Journal

Decorating your home is all about making it comfortable, functional and of course, beautiful. When I begin a project, I am looking at the bones of the house and thinking about the spirit I want to capture for the people who live there. My style is always rooted in heritage and the classics but I try to execute it in a way that is fresh, with a slightly spare hand. I think sometimes people worry that traditional decorating will be heavy or too serious, but it doesn’t have to be! Carefully selecting colours and patterns that keep things airy and light is my aim.

For this heritage home built in the 1800’s, a traditional style makes sense. I chose to use colours that were anything but trendy, rather I looked for colours that would be easy to live with and happy. I generally keep trim off white and floors natural – avoiding stains that are either very dark or very light because this is the most time tested look. I’ll try to highlight any focal points like a fireplace or beautiful architectural details and give them breathing room so they’re not too overdone.

For colour in this space, I started with a gorgeous vintage floral print. These pillows were made from yardage I bought at an antique show and I loved the unusual mix of colours. You’ll notice some punchier colours like coral and acid yellow/green mixed with a creamy ground and muddier colours in the mix. This is something I’m always drawn to – bold or fresh colour mixed with muddy tones. For me, it always strikes the right balance. I used this floral fabric as a guide for selecting a cinnamon coloured upholstery fabric for two occasional chairs and a mossy green for some occasional chairs. The sofa was kept neutral, as I often do, to allow for a mix and match of colourful cushions.

Another thing I like to do to lighten the palette in a classic or traditional room like this, is have some very casual materials in the mix. Woven baskets, rustic wood, sisal or seagrass carpets. Any of the above will help bring a casual air and an earthiness that keeps traditional furniture and architecture from getting stuffy.

I kept the draperies very simple and plain, again to add to the airiness and avoid formality. The coffee table was also intentionally very simple and white in contrast to some of the vintage wood pieces and floral fabrics.

I love a beautiful antique mirror over a gorgeous fireplace like this one. They add such elegance and of course expand the room visually and bounce extra light around. I try not to clutter up the mantle piece too much. Rather a couple of antique majolica pitchers in deep green that I found at two different stores and reunited are just enough.

For the attached dining area, I started with a large classic harvest table, hand crafted in Canada and outfitted with extra leaves that it can be used for a large party. The chairs are also Canadian and have been custom painted a pale sage green by the manufacturer so that they relate to the palette in the rest of the space and keep things interesting. The hutch (same Canadian craftsmen) was painted a creamy white. There was no place for a light fixture over the dining table so two hammered metal floor lamps add extra lighting and a bit of contrast because of their dark colour and rough hewn finish.

Together, this living room and dining room make the most of a slightly awkward space with a large fireplace that juts out into the middle of the room. The chimney behind the mantel is very deep for this room and made furniture placement a bit tricky. In the end, there’s a large sofa for three, two comfortable green arm chairs and a pair of antique cane occasional chairs that don’t block up the room too much. The dining table seats six but for a large group can be extended by turning the table and using the leaves. There is warmth and interest because of the colour palette born from the vintage floral print and balanced by plenty of natural elements and off white to keep things fresh and casual. A century home often calls for somewhat classic decorating to be in keeping with it’s location, but as you can see, it needn’t feel too formal, dark or stiff.