Monday, October 1, 2012

Bringing Back Victorian Charm & Character


This Victorian home had incredible potential but instead of evoking character and charm it simply felt stark.

This home needed attention, and specifically attention to detail.   Previous updates were not aligned with the architecture of the home - note the terracotta tile in the kitchen and the unimpressive built-in cabinets on either side of the fireplace.

The plan for this home was to focus on detail, colours textures and accessories.

As the footprint and floor plan were not changing, there also had to be a focus on function, use of space, and practicality.

The renovation to several months and was completed in stages.  The kitchen and bathroom were renovated first, then the living room and outdoor living space were completed afterwards.

The renovation was not limited to the interior.   Given the small interior square footage, the outdoor area was designed to extend the living space.   Two distinct areas were created for both relaxing and entertaining bringing comfort and elegance together.

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To see how I can transform your home or space, contact me today!

Heather Richards
416.706.0813

Heather Richards has been designing beautiful and functional living spaces for over for 20 years. Heather provides full management and attention to detail that ensures a customized living space that consistently surpasses her clients expectations. She diagnoses each project observing the clients lifestyle, listening to their needs and their wishes. With a well thought through plan, she works to remove the complexity of the many design options which can be overwhelming and gives the client a variety of coordinated selections to make choosing an enjoyable experience that accommodates their budget .  This process ensures that her clients don’t make costly mistakes. The final result is a living space which is customized and reflective of her clients everyday living needs and passions. 


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The kids are gone but family gatherings still abound!

The eternal challenge....how do you achieve elegance and style while meeting the needs of a busy family lifestyle?

The motivation...

For this Forest Hill family, the decision to renovate and redesign their entire home came when their children left the 'nest'.

The kick off point for the redesign of this home was the family room.

Although their children had moved into homes of their own, they were also having their own family....all of whom would be coming back for many visits and social gatherings.

In addition to accommodating a large family, they also wanted the room to do double duty as an elegant space for casual evenings with friends.

The inspiration...

This client entrusted Heather 'carte blanche' to develop the concept and design but she took into consideration the parameters she knew were important to them...

Elements such as colour choices based on previous favourites, balancing masculine and feminine influences and bringing in fabrics and surfaces that would be forgiving and animal friendly.

She had decorated the client's winter home in the Bahamas and knew that they loved the traditional colours of that region so that became the inspiration.

The challenge...

They wanted the warmth of the fireplace but wanted to create a space for the television. They also wanted seating for 8-10 people while keeping some existing furniture.

The result...

See the transformation for yourself!







To see how your home or space can be transformed, give Heather a call to see how she can help you achieve your vision...

Heather Richards
416.706.0813
heather@heatherrichards.ca