1555 West Eighth brings the bold
Display space uses colourful artwork and bright fabrics to give the look of a well-loved home
At the 1555 West Eighth residential project, a display space is more than a display space: it takes on the look of a lived-in home.
Lived-in, that is, in the best sense of the word.
Where many designers might furnish an open-concept dining and living room in light neutrals and an accent colour, the team behind 1555 West Eighth holds nothing back, as far as luxurious colour, texture and taste are concerned. The Kenstone Properties’ space will no doubt appeal to any buyer with a penchant for contemporary art and design and a worldly outlook, thanks to the addition of bold artwork from a local artist, a velvet chaise from Paris and a Corbusier wood and cane bench crafted in India, among other pieces.
“It was important to us that the space showcased an accumulation of objects over time, so we approached the staging like an art collection across time and place,” says Kenstone director Edwin Liang. McFarlane Biggar was the project architect and designer.
“Our buyers are well-travelled design aficionados, so we wanted our interior decorating to reflect their lifestyle. If you entered our display home and felt like you were entering somebody’s home, then we think we have accomplished our job,” Liang adds.
The bold, large-scale abstract artwork is a hand-dyeing and stitching of vintage fabrics, an original creation by local artist Colleen Heslin. It’s a standout in the room, perpendicular to a large expanse of a wall papered in a delicate Chinoiserie pattern.
“We wanted the focus to be on Colleen’s work with her large swaths of colour and movement. It needed to be a big gesture to anchor all the individual collectibles on display, and we think we achieve this by having the colours and the geometric strong lines of the space personified in this artwork.”
While not every homeowner may be able to decorate with finds from international travels, Liang suggests that anyone can mimic the sensual look by setting hard edges of some furnishings against other pieces defined by gentler curves.
Contemporary chairs at the kitchen island and in the living space have curved backs, while the round side tables, nesting tables and dining table set softness against the harder angles of the fulllength mirror large windows and white sofa.
“Having too many straight angular lines can make spaces feel too minimal and unapproachable,” Liang says. “Our structured and boxy white sofa is complemented by the pillowy softness of our velvet chaise, the round rosewood coffee table, and the round Tom Dixon floor lamp.”
Liang also notes that the buildings boast a high exterior-to-interior building ratio. This allows for a generous amount of exterior perimeter around every home, so homeowners can optimize the building’s natural light and ventilation. No homeowner will share a wall with a neighbour, he says.