SLEEPING BEAUTY
ONCE UPON A TIME IN A FARAWAY PLACE CALLED PARIS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEFHIEF ERIN MCLAUGHLIN CAME UPO UPON A MASSIVE MOUNTAIN COVEREDERED ENTIRELY IN DELPHINIUMS – on the grounds of the Louvre no less. In fact, she was standing before the building that held Dior’s spring 2016 fashionshhion show. Upon returning home, so inspired by the breathtaking sight, she promptlympptly created a delphinium-adorned addition to the Style at Home Collection beddingngn line. GREATGR DECORATIVE PIECES CAN BE AUSTERE, TOO. THIS TABLE LAMP COMMANDS ATTENTION WITH ITS NO- NONSENSE LINEAR CONCRETE BASE AND SIMPLE FABRIC SHADE.
Forever fascinated by these inhabitants of the great blue sea, we’re whale-watching this month – even when we’re not by the water!
MICHAEL NANGREAVES
TEXT AMANDA ETTY | PHOTOGRAPHY CARINA OLANDER
An affinity for the outdoors inspires this Swedish couple to create a bright and snug home with a cabin-in-the-woods vibe.
While Anne’s clients can pick out an Inuit carving in a flash, when it comes to decorating, they’re stumped. “Over the years, we’ve bought many things that were just poor choices,” says one of the homeowners. “I would highly recommend hiring a designer because it actually saves money.” That said, the vintage kilims they brought back from Morocco and the Middle East, boasting pale pink, soft grey and earthy brown hues, served as the starting point for the condo’s palette, proving to be one of the homeowners’ better purchases. Anne made toss cushions out of these textiles (“They add an exotic flourish,” she says) and then, to really up the ante, turned to the drama of the runway. “I looked to Italian fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli’s elegant use of neutrals, which translates so beautifully to interiors,” says Anne. She also accented the space with hits of black for contrast and mixed metals for sparkle.
As in Brunello Cucinelli’s collections, a thread of understated luxury stitches the rooms together: a vintage French chest in
or the design inclined, recognizing beautiful pieces is easy enough, but the real decorating challenge comes from knowing how to fit all the elements together in a harmonious way. Designer Sarah Walker has this down to a science. Last year, the reno expert transformed her Oakville, Ont., home’s uninspiring family room into a sophisticated space boasting symmetry and style. “I wanted a modern yet classic room that balances the masculine and feminine qualities of our family,” she says, referring to her husband, Graham, and two boys (Noah, 13, and Tate, 2).
Having already installed the hardwood flooring and built-in wall unit with her husband five years prior, Sarah’s next order of business was the furniture layout. “I always pictured this space having a pair of sofas facing each other,” says the designer. “I love the conversational quality the set-up brings to a room.”