Multi-Functional Spaces

In the era of working from home, having a space that suits multiple needs is not only popular, but necessary. Bedrooms are now doubling as home offices and kitchen counters are now desks. This year has made us rethink how we use space. With this in mind, design experts and companies are devising new methods of storage and design solutions to suit the needs of both the employee and the home-body.

Textured Materials and Décor

As we spend more times in our homes, comfort is king. This may explain why ultra-plush faux furs, sherpa, and boucle fabrics are popping up everywhere. Warm and cozy throw blankets on couches, softly textured pillows on chairs, a faux fur rug by the desk — the aim is to be as comfortable as possible this year.

Neutral Tones and Colours

Warm tones have been trending for years and they don’t seem to be disappearing any time soon. While many of us are home more often now, our homes have become a sanctuary, a place to relax. Light and airy interiors with warm tones are trending because they are calming. They inspire relaxed attitudes and serve to be a personal oasis. In this work-from-home climate, this makes all the difference.

Gold and Brass Accents

Gold accents and hardware are everywhere. It’s beautiful and versatile but there’s a fine balance between being trendy and being tacky. Gold that’s too shiny can be overwhelming but a brushed gold or soft brass can bring warmth and richness to any room. It’s an excellent way to glam up a space and make a statement.

Abstract Art

The Memphis Group, Pollock, Rothko — be inspired by the artists who redefined art for the world. Bold linework, abstract shapes, texture and perhaps the aforementioned warm and earthy tones in the form of grand canvases in living rooms or entry-ways can make your space feel modern and new, but never cold.

Whether you decide to repaint your halls, buy new décor or simply just move around your furniture, a good New Year refresh might be just what you need to feel inspired and motivated for 2021.

Colour

Colour is arguably the most obvious and noticeable element in interior design. It signifies aesthetic and creates a sense of mood – from “passionate” red to “tranquil” blue. It’s a way of creating a particular energy in the space and has the power to make rooms feel light, cozy, large or modern. It is also influenced heavily by the next element, light – both artificial and natural – as the amount and type of light in a space will affect how colour appears.

Light

Whether your use of light is artificial or natural, excellent lighting is integral to the quality of the room. Many spaces require a combination of both types, with daylight fixed and man-made light appearing in various forms, such as accent lighting emphasizing objects or task lighting aiding in activities. Lighting can also be manipulated and controlled using drapery and window coverings for natural light and mirrors and dimmer switches for artificial, allowing us to set the mood of the space and create atmosphere.

Form

Form is the shape of the room along with the contours and shapes of its contents. Furniture, artwork, other décor accessories and the room itself are either organic forms (natural and irregular shapes like curves) or geometric forms (man-made, precise angles like squares and triangles). It’s important to strike a balance between both, fusing the softness of natural forms and the strong edginess of geometric shapes.

Line

Consider the line element as the defining structure of a space. The room itself has an outline and its furnishing and features create more lines to influence the look and feel of the space. Lines can be horizontal (ex. tables and couches), making rooms feel wide, vertical (ex. windows and doors) adding more height, or dynamic (ex. curved staircases or diagonally placed tiles) injecting an eye-catching and exciting energy to the room. Again, the key is balance, using a mixture of lines in strategic ways can make a space feel complete.

Texture

A room’s look and feel is epitomized by the texture element and literally means the way objects feel to the touch and how it makes the viewer feel when looked at. Texture evokes detail and adds richness to the space, using everything from furniture and fabrics to floorcoverings, tiles and decorative accessories. For example, texture can be smooth and elegant or vintage and weathered, depending on the materials and fabrics used. Mixing and contrasting textures can add depth and feeling and contributes to how we interact and feel within the space.

Pattern

Pattern is an interesting element that repeatedly uses forms, lines and colour in its composition to create life in a space. It comes in a variety of styles, from floral, geometric, abstract and more and can be seen in wallpaper, fabric on furnishings, rugs and artwork. What’s important to note when using patterns in interior design, is its relation to space – using too many patterns at once in a small space for example or using clashing patterns can make the space look chaotic and disorganized. Patterns should work harmoniously with other elements.

