Pulling off a miracle in monochrome
Blimey! Is there no rest for the wicked? We’ve been all over the world these last few months, chasing work and holidays in equal measure. But of course we’re not grumbling; we love to travel and our global mission of decorative beautification, as well as downtime in gorgeous climes, are the elements of life that really make us tick. Hey, from Toronto to the Dominican Republic, from Grand Cayman to L.A., and from Glasgow to London, we rarely stop for breath.
This observed, we’re looking forward to some fun now we’re back in Blighty. Yup, as you read this we’ll have been home since Wednesday and staying till Feb. 16. Based for several days in London to take part in the hit Bbc1quiz show Pointless — and to glance again at a restaurant project we’re working on in South Kensington — we’re having a busy old time. And tomorrow, we’re flying to Scotland to see our family. A holiday? Well, not quite; we’re also working on a bedroom project in an Edinburgh mansion; the reconfiguration of a dreary basement into a funky, self-contained teen haven. Having already reworked the upper floors, we’re turning our attentions to our clients’ 17-year-old daughter, or rather her bedroom, a space which needs drastic attention.
For now, in an allusion to that which we have planned, we’re going to demonstrate the way that even disastrous real estate can be saved. Using one of our favourite HGTV projects as inspiration for the Edinburgh assignment, we’re going to rock out the monochrome vibe. To the power of 10, no less.
We hate the idea of lost opportunity — rooms, after all, are way too valuable — so we settled at our drawing board to bring the basement room alive. Essentially a garden room/trash zone before work began, we saw past the mess and dreamt of potential. Working this mammoth job to its happy conclusion, we created a valuable extra sleep zone, and, in doing so, freed up the need for siblings to share bedrooms on the floor above.
FINISH OFF ROOMS
If you have a basement, complete (or rather incomplete) with bare beams and unfinished walls, don’t be despondent; there is hope. Trust us. As long as your solum has code satisfying services and ample headroom, then it’s actually relatively easy, with a little jiggery pokery, to work a minor miracle. Modern construction wall board and metal framing is relatively easy to install — if you have the relevant skill set — and results can be taped out and plastered to achieve a smooth finish. But don’t cut corners; do it properly. It’s worth investing in insulation to line the cavities you form as this will keep heat bills down and increase soundproofing.
If in any way unsure about the process, then bring in a contractor to assist you. Doing a job is one thing, but ensuring that your work is built to code is another; there are fire safety regulations to be met and electrical considerations to which you must adhere. Keep an eye on Bryan Baeumler’s column here; he’s the master of construction standards and his musings contain the type of information you’ll need when it comes to all the heavy stuff.
FLOORING
Being that this is a basement room, we were somewhat apprehensive to specify wood — or carpet, for that matter — due to the worry of moisture ingress further down the line. As a serviceable alternative, we employed a glossy porcelain tile and topped this with a deep pile rug that can be removed for easy cleaning as required.
CREATE A FOCAL POINT
When revisioning a modern project that lacks inherent features, it’s good to create a focal wall to distract the eye from any elements that may be missing. In a bedroom, ideally, the focal wall should be the one behind the bed, normally the largest “unbroken” area. To kick things off, we painted using lowcost matte white before adding a huge panel of atmospheric matte black for drama. This done, and with proper drying time allowed between coats, we applied extra detailing with wall graphic stickers. These add a little whimsy and can be easily removed when its time for a new look. Try www.whatisblik.com for an incredible array of decals featuring both naïve and sophisticated lines.
VISIT DIFFERENT STORES Catalogue shopping is all very well, but avoid favouring one store or you’ll end up creating a look that’s more about the shop than it is you. It’s far seemlier to mix and match from different destinations. Here, a no-frills Ikea bed in white is teamed with hound’s tooth night stands from The Bay and the look is friendly yet sophisticated.
KEEP WINDOW DRESSINGS SIMPLE We replaced the old rickety doors with a slick new set from the Home Depot and we added new locks for extra security. This done, we adorned the glazed areas with plain black roller blinds. When dressing modern French doors, don’t be tempted to overdo window treatments or your billowing curtains may impede the ability of doors to freely open. Our actions allow the glazed areas to be covered without anything obstructing passage. Think about all the practicals before you shop and you’ll make fewer mistakes.
CLOSET CASE Beautiful rooms should also be practical rooms so make sure you provide ample storage in your design. We created a useful wall of cupboards by building stud partition dry wall casements around basic buy wardrobe carcasses. Doing this seamlessly integrated the system into the room, creating, as it did, a streamlined modern look that wasn’t at all expensive. Our doors come from Ikea and are built to allow wallpaper sections to be inserted as decorative detailing into their unique double-walled cavity.
MIX PLAIN AND PATTERN As much as we adore decorating with the monochrome scale, we’re aware that, poorly conceived, it can look a little austere. To avoid sterile results, mix different textures and patterns; doing this will add interest. To keep everything clean, leave lots of white “breathing space” between layers and your finished results will seem spacious and cool. While we kept our vision significantly black and white, it’s also worth considering that a third colour (such as vibrant Miami yellow or this season’s tangerine), will add pop; a few toss pillows, for example, or a snappy toned artwork could spin the project to the next level for you. Please remember that our looks are merely “serving suggestions;” personalization is key so add your own flair to bring everything to life.
BEDDING Crisp white linens, the perfect “underpin” for a bedroom scheme like this, provide optimum flexibility further down the line. Just imagine how easy it would be to seasonally adjust; soft green or the aforementioned tangerine would work particularly well during summer, while red, hunter green, or even shimmering gold would imbue your room with a cozier feel during colder climes. To amplify drama, add more black detailing around your third colour choice and, conversely, to restrain proceedings, opt for accessories such
as lamps, frames and rugs in white.
MONOCHROME TIPS
Explore architecture: While
l you can successfully remodel your project by removing — or adding — walls, you can also play with furniture “structure” to add unexpected results. Complex, edgy pieces will give your monochrome interior a kick, so think about playing round tables in rooms with otherwise square lines, and explore options such as hexagonal drum tables or perhaps a wedge-shaped chaise like the one we specified here.
Opt for flexible lighting: A
l sure-fire way to change the feel of your work is to employ clever illumination. You can easily switch moods with differently coloured bulbs, or, if you’d like to go a step further, search out lamps that have a sequential colour “pattern.” Options like these are now surprisingly affordable and are a great way of “painting” your room at the flick of a switch.
Texture: To add depth, play
l around with textures and patterns where upholstery is concerned; experimenting with various tactile elements is a great way to enliven decor.
Consider leather-trimmed throws, open-weave blankets or snugly finishes like chenille or silk. In Homesense, just last week, we witnessed the company’s new interior collection and it’s better than ever. How on earth they manage to retail the quality they do at such affordable price points is anyone’s guess, although we imagine it has much to do with their “fashion forward” buying team and bulk-buying capabilities.
Pop in and get ready to set off on a design treasure hunt! Colin Mcallister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV’S Colin & Justin’s Home Heist and the authors of Colin & Justin’s Home Heist Style Guide, published by Penguin Group (Canada). Follow them on Twitter @colinjustin or on Facebook ( Colinandjustin). Check out their new candle range at www.candjhome.co.uk. Contact them through their website, www.colinandjustin.tv.