Transformations

Suite dreams Part 1

My clients had dreams of converting the second floor of their Victorian semi into a luxurious principal suite, with a large spa bathroom and custom dressing room. We decided to leave the bedroom intact but gut the rest of the rooms including the existing master bath, a second bathroom, and a small bedroom.

Out of this space I designed a large principal bathroom with adjoining dressing room. Replacing the old black and white bathroom with limited storage, the new bath is airy and welcoming in a palette of soft cream, gray and sand. The large soaker tub with air jets and steam shower provide a spa experience at home; the double vanity and generous armoire offer maximum storage and convenience. A shimmering chandelier and embroidered linen blind add the final touches of luxury.

My clients declare the new bath a dream-come-true!

2012 Canadian Decorators’ Association award winner

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Suite dreams Part 2

As part of their principal suite renovation, a large dressing room with laundry was high on my clients’ wish list. Previously, large closet units placed in a small bedroom served as a dressing room, but provided inadequate and inconvenient storage. In the large new space that adjoins the principal bath I created a dressing room with his-and- hers closet areas tailored to the specific needs of each client. An eight-foot-long dresser down the middle of the room separates his closet from hers, and has drawers that open on each side.

I tucked a “laundry room” in a corner of “his” closet; the cabinet beside the stacked washer/dryer stores cleaning products; the quartz dresser top offers the ideal landing space for wet clothing and for folding dried items. Nearby, his-and-hers pull-out laundry baskets mean a short trip to the washer.

The same colour palette, chandelier and linen blind as the bath offer visual continuity and tie the two spaces together. My clients are thrilled with how easy it is to get ready in the morning.

2012 Canadian Decorators’ Association award winner

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From blank slate to urban cottage fun

My clients, a young and fun-loving couple in their twenties, asked me to design a living room for their new home that reflected their personalities, offered comfortable seating for their large family and many friends, and housed their large book collection. A new bamboo floor and ivory walls provided a neutral starting point for the new décor. We selected a sleek new sofa in another neutral and from that point on we had fun with bursts of colour, using the couple’s artwork as inspiration.

I designed a window bench for extra seating and storage in the bay window and dressed it in pillows in an array of patterns and shades of tangerine, yellow and red. Bold tangerine stripes frame a prized piece of art and draw the eye to the fireplace. We painted the old wood fireplace white and replaced the existing surround with glass mosaics in oranges and reds. The reclaimed wood coffee table and salvage wood side table reflect the couple’s environmental consciousness.

My clients report that their friends and family say that the space really looks like them- mission accomplished.

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Family kitchen reinvented

When my clients, a busy couple with an active young daughter, approached me to design a new kitchen for them their wish list was clear: natural wood cabinets, increased storage, and banquette seating. We chose rich, clear-coated cherry for the cabinetry, a sleek sink and faucet, and a glass and stone linear backsplash for high impact. I provided them with a pantry wall, pull-out spice rack, wine storage, pot drawers and extra drawers under the banquette seats. Low maintenance quartz countertops and easy-to-clear vinyl seats complete the dream transformation for this lively family.

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Transformation: From cluttered country to global chic

You don’t have to get rid of all your existing furniture to create an entirely different look for your tired or outdated rooms; a good design plan can work wonders. This design, inspired by the homeowners’ collection of native masks and art, included new paint colours and upholstery fabrics, new draperies, and a new streamlined glass coffee table. Adding a new fireplace mantel and bookshelves provided much-needed storage and created a dazzling focal point. “MaryLynne kept our treasured pieces,” noted one of the homeowners,” so that while we now have a totally transformed and beautiful space, it still feels like us!”

2011 CDECA Design Competition Award Winner

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Transformation: Bigger (in this case) is better!

The only way to give the owner of this 1930s-era home the larger bathroom and separate shower of her dreams was to take down the wall to an adjoining bedroom and annex part of it for the new bathroom. To retain the vintage style the homeowner wanted, I used traditional black and white tiles for floors and walls, along with classic fixtures and a fresh paint colour. The added bonus – the remaining part of the old bedroom was transformed into a generous walk-in closet. “MaryLynne did a wonderful job of understanding my vision,” the homeowner enthused, “transforming the old while providing some great ideas like the vanity table. And the new closet gives me storage I never dreamed of!”

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Transformation: Family room revival

Sometimes you don’t have to do a total overhaul to give a room new life- a few well-chosen changes can have dramatic impact. Here, the homeowner asked me to refresh her tired 1970s family room, but not to touch the dark wood panelling or large leather sofa.  Working with an inspiration theme of “English Country Library” I rearranged furniture and artwork, and added only two new elements: custom floral linen draperies and new velvet-look upholstery for the tattered sofa-bed.  The homeowner “absolutely loves” her now-coherent and welcoming sanctuary.

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Transformation: Country cabin chic

The new owners of this lovely log cabin vacation home inherited a poorly-built kitchen complete with randomly-placed, dysfunctional cherry red cabinets. With budget and functionality as priorities and nature as the inspiration, I designed a new kitchen that included custom maple cabinetry, a tumbled slate backsplash, granite tile countertops, and a custom stain colour that picked up the hues of the massive stone fireplace in this open-concept main floor. “It’s absolutely perfect”, exclaimed the homeowner, “I wouldn’t change a single thing!”

2010 CDECA Design Competition Award Winner

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Transformation: From outdated to outstanding

This tiny, windowless 1950s bathroom was screaming for a total renovation; the homeowners wanted to trade in the black tub and outdated wallpaper for a bright, functional space. Without moving walls I increased the sense of light and space by introducing a horizontal glass block window and replacing the tub with a large shower and frameless glass door.  Oversized tiles set horizontally and a sparkling glass tile border draw the eye in and around the room. “It’s  spectacular” pronounced the homeowner, “I can’t believe it’s the same room!”

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