Wallflower?
This Toronto penthouse sitting room is anything but. Taking cues from the owners’ old floral seating, designer Michelle Hurley sourced blue chinoiserie wallpaper to complement the rich millwork and the hardwood floors. Carefully selected furniture and accessories honour the clients’ traditional tastes while introducing a welcoming vibe befitting laid-back living. Here’s how she did it.
SKY HIGH
Inspired by celestial views, Hurley searched high and low for the right wallpaper. “I was specifically looking for a fresh blue backdrop,” says the designer, who found the perfect fit in a Thibaut paper. Taking the treatment up to the ceiling coffer “envelops the space, making it feel cozy and decadent.”
COLOUR THEORY
To maintain a cohesive feel, Hurley restricted the palette to the hues found within the wallpaper: sky blue, moss green, golden yellow and cranberry red. The dark mauve found its way into the toss cushions and throws as dusty rose and pale pink, “so it matches, but it’s not too matchy-matchy,” explains the designer.
BALANCING ACT
“I balanced the luxurious wallpaper with simple and contemporary pieces, such as the tailored sectional, the table lamps and the rug,” says Hurley. To offset the opulence of the homeowners’ original solid brass sconces, she employed graphic modern artwork (gold zippers arranged in chevron patterns behind glass).
LESS IS MORE
“They were too encompassing,” says Hurley of the previous ornate silk drapes. Stripping away much of their volume, plus the valances, gave the custom pieces new life. Hurley treated the iridescent yellow as a neutral gold tone and brought in accents in the finish to tie into the updated scheme.