort of inspiration. Clive Christian’s designs very much inspired the look of this kitchen, above. It’s traditional, but with a twist of contemporary. I kept a lot of important elements in mind when coming up with the design, contrast being at the top of my list. The dark, elaborate wood for the cabinetry really stands out against the colouring of the natural stone. You’ll notice that the Calacatta marble for the flooring, countertops and backsplash are all the same, creating a strong sense of unity. To add some visual interest, I laid out the backsplash in a brick pattern. You might also notice the cut out in the backsplash area – this was made specifically for the pop-out fan for the range, so when it’s being used, it is flush with the wall rather than protruding outwards. The more little details you incorporate, the bigger the impact of the space will be. I kept the look clean by paneling the fridge to match the contemporary shaker-style cabinet doors.
THE ISLAND
Keeping the work triangle in mind, I decided place the sink here, keeping it, the fridge and stove all within an acceptable distance of one another. I made the height of the island higher than the typical 36 inches. Instead, I opted for 40 inches because I find that it’s much better for cooking and baking, which is what the family was mainly going to use it for. All four sides of the island are used for storage, consisting of doors and shelves, with wicker baskets that offer easy access for the children. I even made room in there for recycling and garbage components along with a water filter. It’s all in the details.
Underneath all of this beauty went a lot of hard work. Don’t be fooled to think that because the kitchen is massive, that the efficiency is not there. This big kitchen is for a big family, and functionality played the most important role in the design, which was totally achieved. The homeowners love it, which is the best payoff for me as a designer. Now go and take down that for sale sign!
Yanic Simard
Yanic is the principal designer of the Toronto Interior Design Group. Specializing in residential and commercial projects, Simard often applies his signature high/low and old/new combination design techniques in developing unique designs. Simard has created designs for clients in Toronto, Montreal and Miami, and appears as a regular guest expert on Citytv’s CityLine.
tidg.ca • facebook.com/yanic.simard •
twitter.com/yanicsimard
January 28, 2012
Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Hello Doily!
We can’t get enough of the delicate floral and lace patterns that were seen on the fashion runways for spring and summer. And we’ve spotted the trend in home décor too – it’s an ultra feminine nod to the traditional doily. -Sara Duck
Here are a couple of picks for the home:
Battenberg Iris Bracket. $22. Visit anthropologie.com
Doily Plate. $9 each. Visit pier1.ca
January 9, 2012
Inspired by this year’s bright, bold Pantone colour of the year, Tangerine Tango – managing editor Sara Duck has a definite orange crush and shares her product picks for your home.
Velvet and Burlap Studded Bergère Chair. $500. Visit homesense.ca
Mia Table Lamp in Paprika. $139. Visit westelm.com
Aurora Rug. $1,698. Visit anthropologie.com
January 2, 2012
Embroidered Paisley Pillow in Blue. $45. Visit pier1.ca
By Sara Duck
Although the paisley motif is a notable trend in the décor world at the moment, this pretty pattern has been around for centuries and can be traced back to Indian and Iranian origins. Turning up on everything from furniture to pottery, this exotic design can make a bold statement in the home, and can add just the right amount of vibrancy to a room. For example, if your living room is lacking lustre, why not try a set of coloured, paisley printed pillows on the sofa or an upholstered accent chair? Kick your boudoir up a notch by placing a large, beautiful paisley rug underneath your bed. Paisley in key areas of the home that need a little TLC can add an instant update.
December 30, 2011
Picture courtesy of BoConcepts
By Glen Peloso
WITH THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR, trendspotting is top of mind for the fashionistas –and these style mavens influence the world of home décor as well. It used to take weeks or months for fashion trends to show up in home décor, but in the digital age, social media and other tools are bringing these worlds together almost simultaneously.
Here are my top picks for 2012 home trends:
Materials
We are seeing “reclaimed” materials becoming increasingly popular. Reclaimed woods and refurbished industrial items and materials afford a weathered look that can add texture and interest to your home.
Eras
Silhouettes from the mid-century period remain popular, with industrial designers such as Eames and Mies a source of inspiration. The design trend is to be eclectic in style, where modern elements of clean-lined sofas are mixed with an old soda crate from the 1930s and 1940s or a sideboard from the ’60s.
Fabric & Patterns
When it comes to fabric patterns, we draw from a completely international influence. Think pop art and Bauhaus motifs influenced with a hand-painted look, to washed-out Shanghai flowers with a smoky feel. Internationally, we see many fabrics that have a tribal or ethnic print in a handcrafted detail, as well as bohemian folk art with paisleys. A natural hand-aesthetic feeling, contributed by individual artists as opposed to mass production, is prevalent. Abstract patterns seem to be coming from natural elements such as microscopic close-up cells or organic matter with a tie-died feel.
Colour Palette
The colour palette continues to use a warm grey as a neutral. This is a grey that is sometimes called “taupe,” containing a brown undertone. Accent colours, on the other hand, will include earth tones often seen in of the garden.
Soft yellows, greens, reds and blues are part of the 2012 palette. In the red spectrum, look for fun colour that includes oranges and pink tones. Think pumpkins and the soft red blush of flower petals.
