FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
Sweet, feminine details, seasonal greenery and subtle glitter are all the adornment that designer Myriam Freedman’s bright, modern home needs to shine all through the holidays.
Sweet, feminine details, seasonal greenery and subtle glitter are all the adornment that designer Myriam Freedman’s bright, modern home needs to shine all through the holidays.
Designer Myriam Freedman wanted to add something unusual and “drape-y” as a counterpoint to the strong, clean lines of the living room. The fluffy dried-fern wall hanging stands out against the slatted charcoal wall, and its soft, touchable texture makes a statement all on its own.
FERN HANGING, The Flower Factory. SOFA, OTTOMAN, The Other Room. PILLOWS, BLANKETS, Olive & Wild. RUG, East India Carpets. WHITE SIDE TABLE, CB2. CAKE STAND, Crate and Barrel.
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FROM TOP LEFT A woodand-marble cake stand adds a sculptural element; mixing natural touches with a touch of glamour, like the sheepskin that underlies gifts wrapped in shimmery dotted Kraft paper, sets up a compelling contrast in the holiday display; brown paper packages tied up with string – plus a little silvery glimmer – captures Myriam’s holiday decorating theme; pale pink roses with creamy dried silverdollar sprigs and ferns form a muted but festive arrangement.
FLORAL ARRANGEMENT,
The Flower Factory. WRAPPING PAPER, Indigo. SHEEPSKIN, CANDLES, IKEA.
When your entree to the design world comes via 15 years as co-owner of a wholesale bakery – with a side foray as a fashion stylist – it makes absolute sense that your holiday decorating centres around food. That’s the case with Vancouver designer Myriam Freedman, whose bright, contemporary home fills with the delicious scents of baking all through the holidays. Myriam’s switch to a career as a designer really accelerated about 10 years ago, when she and husband Mason began to renovate his childhood home, which they’d bought from his parents. “The house worked for us,” says Myriam. “We didn’t even need to add on or change the rooms. The main idea was just to open it up and let in the light.” In the process, they ended up completely transforming the house into an open, contemporary family home, warmed by natural textures and sun-filled, leafy views.
The home’s abundant charm springs from a wealth of unobtrusive but highly personal details – from the main staircase, whose treads were milled from an ancient cedar tree that once grew in the backyard, to the blackvelvet-covered dining room chandelier. Rather than fight its elegant, monochromatic look, which would run counter to Myriam’s preference for minimalism anyway, her holiday decorating leans towards small but inviting “moments.” The goal is to create both a visual treat – incorporating subtle delights that evoke the season and the happy mood – and often, a gustatory one as well.
“I love to cook. It’s my second favourite passion after design,” Myriam laughs. She loves to put out trays of edible delights throughout the main floor, so that family can help themselves and Myriam can relax and not have to fuss with serving. The fact that the food also forms part of the holiday decor, she says, just adds to the convivial mood.
“We love entertaining family this time of year. We celebrate Hanukkah, which is a happy time – it’s to celebrate a miracle, especially around food. Our motto really is eat, drink and be merry!”