What is your goal for each residential project you embark on?
I always try to keep the term “effortless livability” top of mind. It sounds lofty, but it actually starts with functionality—learning how your client and their family live and laying out a space that works for them, including acoustics, lighting, and material selection. It’s not just about what looks good, but what’s going to stand up to your clients’ lifestyle and personal aesthetic.
Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram offer people endless design inspiration. How do you translate a client’s vast collection of ideas and dreams into an affordable and practical reality?
The inspiration images brought in by a new client help us understand what they are drawn to and the overall feeling they want to create. Giving clients realistic feedback about the cost of the things they want helps us prioritize which ones will have the most impact and bring the best value to the overall design.
How do you future-proof your designs for aging in place?
We encourage our clients to consider what their future lifestyle and potential long-term needs might be (e.g. growing families, aging parents). We can implement many simple things and evolving technologies now that will allow clients to remain in the home they love without major renovations in the future.
How do you strike a balance between creating a timeless design and incorporating current trends?
Embracing a current trend can be fun, but we try to do it on a smaller scale—a powder room, for example—or with things that can be changed out easily over time, like décor and accent pieces, a statement light fixture, or some (easily removable) wallcovering. Longer lasting and more permanent finishes should always stay on the timeless side.
What’s your favourite element to incorporate into a home’s design and why?
Good lighting is incredibly impactful!You want plenty of light in areas that need it and not too much in the areas that don’t. Proper lighting for artwork, undercabinet or kick lighting; and mini lights in shelving and bulkheads are all favourites at our office, along with suspension and in-wall lighting.
When is the best time to bring a designer into a home project?
Right away! Budget is usually top of mind for our clients, and it’s critical to establish a realistic budget from the outset. A designer will help you create that, and can also connect you with reputable builders if you don’t already have a contractor in place.
For those who might be hesitant, what are some tangible values a designer can bring to a project?
Where to start?! Form and function; optimized and personalized layouts; access to extensive resource libraries, samples, and software (many of which are more exclusive and not available to the public); increased home/property value; cost savings (fewer mistakes made along the way); budgeting and project management; connections to professional and reputable trades… and occasional couples counselling, as well.