In the yellow family, the golden and sunny hues seen in natural blonde hair and the colour of a marigold will be prevalent.
In the green colour range, we are looking at a hue with a teal tinge, as well as more intense greens found in camouflage or soft leaf greens.
In blues, deep, dark tones head toward charcoal, evoking the mystery of night. These are all colours that can easily be found in nature.
Fashionistas used to tell the world of home décor to catch up, and now that it has, you can anticipate the colour palette and pattern influences simply by strolling down Bloor St. to get your inspiration from a little window-shopping. Enjoy a croissant and café while you’re at it, to make your trendspotting outing much more pleasant!
Glen Peloso
Glen Peloso, design editor at Home Décor and Renovations and principal designer of Glen Peloso Interiors, has been designing spaces for commercial, corporate and residential clients for more than 15 years. You’ll recognize Glen as the host of such television design shows as Restaurant Makeover, Take This House & Sell It and Renovate My Wardrobe, to name a few, as well as from speaking engagements at home shows across Canada. glenpelosointeriors.com
December 26, 2011
“Beat the winter blues by creating a warm, country-inspired escape in your home
with lots of texture and rich, brown tones.” – Sara Duck
Totten electric fireplace in rich espresso finish. $500. Visit homedepot.ca
Brooklyn leather armchair. $1,688. Visit potterybarn.ca
Faux Fur Throw by Glucksteinhome. $60. Visit homeoutfitters.com
December 21, 2011
By Elisa Krovblit. Photography by Brad Quan, Q Studios
Imagine the luxury of a designer being their own best client, perfecting their own vision and seeing a design project through from beginning to end without a client’s budget or design sensibilities tempering any aspect of the project. Ramsin Khachi, a talented Toronto celebrity designer, has done it.
After searching the market, a house caught his eye, a lovely 4,000-plus-sq.-ft. home on a quiet court in Old Oakville. In the current hot market it was priced well. To encourage multiple offers, Khachi says. He knew it was the right one for him – from a great location to good bones, it would become magnificent.
A lot of work, a lot of heart – and a lot of money – went into turning 79 Raymar Place from the aging formal home it was, into the luxurious and well-heeled three-bedroom residence it has become. Khachi not only came up with an incredible vision for the transformation, he invested himself in the home. He addressed more than just classic design and modern function.
Ramsin Khachi got into the details. While it would be wrong to say “anyone can do a gorgeous home with enough crown moulding, hardwood and Carerra,” the truth is, it seems there is almost a standard list of finishes we have come to expect in a designer house. It’s designers who go beyond the norm and the aesthetic whose work is truly outstanding. Khachi’s renovation is that. Gorgeous – sumptuous is more the word – but it’s what he’s done with technology, behind the walls, under the floors and in the function of the home that makes 79 Raymar Place not just another pretty face.
The house flows with organic design, the continuity of patterns, repetitions of specific lines and curves, and the cohesive combination of materials and colours work, giving the home a polished finish. A piece of glass that he found in New York, Khachi explains, gave way to inspiration for a pattern that appears through the home, in the front door panels, in the plaster work on the living and dining room ceilings – and beyond. The exquisite glass is inlaid in the upstairs bathroom, and the effect is subtle and stunning.
But beyond the beauty, there’s the function, and if the beauty impresses, then the function will astonish. Many features have solved the little problems, those annoyances that seem beyond your control yet you wish you could change. Have you ever stood outside the shower, waiting, thinking “I hate waiting for the water to heat up.” Yet you wait, every morning. In fact, who doesn’t hate sticking hands under a cold tap to wash them, while the hot water kicks in by the time you’re ready to dry off. Khachi put an end to it by installing floor sensors and a loop on the hot water valve. When you enter the bathroom or ensuite, the hot water is triggered to start flowing. It isn’t wasted, it starts running in a loop until you turn on the tap. Hot water waiting for you. It’s a nice reversal.
Khachi’s actually put a lot of thought behind the plumbing, noting that there’s always a concern of the laundry room plumbing flooding. It’s great having a second-floor laundry room, but if the machine ever overflows it has the potential to do massive damage. Khachi has created an impressive second-floor laundry. With two large front loaders and a large laundry sink, a plumbing break would be serious cause for concern, except Khachi has added several fail-safes. He’s installed an adaptor on the washing machine so that it will recognize when the machine is running improperly and shut it off. The floor sensors ensure that excessive water flow is shut off if the room is unoccupied. The floor is also sloped – ever-so-subtly. Even if a substantial amount of water were able to make it to the flood stage, the slope would keep it from leaving the laundry room and instead direct it right down the drain.
The garage – as attractive and well-planned as the rest of the house – has great storage and running water. It’s beautifully finished with a tiled floor and cabinetry. It also has laser points mounted on the garage ceiling, whose light beams will hit the dash when your car is pulled into the garage and has hit its mark – instead of hitting its bumper against the wall. And when you grab your handbag, your laptop, dry-cleaning, kids, phone and the arm-load of other things you bring in from the car, there’s no more fumbling with keys. Leave them in your pocket, the biometric reader gives you access to the house. It also logs the times of each member of the family and household that enters from the garage. You can check online to see what time your teen actually came home last night – if you want. There is also a biometric reader on the wine cellar so, not only is your collection well-controlled and impressively displayed, it’s also secure.
