Eager for her home to sell quickly, this homeowner turned to Josée Lalonde and Melanie Henson at Josée Lalonde Design to stage her home for a fast sale. The house sold immediately and the owner downsized to a 1980’s townhouse. Attracted to the home’s layout and updated kitchen, the professional mother of two grown children needed help bringing the rest of the dated interior into the twenty-first century and credits Lalonde and Henson for their interior design expertise. After living in her previous home for many years that was full of antiques and not completely her style, the owner’s goal was to create a space that accurately reflected her own personal style. The result is a customized design that boasts a casual elegance while embracing an upbeat feel. Everything is feminine, yet nothing feels too precious to be enjoyed.
“The owner’s previous home was quite dark so capturing natural light and creating a bright space to reflect her bold feminine style was at the top of the homeowner’s wishlist,” says Henson. Our client really wanted to bring in pops of fuschia and pattern for a sophisticated and fun feel where she could entertain friends and family. Lalonde wanted the foyer to serve as a bold introduction to the stylish home and set the tone for a welcoming feel. A punchy custom made zebra bench from Max Furniture pairs beautifully with a glass console. Wall sconce light fixtures from McLaren Lighting and a curvaceous mirror finish the polished space.
Puzzled by the unique angles of the dining room that included two entrances, the owner suggested a colour scheme and gave Lalonde and Henson carte blanche on the design. “It’s not a lot of space and the shape of it was a challenge, but we were excited to get creative with this primary room for entertaining. We also had to add storage to the dining area and incorporate the owner’s baby grand piano so these were important considerations,” says Lalonde.
For a bold statement, Lalonde and Henson chose pink damask wallpaper to accentuate the room’s twenty-foot ceilings. “For tableware storage, South Shore Cabinetry custom built two hutches with lighting with white Cambria quartz countertops from Floform.
In response to the room’s shape, the designers opted for a circular glass dining table from Chintz and Co to keep the small room visually light. Feminine curves define the nailhead captains chairs from Urban Barn. Painting and wallpaper by John DeMedeiros at Nu Edge.
Lalonde adds that “the townhouse is very angluar with a lot of unusual space so in this former dead space we created an area for the owner’s coveted baby grand piano. To create depth and drama we painted the wall matte black and paired it with a bar cart for a sophisticated feel.” This area elevates the fun factor promising evenings around the piano with martinis. Light fixture from McLaren Lighting hangs elegantly over the piano and lights and adjacent artwork from Chintz and Co.
George Nelson bubble lamps from Gabriel Ross in three differing shapes add interest and light the formerly dark space. The designers kept the original functioning fireplace but replaced the brass front with white ceramic tile from Design District Access.
Originally, the owner hired Lalonde and Henson to design the entrance, living and dining rooms only, but when it came time to design her master bedroom she needed their professional services. “Once we installed new light fixtures in the master bedroom, it was obvious the owner’s four-poster canopy bed was too big for the petite space so we took on the master bedroom and ensuite as phase two of the design,” says Lalonde. For consistency, the designers carried through the fuschia and black theme with paint and a dramatic black nailhead headboard from Scan Designs. White side tables from west elm, drapery is custom and linens are from Heirloom linens.
Challenged by the pint sized ensuite, Lalonde and Henson gutted the space to rearrange the layout. “To keep it simple, we worked with the existing plumbing and chose materials that would create a tranquil space. Our goal was to design a spa-like retreat rather than a bold statement like the rest of the house.” Marble, quartz, tile and a freestanding tub combine to create an elegant appeal, while the durable materials speak to the functionality of the compact space.
To keep the space airy and bright, the designers framed in white Moroccan tile from Design District Access as a subtle feature piece in place of adding wall art.
To stay on budget, the owner opted to keep the powder room cabinets but make cosmetic changes in hardware, paint, lighting and countertops. Lalonde and Henson wanted to shake it up a bit with bold strokes of black and an angular sink — a total score in just the right shape they were searching for. Lalonde concludes that “every square-inch of this bold and dramatic home was designed specifically for the owner. The goal was to create a sophisticated and fun space for entertaining and that’s exactly how it’s being used. We are happy to say we came in under budget and the owner told us ‘coming home feels like Christmas every day.’ We can’t think of a better compliment than that.”
