Allegro Interiors

Good Things, Small Packages

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:49:53 +0000

Even the smallest niches within a room can be transformed into something special. In this bedroom, a little alcove beside the fireplace became a make-up area for the female homeowner. I found a graceful vanity table that fit exactly in the space, and paired it with an upholstered ottoman in the room’s plum accent colour (the ottoman opens to provide storage for the hairdryer and other items). The over-sized painting of a nude, in soft, warm colours, clearly defines the space as “hers.”

Creative Closeting

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:48:33 +0000

Most of the time there is never enough closet space in a home; occasionally, however, a closet is not necessary and can be re-imagined into something entirely different. In this example, a single family home had been converted into multiple units, and my clients’ new home was on the second and third floors of the house. Their dining room was actually a former second floor bedroom, with a small closet that was not needed. My clients asked me to design a bar in the closet space.

You can see the transformation below. I incorporated their bar fridge as the base and topped it with a quartz counter top. Open shelves provide easy access to glasses and a storage rack above the shelving is the perfect place for select bottles of wine. The walnut cabinetry ties into the other warm woods in the room. Unusual, functional, and fun.

From Eyesore to Art

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:44:19 +0000

With a little imagination an unattractive feature can often be transformed. In this instance a small unsightly radiator was located in the middle of the dining room wall. Rather than incur the expense of moving or replacing it we transformed it into art by placing a painting above it, choosing an accent colour from within the artwork and painting a wide floor-to-ceiling vertical band that encompassed the radiator; for visual interest the band was placed off-centre. What was formerly an eyesore is now a conversation piece in the room.

Playing with the Angle

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:20:13 +0000

With a little imagination a sloped ceiling in a bedroom can be utilized to create a fantasy sleep nook; a young child’s tent, for instance, or in this case, an utterly feminine retreat. I used blush silk to create a canopy that defines the bed as this room’s charming focal point.

Kitchens – The Softer Side

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:18:48 +0000

I always like to introduce fabric into a kitchen, to soften the hard edges and add a pop of colour and texture. Here are two recent kitchen window treatments, a roman blind and a simple valance. The valance is hung high above the actual window to create the impression of a larger window without blocking much of the actual window area and sunlight.

Kitchen Storage Solutions

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:16:32 +0000

When designing kitchens, no matter what size, I enjoy providing clients with practical storage solutions. Here are a few of my favourites:

Pull-out pantry- a real space-saver

A pantry wall- useful for long shallow walls

Banquette storage- great for infrequently used larger items

Pull-out spice rack- invaluable near the range

Drop-down sponge drawer

Toe kick drawer- my clients still rave about this!

Changing Seasons

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:11:02 +0000

To echo the changing seasons within your home, nothing is simpler than a change of throw pillows. Here a group of colourful pillows in fun graphic patterns combine with gorgeous spring flowers to usher in the warm weather.

Bedroom of Your Dreams

Allegro Interiors — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:02:20 +0000

One of my favourite ways to transform a bedroom dramatically but simply is to introduce patterned draperies- they instantly transform the feel of the space. Add coordinating pillow shams on white or neutral-coloured bedding, and you have a brand-new, dressed-up room. Here, soft pink and cream toile injects feminine charm; for an edgier feel, use a bold graphic print in a dramatic colour.

Stripes

Allegro Interiors — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:01:01 +0000

Striped fabric is so versatile; when used horizontally on draperies it creates an unexpected touch of personality. In the first bedroom below, blue and white woven sheers lined with blackout fabric offer privacy and sleekness to this contemporary master bedroom. In the second bedroom, I used colourful barcode stripes horizontally to create a lively and charming space for a young boy.

Office Surprise: Window on the World

Allegro Interiors — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:59:31 +0000

Although my focus is residential decorating and design, I enjoy redecorating workplace offices. So often they are drab places devoid of soul or personality. It is an interesting challenge to work within company boundaries to bring some life to a generic office.

The office below had no windows to the outside world, and a tall blank wall that, according to company policy, couldn’t be repainted in a different colour. The office was occupied by a gentleman of great warmth and spirit, who loved the outdoors. I decided to bring the great outdoors to him by mounting a giant mural of a forest scene onto nine canvases. I spaced the canvases apart so that they filled up the empty wall and created the illusion of looking out of a multi-paned window.

By positioning the desk at the other end of the office facing the mural, I gave my client a window on the natural world that he can enjoy every time he looks up from his desk!

