The movement from one floor to another can be an uplifting experience. I am inspired by the works of Renaissance classical master architect Andrea Palladio, seen below, as well as modern masters such as Zaha Hadid because they create beautifully proportioned stairs that are integrated into the overall concept of their spaces. See below, for some of my projects as well as others that inspire.

Andrea Palladio designed this spiral staircase in Venice at San Giorgio Maggiore.

Organic stairs moves above by Architect Zaha Hadid.

A Toronto Tudor Staircase from the 1920's that we lovingly restored back to it's original glory.

I love the simplicity and clean lines of this wooden handrail.

Floating stairs are dramatic and bold.

This grid is graphically interesting and adds texture to this clean space.

Fine lines - I love the simplicity but would add glass to meet building code rules.

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Now that Fall has officially arrived in Toronto, I am thinking about cozy, warm interiors. Just like putting my summer clothes away, I put away my cotton drapes, cushions and bedding. When the weather changes I look at decorating and accenting rooms with woollen throws, cashmere cushions, and accent pieces in rich warm reds, greens and blues. Take a look below and see how I have transformed from summer to fall:

This picture above left is "summer" styling at its best for a recent project. The elements are fresh, cool, textured which offsets the recent record high temperatures and makes this room a "go-to" spot in the summer. The picture on the right has the same neutral pallete as the shot to the left but you can see that the addition of the red-orange "womb" chair and ottoman immediately make you want to come home and cozy up in this chair and light a fire as we see the incoming fall weather.

A few red throw cushions really cozies up this bedroom.

See how the same settee changes from summer style to cozy autumn. The pretty lavender settee on the left is perfect for summer cottons while the teal wool version is so inviting and warm. Plus, it shows you how when you move from one home to another, like this client, that you can change up your look.

The addition of just a bit of colour to this living room really makes for an inviting, warm room to gather friends and family.

This bedding to the left is fresh and "summery" while only the additional of the red silk chinoiserie bedspread makes it ready for fall.

Stripes anyone?  I love my time in my garden and I love Summer! — Stripes anyone? I love my time in my garden and I love Summer!

My favourite season is Summer. I don't know if it's because I was born on the last day of July but it may have since something to do with my love of the warm weather, outdoor dining and the freedom to leave the house without bundling up. And, I especially love designing outdoor spaces for my clients and my family. Just this morning I met clients to show them my garden and the possibilities of transforming a "nothing space" into something magical. So here are some recent pictures and I am also throwing in a few of the construction photos since I also was looking at these and marvelling at the change.

Before . . .

Before . . .

Garden delight - close up of the fountain.

June 3, 2016

As an Interior Designer, I am often inspired by things in nature, by things that I see traveling, and sometimes by things I see unexpectedly. I draw inspiration not only from what I see before me, but also from the collection of images that make their way into my unconscious mind. For me, the peacock feathers, through their beauty, their colours and their ephemeral nature, have been a significant point of inspiration for me. I used them in multiple ways in the Casey Design Group’s Designer Space "Dream Archive" exhibit at Interior Design Show a few years ago and also glued them on one wall of the foyer of my own home! This blog entry illustrates how I used these gorgeous feathers as a point of inspiration for these two projects.

The Dream Archive was an exploration of how we, as designers and artists, draw on the unconscious for inspiration and renewal. The peacock was used as an anchoring concept because the peacock loses its feathers and regrows them every year, mirroring the notion that the unconscious is constantly being renewed and restored by one's artistic practice.

The Dream Archive shipping container space was transformed into an environment that illustrates, though metaphor, how designers and artists find inspiration. The Dream Archive was proposed as “a portal that directs us inwards on a sensuous journey of exploration and discovery, revealing the vast transformative powers of our imagination. It is a fictional space that acts as a metaphor for the design process itself.” The Dream Archive shows how the creative mind needs to access both worlds – the real and the imaginary – for essential sources of inspiration and problem solving.

In her blog, “Feathered Foyer,” colleague and extraordinary artist Kari Serrao writes, “In Hinduism the Peacock is associated with Lakshmi who is a deity representing benevolence, patience, kindness, compassion and good luck. In Asian culture it is considered an emblem of love, compassionate watchfulness, good-will, nurturing, and kind-heartedness. In Christianity the Peacock represents rebirth and renewal. With all these wonderful symbolic attributes who wouldn't want these beautiful feathers adorning their walls, watching over those who dwell within?”

Take a look at this beautiful gold mural on indigo blue panels,  featured in Kari's blog. Click the link below to see her blog:  http://www.kariserrao.com/blog/feathered-foyer2452015. — Take a look at this beautiful gold mural on indigo blue panels, featured in Kari's blog. Click the link below to see her blog: http://www.kariserrao.com/blog/feathered-foyer2452015.

These are detail shots of the shutters in the Peacock Room, 1876-77 by James McNeill Whistler. I love the combinations of the pattern and colour!

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Left: Detail of the northwest corner of the Peacock Room. The use of Chinese porcelain shows Whistler's early fascination with the art of China and Japan. Right: Detail of the mural on south wall of the Peacock Room. The gold breast-feather design shimmers on the solid blue wall and was designed to recall the gilded decoration on Japanese lacquerware.

A notable nineteenth century interior space in an American Museum, “Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room,” 1876-77 by James McNeill Whistler, also uses peacock feathers as a recurring theme. Permanently on display at the Freer Gallery of Art, … — A notable nineteenth century interior space in an American Museum, “Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room,” 1876-77 by James McNeill Whistler, also uses peacock feathers as a recurring theme. Permanently on display at the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Whistler's room uses a striking combination of coppery gold, blues and greens to, "vividly recall the iridescence of peacock feathers." (*The Peacock Room, A Cultural Biography* by Linda Merrill.)

"I was so inspired by the texture and colour of the peacock feathers that I used them for the front foyer of my home. The walls at first glance look like wallpaper, but are in fact real feathers, carefully layered on the wall. The peacock feat… — "I was so inspired by the texture and colour of the peacock feathers that I used them for the front foyer of my home. The walls at first glance look like wallpaper, but are in fact real feathers, carefully layered on the wall. The peacock feathers added the drama and richness I wanted for the visitor upon entering the foyer."

I continually seek design inspiration in everyday objects, history, architecture and art. Keep a look out for upcoming blogs on other great sources of inspiration for design, art and architecture and life.

For more information on our Dream Archive Project, please visit the Accolades page on our website!

May 27, 2016

I have a passion for details and especially hardware. One of my favorite go to sources is "Olde Good Things". I discovered them in New York about 10 years ago. I just checked to see their other locations and they are across the States so there are now lots of options to go and wander their aisles and find unique treasures. All of the items below are from their website so if you happen to be looking to add some personality to your interior please enjoy the hunt and if that seems overwhelming then call me and let me do the work for you. http://ogtstore.com/architectural-antiques/antique-hardware.html