It seems to me the biggest challenge we face when downsizing from home ownership to apartment living is not deciding what to keep for the new place. It’s working out how to make an apartment feel like a home. Susan and Danny wanted their one main room in their apartment to be sophisticated enough to entertain in, yet intimate enough to curl up with a good book.
Grab hold of a soft cashmere sweater and hold it to your cheek. A cashmere sweater is a timeless beauty. It’s soft. It’s elegant. That’s how Susan and Danny’s apartment feels. We played with subtle colours and elevated them with sunny yellows and blingy glass and metal. In their apartment, you’ll find subtle things that sing to you from a backdrop of velvety greys. That’s the secret to creating a space that’s both comfy and sophisticated.
Create your own oasis of elegant warmth and comfort with these four starter tips:
- Less is more: Keep accessories and accents well edited to avoid the feeling of clutter and chaos. But be sure to keep pieces you love – they tell your story.
2. Balance : Arrange your accessories and furniture symmetrically, asymmetrically or radially and see what feels good.
3. Harmony: Make everything in your space work in unity while offering the eye variety. (You need variety to avoid monotony.) Think of Susan and Danny’s grey velvet sofas paired with bright and shiny accessories.
4. Classic elements: Use quality pieces that hold their style and wear well over time. This will add intrinsic elegance to your space.
By playing with these four design principles in your home, you’ll bring a sense of elegance that both you and your guest will love and appreciate.
Here’s where we started….

…and here’s where were arrived…. (click on an image to see the full size selection)
Testimonial:
Clients Susan and Danny: “We moved into an apartment after living in houses for the past 35 years. We sold most of our furnishings and wanted to start fresh. After doing some research with other interior decorators, we enjoyed a super friendly and helpful initial phone interview with Deborah and hired her to help put our vision of a comfy yet sophisticated living room together.
Despite Covid and Christmas, the design came together quickly. Deborah honoured our budget and made the experience pleasant and painless. She was even able to source a seamstress to remake some custom drapery at a really great price. We trusted her experience and are so happy with how our new home turned out. Deborah was always approachable, accessible, and full of terrific ideas. We would highly recommend Deborah to anyone needing interior decorating … she is simply GREAT!!!” – Susan Janega-Baird and Danny Baird
Interior Designer Deborah: “Designing with you, Susan and Danny, was truly a pleasure! I appreciate you both for trusting in the process and bravely saying yes to all my recommendations. 🙂 Together, we created a cozy, yet elegant space. I wish you many, many happy occasions with family and friends in your beautiful new home!”
