A modern, minimal, all-white look is the stuff of many dream homes. While it can look peaceful in a magazine, spending time in these spaces usually feels unsettling and anything but peaceful. In due course, colour, contrast and pattern begin to find their way into these spaces as home owners subconsciously begin to surround themselves with the stuff that makes a home feel lived-in and inspiring. This client made the right choices for cozy and livable before she made her move.
Making a fresh start in a new province, our client was at a loss as to which of her furnishings would physically and aesthetically fit in her brand new 1100 square foot home. We met by video chat to learn that she would like her all white modern home to feel cozy, relaxed, and lived-in. We asked lots of questions to determine which of her belongings held happy memories and which ones she was ready to say goodbye to.

In the end, it was artwork and a few cherished pieces of furniture, ripe with happy memories, that made it into our client’s shipping container for the journey east.
Minimal can be warm and inviting. Here, this 70s-style chair and slender red desk complete the pared-back home office.


With a goal to create warmth and comfort, we chose some key vintage finds to add patina to the new space and character to the selection of new furniture items. A 1970s brass and mirror drinks table adds warmth. The over-sized ottoman was a complete reclamation of an overly dark and worn-out piece with the new finish and bold fabric anchoring the space beautifully.
Keeping furnishings to a minimum, we selected for rich textures that would warmly capture the repeating forms of the waves, rocks and trees in the coastal landscape beyond the expanse of windows.

Genuine mid-century modern adds a character-full elegance that new purchases often miss the mark on.

If you find this inspiring and would like to discuss your home, contact us through our website. To see more of our home design projects, please subscribe to our posts. We like to keep things minimal and simple in all aspects of our practice, so we’ll only drop into your inbox once in a while.
