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Houzz Tour: Builder's Beige Gets a Makeover
Home goes from boring to lively with color, furniture and textures to fit a family's personality
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
This 5-year-old home in Toronto was in pretty boring shape when its owners hired interior designer Shirley Meisels. "Although relatively new, it was pretty basic in terms of finishes ... and it was builder's beige," she says. The home lacked moldings, pot lights, interesting hardware and character in general.
"The clients wanted a family-friendly home that was as vibrant as they are; a happy place that both functioned well for their busy lifestyles and felt warm and inviting. They wanted character and color with great attention to detail," Meisels says. The family also frequently hosts out-of-town guests and loves to entertain. "This is definitely the party house – every holiday and every long weekend this house is overflowing with people!" she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who Lives Here: Duke, Cathy and their two children
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Size: This is a two-story, four-bedroom home with an in-law suite in the basement. In all there are five bathrooms.
"The clients wanted a family-friendly home that was as vibrant as they are; a happy place that both functioned well for their busy lifestyles and felt warm and inviting. They wanted character and color with great attention to detail," Meisels says. The family also frequently hosts out-of-town guests and loves to entertain. "This is definitely the party house – every holiday and every long weekend this house is overflowing with people!" she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who Lives Here: Duke, Cathy and their two children
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Size: This is a two-story, four-bedroom home with an in-law suite in the basement. In all there are five bathrooms.
by Shirley Meisels
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In spite of three chocolate brown walls and a chocolate brown door, this room remains surprisingly light and bright. "This room happens to be southern facing and so gets lots of light," Meisels says. "The bold wallpaper and bright furnishings also help lift the room from dark and dreary to bright and cheerful despite such dark walls."
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by Shirley Meisels
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| In this media room, built-ins help keep the television from dominating and add symmetry. They also hide unsightly elements. "Built-ins can be a great way to hide bulkheads, mechanical shafts and all sorts of necessary but unattractive structural elements," Meisels says. "The column on the left hides a plumbing shaft while the column on the right is a functioning cabinet." The room strikes the perfect balance between masculine and feminine. "Whenever I create a room I tend to start from big to small," Meisels says. "I’m practical, so the larger furnishings/investment pieces that I buy are almost always super-clean and neutral. The 'no frills' nature of these items tend to feel more masculine." As for the feminine? "I like to have more fun with pattern and color with smaller furnishings, like the lime green ottomans and bold occasional chairs. Here’s where the whimsy comes into play and the more feminine touches," she says. Chairs: Mitchell Gold Theatre sofa: Design Within Reach |
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by Shirley Meisels
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| The dining room retains a clean and contemporary feeling, while the moldings and trimwork Meisels designed lend a traditional feel. "This room was a blank canvas with bare walls and really no room for a sideboard," she says. "I decided to dress the walls to add interest and warm the space up. The moldings also helped to make otherwise unattractive bulkheads look like an architectural feature." Chairs and sconces: Barbara Barry Drapery fabric: Riad from Kravet |
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by Shirley Meisels
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| The family is very busy and the kitchen is the hub of the household. "We wanted the kitchen to be functional with as much storage as possible without feeling overwhelming," Meisels says. "We were looking for light and airy, and running the cabinets right up to the ceiling utilized every square inch of storage while also creating the illusion of height. The glass cabinets are primarily for decorative display and break up the heaviness of all of the cabinetry. The reflection of glass adds a bit of sparkle as well." As for the backsplash: Why herringbone? "Everyone loves the herringbone!" Meisels says. "There seemed to be so much going on in this kitchen with the huge marble island and marble Sarinnen table (in the breakfast nook), so I was reluctant to use stone for the backsplash as well. A kitchen like this demanded a luxurious finish, so I used a simple tile but installed it in a sophisticated and interesting pattern." |
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by Shirley Meisels
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| In this image you can see how the display cabinets punctuate the room with light. Tip: When deciding on an island size, tape it off on the floor and experiment. "A great deal of time was spent debating the size and function of this island," Meisels says. "We taped off the floor several times, taking great care in measuring the distance from all of the appliances, walls, etcetera. I had the homeowner walk from imaginary fridge to stove to sink just to make sure the 11-foot-long island wouldn’t feel too overwhelming for her." The marble-topped island turned out just right. It has plenty of storage for garbage, recycling, food containers and cookbooks. It also contains a sink, dishwasher and microwave. Out of season kitchenware is stored on the stool side. Pendants: Robert Abbey Marble: Statuario Stools: Custom-made with Sunbrella fabric from Robert Allen |
by Shirley Meisels
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This breakfast nook is at the end of the kitchen and opens to a deck overlooking the beautifully landscaped yard. "The room is square, so it made most sense to use a round table both for proportion and flow to the outdoors," Meisels says.
