The Process:
Starting to work together pre-construction permitted us to choose materials from the developer's design centre that would best suit our vision, rather than vice versa. We were also able to delete a flat closet in the master bedroom, allowing us to plan for storage better tailored to our client's needs. We weeded through the client's existing furniture, so she could discard or sell pieces that were unsuitable. Using builder's plans, we created a furniture layout that incorporated as many of the remaining furnishings as possible and targeted future purchases to fill the holes. Good quality seating pieces would be reupholstered and restyled. With the world as our oyster, we settled on a mix of fabrics in reds and golds -- toiles, textures, and small prints that evoke French Country style. A large armchair, upholstered in bright green cotton, was left as is to provide a cool contrast.

After the client took possession, we set about embellishing this contemporary condo with traditional details. Crown moulding was added to the main living space and a dropped ceiling was installed in the dining area to allow for proper placement of a chandelier. A new hand-painted fireplace surround and electric fireplace create an inviting focal point in the living room. Builder's paint was immediately banished in favour of rich cream and gold tones. Even the plain slab wood front door was dressed up with trim and given a coat of glossy red paint.

The construction of a much-needed walk-in closet to the master bedroom resulted in the creation of a large blank wall facing the entrance from the living room. We transformed this into a welcoming feature wall (as well as adding storage) by building a display niche and hanging decorative sconces to support special objets. We used a number of designer tricks to make up for floor space lost to the closet. Mounting a custom upholstered headboard on the wall saved precious inches at the foot of the bed. Consignment store side tables, painted the same colour as the walls, occupy minimal visual space. The client ingeniously cached a new flatscreen TV in the top of a slim English secretary desk, in lieu of a deep armoire for the old TV. To accommodate viewers, we squeezed in a petite French settee, carried over from the owner's previous home.

In the rest of the apartment, we seized on every opportunity to add customized storage and multi-functionality to the space. A two-sided display niche was added above the kitchen pass-through. A small built-in bookcase/side table was slipped under an odd bulkhead in the living room. In the dining area, which doubles as the client's home office, a built-in cabinet in a hand-glazed antique finish fills an entire wall, housing office supplies alongside tableware. Its changing display forms a pleasing backdrop for a new distressed dining table, surrounded by a mix of slip-covered and reupholstered dining chairs in a lively toile. Work seems like less of a chore in this room!

Opening off the dining area, the guest room cum hobby room was designed with sight lines in mind. The immediate view is of an inviting daybed, fashioned from a pair of matching twin bedframes snapped up at a consignment store. The window, covered by a tasseled Roman shade, is framed by the same toile featured in the living and dining rooms. A visitor would never know that the client tackles many craft projects here, as an armoire, aside from concealing craft supplies, is also outfitted with a pull-out, dropdown tabletop that quickly retracts from view.