curated colour and storied furnishings for a pared back lifestyle
The process of building a home rolls along at a more laid back pace in rural Nova Scotia than it does in the urban centers of Ontario. And our home owner was more than ready to slow down to the out of the way coastal hamlet speed of her new neighbourhood when she relocated from Toronto. With an attitude of appreciation and respect for the trades people she brought on board to build her dream home, our client self-directed her project along with her general contractor, George. And we were there for the layout and design of bathroom, kitchen, millwork, furnishings, fittings, finishes and lighting. And to offer guidance and support throughout her new build journey.
This small home is pared back and modern, furnished with a curated selection of my client’s cherished furnishings and art. Perfect for a laid back lifestyle on the rugged shores of the Atlantic.
The light and colour from the surrounding forest and ocean, change from minute to minute and we succeeded in bringing that dynamic flow indoors with lots of windows, high sloped ceilings and a soft white paint over walls, ceilings, doors and trim. Imagine capturing a firefly in a mason jar.
Photo by Kyle Smith Queens Coast Photography
All would be blindingly glaring on a sunny day and none to cozy at any time with such a high ceiling and so much white. Problem solved with strategically placed painted blocks of our client’s favourite colour.
We wrapped her blue up and over the living room to create the feeling of a cozy vantage point – like one has when taking in a landscape from the aspect of a tent or a cave or from under a canopy of trees.
The careful placement of colour, the window sizes and combination of high and low ceilings belies the small size of this home. We blended hard glass and concrete elements with wood and tactile fabrics to mirror the land and sea on the other side of the windows, keeping to a minimal colour palette of sands and blues.
A wet room shower/tub combo makes the most of the small bathroom space. Floor to ceiling smooth rippled tile reminds us of sand and sea, begging to be touched and contemplated. Shelves and fireplace mantel hand crafted from fallen trees connect with the land.
By borrowing some space in the bathroom, we carved out bath product shelves for the wet room, linen storage, storage in the mechanical room behind, and a display niche focal point in the hallway for our clients collections.
The bedroom windows were selected for un-obstructed seascapes and touch the floor so our client wouldn’t miss spotting the forest critters that scamper about the property.
The stripe of blue swaddles one in for a close hug while the white expanse of walls and high ceilings welcome the light.
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