Tip: When dressing walls, think beyond framed artwork or photos. "Walls can be tricky to dress in an interesting way. The default is always to use art or family photos ... but I find that so dull and flat when used over and over again in every room," Meisels says. As an alternative, she creates a rhythm throughout a home using sconces, wallpaper, trim and other sculptural elements. "Because the room was a kitchen, I chose plates to add a touch of casual fun and color and also to echo round the shape of the table," Meisels says.
How to create a plate composition: "I had such a good time pulling the plate collection together!" she says. I simply went to a china shop, picked a bunch of my favorites, laid them all out on the floor and started to mix and match. Anything that stood out as being too odd I eliminated while being mindful not to chose them all from the same designer. There is a common thread between all of the plates and platters, either through color or pattern. I also used a variety of sizes and shapes to keep the collection interesting."
Table: Saarinen Tulip Table by Knoll
Chandelier: Robert Abby
Bowl: Crate and Barrel
Tip: When dressing walls, think beyond framed artwork or photos. "Walls can be tricky to dress in an interesting way. The default is always to use art or family photos ... but I find that so dull and flat when used over and over again in every room," Meisels says. As an alternative, she creates a rhythm throughout a home using sconces, wallpaper, trim and other sculptural elements. "Because the room was a kitchen, I chose plates to add a touch of casual fun and color and also to echo round the shape of the table," Meisels says.
How to create a plate composition: "I had such a good time pulling the plate collection together!" she says. I simply went to a china shop, picked a bunch of my favorites, laid them all out on the floor and started to mix and match. Anything that stood out as being too odd I eliminated while being mindful not to chose them all from the same designer. There is a common thread between all of the plates and platters, either through color or pattern. I also used a variety of sizes and shapes to keep the collection interesting."
Table: Saarinen Tulip Table by Knoll
Chandelier: Robert Abby
Bowl: Crate and Barrel
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by Shirley Meisels
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| Usually, we assume furniture is planned around a baby grand piano, but in this case, the homeowners decided they wanted to add one after all of the furniture had been purchased. "Luckily I tend not to overstuff a space with furniture so we had enough room to play and shift things around," Meisels says. "The only thing that was replaced was the original coffee table, which was larger and bulkier. I went with a glass coffee table instead to give the room some breathing space." Drapery fabric: Riad by Kravet Sofa: Celia by Mitchell Gold Wool and silk rug: The Rug Company |
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by Shirley Meisels
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| The master bedroom is serene and beautiful. "Master bedrooms are for rest and relaxation, so I chose fabrics, colors and textures to embody that feel," Meisels says. "Shades of grays and silvery taupes are both sophisticated and soothing." Tip: Inexact color and texture matches make things more interesting. "I am not into finding an exact match; as long as the colors and textures are in the right ballpark I’ll throw them together," Meisels says. "My gray woods are close, but are not the same, the drapes are a shade of the grasscloth, the zebra print is charcoal, the bed frame is more of a blue/gray and so on. This layering of shades and textures that are close but not perfect for me adds warmth and interest." Bed frame: Micheal Weiss Nightstands: Bolier |
by Shirley Meisels
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The color palette from the master bedroom continues into the master bath. "I wanted both rooms to feel unified so I carried the soft silver gray palette right through to the en suite," Meisels says.
An unexpected mix of materials adds light to this relatively small master bathroom, reflecting the natural light from two windows opposite the vanity. "I wanted to make up for what this room lacked in size with exceptional finishes. Thus the choice to tile the entire vanity wall with Vero glass mosaic. These add texture, sparkle and really emphasizes the vanity creating a wonderful focal wall." The tiles also pick up the dark grey veining of the limestone used on the floor and shower walls.
