I love the high gloss black lacquer on the island cabinetry, which serves as a nice punch of contrast to the clean and serene waterfall countertop made of Cambria quartz.
And the collection of toasters from the 1930's and '40's adds just the sense of quirky personality this kitchen needs!
A PLAYFUL SPIRIT
For me, every dream house absolutely has to have a sense of whimsy. We should never take ourselves too seriously, but especially not at home. After all, how can we have a house filled with laughter if we lose our playful spirit? Laughter is a must in my world! And in this house, the whimsy and lightheartedness I look for are best seen in the art found in the children's bedrooms, all from
Art Interiors. I love how the artwork plays off of the colourful bedding from the
Gluckstein Home collection. Bright, cheerful colours for a bright and cheerful little life! It doesn't hurt that navy and orange happens to be one of my favourite colour combinations.
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| Creamsicle anyone? |
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The effortless drape of the bouquet of tulips over the bed creates a casual beauty that's perfect for this room!
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I'm also in love with the GENIUS way that Brian concealed an awkward bulkhead in one of the bedrooms by creating this nautical-inspired built-in bunk bed {below}. Rumour has it the ladder was tucked away for safe keeping before the house was opened to guests because the adults on the team "may or may not" have been climbing up it and playing on the bunk beds themselves. That's a good sign in my book! It's all about keeping a childlike spirit alive.
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| How much is that doggy in the window? Love him! |
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| Isn't the craft room adorable? That whimsical dalmatian totally sets the tone! |
DRAMA
To juxtapose that playful whit and lightheartedness, every dream home should have at least one moment of drama. Take, for example, the the theatre room on the lower level of this house. The dark walls, masculine furnishings, gallery wall of photography and eclectic, well-traveled spirit of the styling of the accessories all tell an interesting story and set the stage for the drama and intrigue that make for a perfect movie viewing room.
INGENUITY
One of the things I love most about being an interior designer is the opportunity to use my strategy gene to turn problems into solutions and even design features. Brian Gluckstein is the absolute master of this very brand of design magic. I love how he used his ingenuity to solve the problem of a home gym that was totally lacking in natural light. Not one to settle, Brian got creative and thought - what if one of the walls was "see through?" Literally! By encasing the wine cellar in glass instead of drywall and suspending the racking between the floor and ceiling so that it didn't require a wall to anchor it, Brian created a giant window into the home gym that welcomes in a wash of natural light to keep the fitness buffs in this household feeling fresh and inspired. Genius!
Stay tuned for tomorrow when I'll reveal my favourite space in this house and why I love it so!
xo
s.