Pillow Persuasion

Allegro Interiors — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:57:10 +0000

Changing the character of your living or family room can be as simple as changing the throw pillows. In the living room below, the mood shifts to fun mode when neutral furniture pieces are given a shot of colour with graphic and whimsical pillows.

Spicing Up the Kitchen

Allegro Interiors — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:33:33 +0000

With careful planning in a kitchen renovation, you can utilize every inch of available space. A few awkward inches of space in this kitchen were transformed into a spice rack. The clients love the convenience!

The Power of Fabric

Allegro Interiors — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I love the transforming power of fabric in a room, especially in draperies, which always add warmth, texture, and beauty to a space. In the dining room below, new silk draperies soften the clients’ existing leather chairs and wood table; inverted pleats and the subtly-striped fabric keep the look tailored and clean but luxurious.

In contrast, the floral linen draperies in this family room add a riot of colour and personality to a previously non-descript room; the homeowner finds the effect uplifting and joyous. Whatever mood you want to create in a space, fabric can make a difference.

Creative Problem-solving

Allegro Interiors — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:20:30 +0000

When additions are put onto houses, the new rooms can sometimes end up with some challenging features. In this bathroom we turned what was once an outside window into a medicine cabinet. For the door I designed a divided light window with mirrors rather than glass panes; I fitted it to the original opening. The new door echoes the French country style of the room and reflects light from a large bedroom window into the bathroom.

Master of Disguise

Allegro Interiors — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:18:48 +0000

The heating units in a condo can often bring down the overall look of your rooms. With a little creativity you can disguise units to integrate better into the rest of the room. In the photo below, the heating unit in this living room was a plain metal box, but had an interesting base. I painted the unit white to match the trim in the room, added surface mouldings, and a black marble top. The knobs are actually decorative magnets! It now looks like a piece of furniture and blends in with the style of the room.

Fantasy Baths

Allegro Interiors — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:07:18 +0000

Why not indulge your fantasies when renovating your master bath? At the request of the homeowner I transformed a bland and basic bathroom (see the “before” photo below) into a French Country dream by adding an elegant claw-foot soaker tub, traditional fixtures, wainscoting, and whimsical wallpaper. The result- fun, functional, and fabulous!

Transitions: First Condo

Allegro Interiors — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:04:42 +0000

First-time homeowners with tight budgets can still create stylish spaces by adding a few well-chosen pieces to their existing furnishings. In this “first condo” I worked with the young homeowner’s existing sofa and added a sleek glass and steel coffee table, a modern lamp, and a classic rug. For artwork, I had an oversized poster printed on canvas; this cost-effective artwork added an explosion of colour to the long empty wall and created a focal point and conversation piece. Her condo now feels bright, pulled-together, and homey.

Radiator Challenges

Allegro Interiors — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:00:19 +0000

Radiators don’t have to be an eyesore; they speak to the heritage of a house and can contribute to the architectural interest of a space. If the radiators themselves are not attractive, a cover in a style appropriate to the house can add visual appeal as well as functionality. Here I designed a simple radiator cover with built-in bookshelves for a Craftsman-style house. By painting the radiator itself a dark colour it disappears visually, enhancing the clean lines of the radiator cover design.

Life Transitions

Allegro Interiors — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:51:03 +0000

Transitions in life can be challenging; quite often after a major life change your home doesn’t function as well as it once did, or somehow doesn’t feel right anymore. I strongly believe that your physical environment affects how you feel. A change in your home decor can acknowledge the life change, and help you move comfortably forward into the new phase.

I had a lovely client who was suffering from “empty-nest” syndrome; a beloved grown daughter had moved out and her old bedroom was a painful reminder of the gap in the house. We redesigned the room as a much-needed home office for my client, with a restful wall colour, a new rug, and an antique table of her mother’s; the room was transformed into a private, practical haven and a base for moving forward rather than looking back.

Another client, recently widowed, was struggling to make her new condo a meaningful home that was a personal expression in this new phase of life. We discussed what made her happy, what she loved; the answer, quite simply, was “Paris”. We redid her condo in “Paris apartment” style, utilizing much from my client’s considerable collection of art and furniture, while incorporating soft paint colours and some new items. While the overall redesign was elegant and restrained, we decided to have some fun with the powder room and “go over the top” with an oversized chandelier and bold wallpaper. The results always bring a smile to the face and truly reflect the spirit of this warm, lively client.