Deciding how to allocate space in a renovation is tough. How big should the master bedroom be? How many bedrooms is best? And where should you move walls to make existing rooms work better?
Some houses are easier to reconfigure than others and offer myriad possible layouts. Mine wasn't one of them. In order to make both the master bedroom and main bathroom suitable proportions for today's modern demands, my only choice was to steal precious square footage from two rooms which were already spatially challenged. After reducing the square footage of these rooms I had to decide whether to maintain the status quo in terms of number of bedrooms overall, or combine them to create one bigger room.
My partner in design crime, Tommy Smythe, was all in favour of turning the entire second floor into a master suite with large walk-in closets, luxurious ensuite bath, and ample-sized bedroom, but my gut said that there aren't many "dinks " (double income no kids) living in the family-friendly suburb of Don Mills, so I had to overrule his vision and seek another opinion. My real estate agent offered her sage advice and echoed my thoughts that more is more when it comes to number of bedrooms in neighbourhoods catering to young families. By reconfiguring closets and making the most of the few square feet that remained I was able to create two great rooms, each with unique character.
THE NURSERY
Make it neutral naturals
I've never been a huge fan of bubblegum pink or daffodil yellow as a colour scheme for the nursery. I know it's supposed to be sweet and innocent, but these shades can make any sleep-deprived parent feel nauseous. I prefer a more mature palette that will grow with the child and not seem outdated and babyish in a few short years.
In this house the open plan of the main floor has a direct sightline into the nursery so I wanted to ensure the view from below was complimentary. Soft blues and coffee/toffee browns are the ultimate unisex scheme (after all, does anyone really have the time and budget to re-do the nursery if the second baby is a different gender?)
In addition to my disdain for candy-coloured pastels, I'm also quite opposed to themes and motifs (ducks, bunnies, princesses, fairies, trains, cars, the works…), but I do love pattern. Instead of a cutesy juvenile print, I used leafy, heavy linen drape panels with a branch design as my colour inspiration for the room., and paired them with a collection of geometric patterns in complimentary tones for the upholstered pieces and accents. Playful polka dots and a maze-like graphic keep the mood young.
Give room to grow
Selecting "grown up" furnishings like side tables, dressers and lamps in a combination of dark and light finishes guarantees that the room will grow with the child. In this case, the side table by the chair is actually designed as a laptop table, the turned lamp would be at home in a living or family room, and the simple floral etching in the dresser could transition to any bedroom. These choices won't cost more, but they will certainly last longer.
Create architectural detail
If you are keen to show off a two-colour paint scheme why not reinforce the effect by adding a simple band of flat stock wood trim around the room above eye level? I put up a 4-inch-wide band about 7 feet off the floor which allowed me to wrap a soothing pale sky blue up the walls and onto the ceiling - it's easier to install than crown moulding and also provides a backdrop for my alphabet soup artwork which wraps around the perimeter of the room.
THE HOME OFFICE
Be the boss of colour
The only rule in home office design is that you have to love the space you create, and it needs to make you feel inspired to work.
Why be limited to a drab palette when you can infuse the room with bold energy and bright colour? Red may be too strong for your kitchen or laundry room, but it's perfectly suited to this little 8-by-12-foot room. Instead of expressing your passion for colour on the walls, think about the effect of choosing furnishings in high gloss lacquer hues as a stark contrast to wall and floor surfaces in pale creamy tones. While not specifically designed for home office use, I found three storage pieces (a wall-mount flip top cupboard, large armoire, and low credenza) that offer ample storage solutions for all the trappings of a home office and eliminate the need for a desk with storage.
Appreciate fabric as an art form
If you are hankering for some pattern but also need a tack board to keep your life organized, why not create a custom bulletin board that showcases a piece of richly patterned fabric? I found an unpainted, richly carved wood frame and had my framer fill it with bulletin board. The ornate frame provides a natural contrast to the sleek metal and lacquer surfaces and references the light bamboo and woven desk accessories. A little over a yard of fabric was required for a 3-by4-foot bulletin board - at less than $30 it makes for high impact, low cost artwork and it helps keep your life organized!
Table your agenda
Instead of investing in a pricey custom L-shaped work surface I discovered that I could get the look at a fraction of the price. By marrying ready-made stainless steel table tops with decorative steel legs (sold individually) I was able to fashion a sleek work space for less than $200! The stylish legs soften the shiny surfaces and hard edges of the storage components while playing up the curvy lines of the bulletin board frame and the vase. This arrangement even offers room for two people to work at the desk at the same time (a good consideration if parental assistance is needed for homework projects or if two kids like to use the computer together.)
Choosing a classic modern armchair like Mies van der Rohe's "Brno" chair allows you to benefit from the streamlined proportions of the frame without sacrificing a bit of comfort (and the cantilevered frame offers just the right amount flex to allow a gentle rocking motion).
While neither the nursery nor the home office has space to spare, these rooms clearly show that you can have style in spades even when square footage is at a premium.
Where to buy it:
Nursery:
Crib, dresser, drapes, basket - Ikea, www.ikea.ca
Zoe nursery rocking chair and oval storage boxes - Sarah Richardson Design, www.sarahrichardsondesign.com
Custom spraying of crib - Benjamen Furniture Refinishing, 416-745-2559
Trim detail and chandelier -Home Depot, www.homedepot.ca
Side table and broadloom - Elte Carpet and Home, www.elte.ca
Table lamp - Universal Lamp, www.greatlighting.com
Silver leaf mirror - Urban Barn, www.urbanbarn.com
Home office
Desk tops and legs, red storage components, table lamp - Ikea, www.ikea.ca
Brno chairs - Queen West Antiques, 416-588-2212
Reupholstering of chairs - Mieda Design, www.miedadesign.com
Bulletin board frame - Abraham's Antiques, 416-504-6210
Fabric on bulletin board - InVU Drapery Co., www.invudraperyco.com
Sarah's House airs on HGTV each Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. She'll write about it here each Friday.
Sarah Richardson is host and co-producer of Design Inc. and Sarah's House on HGTV and principal of Sarah Richardson Design ( www.sarahrichardsondesign.com ).