A vanity atop legs also adds openness to the room. "I love vanities that feel like furniture; they feel so much more elegant, especially in powder rooms and master baths," she says.
An unexpected mix of materials adds light to this relatively small master bathroom, reflecting the natural light from two windows opposite the vanity. "I wanted to make up for what this room lacked in size with exceptional finishes. Thus the choice to tile the entire vanity wall with Vero glass mosaic. These add texture, sparkle and really emphasizes the vanity creating a wonderful focal wall." The tiles also pick up the dark grey veining of the limestone used on the floor and shower walls.
A vanity atop legs also adds openness to the room. "I love vanities that feel like furniture; they feel so much more elegant, especially in powder rooms and master baths," she says.
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by Shirley Meisels
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| Tip: Mix grown-up pieces into a child's bedroom. This bedroom was designed for the couple's 3-year-old son. "I am not a fan of 'themed' rooms for children. Having one myself, I know how quickly their interests can change," Meisels says. "Rather, I like to integrate very adult elements into the design of a child's room, like the upholstered custom-made bed, with fun patterns, colors and shapes. We chose robot wallpaper, but stopped short of a robot rug and robot bedding. I think the mix of a little of this and a little of that ultimately will last longer as the child grows." Desk: Vintage Bedding: IKEA and West Elm (throw and cushions are custom) Rug: Madeline Weinrib Nightstands: Crate and Barrel |
by Shirley Meisels
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Tip: Involve young children in design decisions. Meisels designed this room for the couple's 5-year-old daughter. "I do like to involve the little ones in the design of their rooms; they love having a voice in the decision making. Of course I’m a design control freak so I’d never ask 'what do you want for your room?' Instead, I present three choices that both the parent and myself have already decided on – it’s a negotiation where all parties involved walk away happy!"
Bed: Custom
Nightstands and bench: Crate and Barrel
Wallpaper: Sanssouci from Designers Guild
Bed: Custom
Nightstands and bench: Crate and Barrel
Wallpaper: Sanssouci from Designers Guild
by Shirley Meisels
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Remember that last-minute baby grand in the living room? This vanity/desk was originally purchased for the living room but lost its intended spot to the piano. "Dare I say it? I sprayed a Barbara Barry dressing table bubble gum pink!" Meisels says. "I put a glass topper on it to protect the surface and one day it will make a great desk for homework."
This kind of versatility and problem-solving are what make a designer great.
More:
6 Favorite Family-Friendly Homes
Houzz Tour: Family Home Gets New Soft-Modern Style
Houzz Tour: Traditional With Contemporary Shine
This kind of versatility and problem-solving are what make a designer great.
More:
6 Favorite Family-Friendly Homes
Houzz Tour: Family Home Gets New Soft-Modern Style
Houzz Tour: Traditional With Contemporary Shine
Ideabook published on Nov. 24, 2011.
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i'm all for non themed rooms. I do vote for age appropriate though.
still, a very nice room...for an older child.
Three year olds need three old stuff. I feel like you should never start out too old or big for him to enjoy. It's like buying a kid shoes two sizes to big so that he can grow into them.
I love the wallpaper in the room though.
HAYTHAM SAMIR ARCHITECT- ALEXANDRIA-EGYPT.
I absolutely styled the room for this shot...it's my portfolio after all! The wet wipes were not included.
As for the bed...agreed, the camera angle makes it look huge - but it is in fact a (strangely) smaller than average double bed that is well padded for safety.
I hope this answers some of the questions about what you don't see!
Thanks again.
I am also a bit mystified why people get so irritated over someone else having a sense of style that is not like theirs; and where does that barely contained anger that the photos have been staged come from. Of course they are staged. Who wants to look at another families "stuff" of everyday living? Even tho' I don't always love every ideabook, I can usually find some element that inspires me or gets me thinking in a different way, design wise. Lighten up, guys! Just enjoy the photos and keep an open mind.
Colours in the boy's room were a fail. Rug beneath the dining room table was too short.