THE SIMPLICITY OF STYLE
THE LOOK IS CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY AT MOSAIC HOMES’ JAMES WALK
The interior design of the James Walk display home is an object lesson for homeowners. The uncommon gifts in this suite — the built-in architectural details, spacious rooms and high ceilings, to name a few — might inspire sensible homeowners to stand back, savour and decorate with a light hand.
What would the designers of the James Walk suite say to new occupants who find themselves in such a light-filled grand kitchen, living and dining space?
“We’d say congratulations,” says Sharon Bortolotto, co-designer with Eileen Wunderlich, of BBA Design, who worked on the James Walk interiors for Mosaic Homes.
“It’s rare to have large spaces these days, especially over-height ceilings.”
In the large, open, grand room — it incudes the kitchen, dining and living spaces — they marked one space from another with subtle borders, like grouped furniture or a rug, Bortolotto adds.
“We like the openness with no physical separation, so define the areas with area carpets, different groupings of furnishings, for example, into quiet zones, TV or entertainment zones, maybe (one zone for) a piano.”
Crown moulding, ceiling rosettes and Shaker-style cabinets give the home instant architectural appeal. These embellishments need little decor; their simple style is more than enough, the designers say.
“Keep it classic and simple and add accessories sparingly. The high walls and ceilings make a perfect backdrop for large pieces of art,” Bartolotto adds.
The wall in one bedroom is covered in a soft metallic patterned wallcovering. Paired with bed pillows and a sunburst chandelier, it’s all about soft, feminine luxury. The designers used a strategy similar in their attention to the rest of the suite. Like the moulding and rosettes in the open living space, the wallcovering is dominant, leaving little need for more artwork or embellishment.
“To keep it understated and elegant, we chose a stunning wallcovering that could stand on its own and kept everything else simple,” Wunderlich adds.
She also advises to use just one accent colour in both zones, to keep one area from overwhelming the other. In this case, the accent colour is various shades of blue against a neutral decor.
In one corner, the designers staged an arrangement of a blue chair, plush round ottoman, side table and a leggy standing lamp, at once very seductive looking and energetic.