Kim and Rey met at a boxing gym and fell in love at first punch. Kim was a novice who was there to learn the sport, and Rey was a pro bantamweight using the gym for training. They bonded over hooks and jabs, got married, had two sons and now share their busy lives together — Kim as a children's television director and Rey as a boxing equipment distributor.
The couple recently moved into a charming bungalow and started to renovate, but they were stumped when they got to their main living space — a long, narrow living and dining room. The room was empty, uninspiring and full of flamboyant colours chosen by the previous homeowners.
While Rey would have been happy to keep the space empty — as a boxing ring for him and the boys — Kim said they'd have to duke it out in the basement. She wanted this space to be a warm, welcoming and livable room for family and friends.
The easy part of this challenge was getting rid of the ugly colours. I painted the room in a dreamy shade of beige, put down some gorgeous hardwood flooring and the vibrant tones were but a memory.
The room was full of flamboyant colours, left. In the remake, walls were painted a dreamy shade of beige, and dark hardwood flooring was laid. (PHOTOS BY BRANDON BARRÉ)
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The difficult part was breaking up the room into cozy little zones. To this end, I added a focal point in the middle: a new gas fireplace that anchors the room. I flanked it with new cabinetry and added traditional bead board panels above.
I topped it all off with a dark wood mantel and clad the front of it in beautiful circular glass tiles.
Across from the fireplace I put up cabinetry that I backed with the same bead board that went above the fireplace. I then painted the cabinets in a soft watery blue to give them some contrast and depth.
Next, I got busy dividing up the rest of the space. On one side of the room I set up a living area and added a host of new seating. I used the couple's ottoman — the one piece of furniture they wanted to keep — as a jumping off point for the room's colours: earthy tones of taupe, beige, rust and cream.
I also put in a tweed loveseat and a chair in a lovely floral pattern.
At the room's bay window I put up a large woven blind, which I flanked with dummy panels in a large-scale geometric pattern.
On the other side of the room I created a dining area using a large wood pedestal table. On one side of the table I put striped dining chairs, and on the other, an upholstered bench.
Above the table I installed a modern chandelier with a chrome finish that will act as a bit of a visual barrier between the dining room and the adjoining kitchen space.
Lastly, to give the dining area a personal touch, I created a family photo display on one of the walls using a fantastic framing template. After a few more homey accessories — mirrors, candles, pillows and lamps — this space was complete.
Kim and Rey's living and dining room had finally made the transformation from an empty, colour-crazed kid zone to a comfortable and beautiful space that works for the whole family.
By using warm colours, cool fabrics and one hot new fireplace, this space is now a design knockout. How divine!
Interior design consultant Candice Olson is the host of Divine Design on the W Network. For more information, go to www.wnetwork.com/divinedesign or www.divinedesign.tv
