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We recently designed the interiors and furnished the show home in a boutique development of three townhouses. The project offers some good lessons for how to create elegance alongside utility when space is at a premium.

The main floor of each townhouse is entirely open, combining the kitchen, dining room and living room in an expansive space that feels like a great room. It's a place where a couple can relax, dine or work, together or, if they choose, without getting in each other's faces. And because of the openness, the furnishings can be moved around to suit any occasion.

The challenge, as with all open plans, is to ensure that each space will allow residents to do what they need to do, yet maintain a visual unity within the larger area.

We started with the kitchen. Located at the centre of the floor plan, it is the aesthetic anchor of the main level. We knew it had to be dramatic and well-ordered.

The drama was easy — the kitchen has dark-grey, Shaker-style cabinetry that goes all the way to the crown moulding, nine feet above the floor. The height gives the kitchen a stately, sophisticated air, and provides tons of additional storage.

We didn't want the room to be too dark, so we balanced the chromatic depth of the cabinets with a high-gloss white subway tile and subtle marble accent on the backsplash. Those elements, paired with the white counters and brushed-steel appliances, give the kitchen its utilitarian glamour.

Functionally, we went with a U-shaped configuration, maximizing counter space and providing an easy working triangle. The peninsula has a raised, standing bar on the dining room side, providing an attractive divider that keeps guests out of "the zone" without shutting them out completely. The added height of the bar hides the mess of the kitchen during a dinner party.

And it was entertaining we had in mind when we designed the dining space. Having the luxury of preplanning the furnishings before construction, we designed the area to accommodate a modest-sized dining table (30 by 72 inches), which easily seats six — or even eight in a pinch. For lighting, we called for a chandelier.

In addition, an extra-deep window ledge allowed us to create a faux sitting window to give the space added depth and a touch of luxury.

In the living area, we wanted something cozier and more inviting, with comfortable furnishings, easy access to books, blankets and AV equipment.

The key to furnishing the space was finding a sofa and chairs that were comfortable but not gargantuan — low-slung arms and backs were a must — with deep, comfortable seats and high-quality back cushions. We found elegant pieces with slim wooden legs and a small footprint. Their light grey and ivory colours blend beautifully with the finishes in the room, and the tall legs encourage the eye to travel to the ebonized oak floors running beneath them.

But coziness is not born of comfy furnishings alone. This space, which has a cool palette, needed a fireplace. The challenge was selecting a surround that would not visually overpower the room. We steered clear of intricate stone and wood, which are too robust and imposing for a chic urban townhouse. Instead, we designed a low-profile blackened-oak and marble-mosaic facade. Its simple form keeps things light and elegant.

To meet the storage and AV needs, we designed custom millwork for either side of the fireplace; there is open shelving for books and decorative objects above the level of the mantel. Below the shelves are 24-inch-deep cabinets that can conceal a TV and AV equipment, or throws, board games and other sundry treasures.

I admit it was tempting to go with dark cabinetry to enhance the intimacy of the living space, but we restrained ourselves and chose white cabinets. Anything darker would have diminished the impact of the kitchen and compromised the open airiness of the great room.

The height of the millwork was kept the same in the kitchen and living areas. Nothing stops short of the ceiling. This is a wonderful small-space trick to minimize the number of horizontal planes cutting across the walls; it makes the room feel harmonious and grand.

For this project, we had to forgo our earthy West Coast furnishing favourites: solid-wood accent stools and driftwood tables. These would have been too bulky in a room that needs to be light and changeable.

Instead, we chose delicate accent tables and decorative accessories with feminine profiles and reflective surfaces. Their fine lines and crystal accents make the room feel dynamic and ephemeral, balancing out the weight of the black floor and the dark kitchen.

Kelly Deck is the director of Kelly Deck Design, based in Vancouver, and the host of Take it Outside on HGTV.