The backyard is brilliant recreational space, with a walk-out directly from the kitchen. A built-in outdoor kitchen features an incredible, large grill. While backyard fun-in-the-sun is complete with fountain, seating areas and great décor, winter doesn’t put an end to good times. There’s grilling to be done year round. Instead of having to shovel a path to the barbecue, Khachi has installed a heated ground. It senses the weight of the snow and the temperature rises enough to melt a clear path at all times, without wasting energy while the patio path is snow-free.
In fact, the whole house is intelligent and intuitive.
Khachi has designed the heating system so that different zones are controlled by the same furnace. The bedrooms, the main rooms and the entertaining rooms are three different zones. Of course you can see where the energy savings come in, all year long. Instead of heating and cooling more than 4,000- sq.-ft. entirely to the same temperature, you can program each zone to reflect the period of time you will use it. The den can be warm on a cold winter’s day, while the dining room is a few degrees lower since company’s not on the way. The thermostat, just like the biometrics, are online. You can adjust the program from anywhere. In fact, wall panels in various rooms and areas of the home also have access to the server and music files so you can enjoy music throughout the house. Built-in speakers in the dining room, for instance, set the perfect ambiance for entertaining, but all components, wiring and speakers are invisible.
One of the most simple yet functional details is such an inexpensive and easy fix that it’s silly it’s not a common feature in more homes. Khachi has plenty of electrical outlets in the home. But what does anyone ever plug into the hallway outlets? There’s central vac, ample lighting, online music. Hallway outlets that are actually used in any home are most commonly used for plug-in night lights. Instead of ugly plug-ins, Khachi has used a different type of electrical outlet. One plug has been replaced by a night light. Flat to the wall, the glow is enough to illuminate your way through the house comfortably, and ensures the kids feel bogeyman free.
Stylish built-ins cover up the awkward sloping roof in the office and bedroom, which would have made those walls much more difficult to decorate. The heated doggy wash is a great addition to the mud room, while the finishes inside the home and out make it an easy and low-maintenance home. From home theatre to panic room, to access panels for the home gym’s in-wall television, Khachi has left nothing to bother you. Too many of these remarkable and insightful features to mention, the home isn’t just a sumptuous setting, it’s an experience in fine living in both function and fashion. (And it can be yours! Call your agent, Khachi’s got it on the market.
For more information about Ramsin Khachi and 79 Raymar Place visit khachi.com
October 4, 2011
By Sara Duck
Jackie O, the ultimate mid-century style icon! Jackie O Poster. $189. Visit cb2.com
September 30, 2011
Exclusive discounts and deals for our readers!
Majestic Marble
Give your kitchen a clean and sophisticated look by opting for a granite countertop with under-mount sink. From Sept. 24 until Oct. 21, Majestic Marble is offering a polished sink cut out free with every granite countertop order!
399 Applewood Cres., Concord
416.665.4040 | Visit majesticmarbleimport.com
Green Furniture
Add some design flair to your living room with the Atlanta coffee table (GF-L18). Leg colour is available in high gloss dark brown, white and two colour mix to match your décor needs. Originally $320, now on sale for $160! To receive this fabulous offer, please bring this issue of HD&R from: Oct. 1 to 31.
1248 Dundas St., E, Unit 6, Mississauga, 905.232.8520 | Visit green-furniture.ca
X-TILE CANADA
X-Tile Canada is known as a ceramic tile retailer and wholesaler with a wide range of unique ceramic, glass, metal, porcelain tiles, and natural stone and mosaics. For the month of October, save 20 per cent off the Flatiron Series tiles.
78 Signet Dr., 416.749.7111 | Visit x-tile.net
A Special Place
This chic electric fireplace will add warmth and pizzazz to your bedroom or living room. Available in many finishes including a new grey wash with glass crystal fireplace! Regularly $1,439, on sale until Oct. 31 for $1,149.
416-481-2077 | For a location near you Visit aspecialplace.ca
Maple Drapery
Dress your home for every season simply by changing your pillows and home accent pieces. Go in for a visit and take advantage of beautiful designer fabric pillows, $25 each or three for $60. New fall home accents arriving daily. See ad on page 46 and check out their great offer: 50 per cent off custom drapery hardware with every Dwell Drapery order.
8481 Keele St., Unit 11A, Concord 905.660.7290 | visit mapledrapery.com
Arrow
This retro style chrome dining table has a
39-in. glass top and sells for a great price at $369, until Oct. 30.
416.743.1530 | For a location near you
Visit arrowfurniture.com
DECORIUM
Chic and modernly beautiful describes this Moderno white lacquer bedroom collection. The unique footboard gives this collection an uplifting bedroom experience.
Queen Bed. $1,599; King Bed. $1,799. Decorium is offering 25 per cent off from Sept. 24 to Oct. 21.
363 Supertest rD., 416.736.6120 | Visit decorium.com
September 24, 2011
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Glen Peloso