Space

At the heart of every design decision is space. It’s the distance between objects and their proportions within the room and the balance you must keep in using both positive and negative space in the right way. Positive space is how and where objects such as furniture are positioned and negative space refers to the gaps or “space” in between, including any empty space needed to circulate or navigate throughout the room. Again, balance is key but it’s also subjective depending on the designer. Rooms can have more positive space, making it feel cozy and intimate or more negative space to feel spacious and modern. Overall, the design decision is your own.

Describe the design vision.

The vision for this community is a unique one, as the community itself is unique. Northern Lights is a home away from home, an escape. It’s a calm and peaceful refuge from the trials of everyday life. A distinctive countryside hideaway.

What were you most inspired by?

We draw from our surroundings when we begin the design process. In this instance, the landscape informed our inspiration: the trees and rocks, foliage, a big and beautiful bright sky and the surrounding water in the Muskoka region. Many of these elements factored into the overall design.

Our inspiration for Northern Lights is modern country: light, bright and friendly, pastel and natural palettes with hints of colour.

Describe the design style/look and feel.

It’s a modern country backdrop with a luxury up-scale feel. It combines country elements such as exposed beams, planked cathedral ceilings, wood flooring and a stone fireplace paired with luxurious finishes, furniture, art and accessories that are comfortable and inviting. Tattered and torn yet still polished and new, mismatched and purposeful.

Which features are most interesting?

It’s a modern country backdrop with a luxury up-scale feel. It combines country elements such as exposed beams, planked cathedral ceilings, wood flooring and a stone fireplace paired with luxurious finishes, furniture, art and accessories that are comfortable and inviting. Tattered and torn yet still polished and new, mismatched and purposeful.

What is the kitchen like?

The kitchen is the heart of the home—the central point where its inhabitants can come together. With classic cabinetry, state-of-the-art appliances, a large island and stylish bright ware, it’s high-end style with warmth.

What makes the layouts special?

The ground floor plan encourages social interaction as it’s mostly an open plan. The kitchen, dining area and great room all flow into one another making it great for entertaining. The plan also features a private study away from the great room, providing a perfect space for a home office. The second-floor plan has a primary bedroom and ensuite. There are also two additional bedrooms and an open loft area (with views to the great room below) which can be multipurposed as a media area or as an additional sleeping area for guests.

What will the outdoor areas be like?

There will be an expansive Muskoka room and a vast sun deck with views looking out onto the river. A cozy and relaxed interior where you can watch the seasons shift and the natural colours of Muskoka brilliantly transform.

What makes this project special?

The project itself is already exceptionally unique. A four-season getaway in one of Ontario’s most beautiful natural settings and in a stunning bucolic region. It’s a home in the countryside without giving up luxury and style that city dwellers are accustomed to. You can work from home, in luxury, in the countryside without ever sacrificing the modern amenities and features available in other more cosmopolitan communities.

What’s your favourite thing about the project?

I love the whole concept: a home away from home in the countryside, adjacent to lakes and rivers, surrounded by nature, all year round. A place you can escape to at any time of year.

Inspired by nature, biophilic elements create an elegant and serene atmosphere inside the home, evoking the beauty of nature in a professionally curated interior.

Drawing from the calm of the beach, the tranquility of the mountains and the warmth of the earth, these colour palettes create spaces in which we can feel grounded, recharged and truly at home. Comforting, clean and inherently soothing, these design palettes are the foundation for Lorne Park Place.

Luxurious finishes, clean lines, and natural textures blend into the modern interior architecture to provide a personal oasis of sophistication. Every detail of the design complements one another to create a seamless, natural space.

The overall design creates an atmosphere of rejuvenation and a sense of well being through a nuanced connection to nature. Lorne Park Place is modern elegance through tranquility.

With a contemporary feel and a peaceful atmosphere, the designs for Lorne Park Place exhibits a newer style of home interior design. Each room is expertly curated with an attention to detail that blends seamlessly throughout the entire home. Every texture and colour is perfectly matched and flows from one room to another. With inspiration from the natural world, Lorne Park Place is distinctive in its style and purpose.

The design strategy for this project was to create a light and bright, productive work space for the Stronach Group that represents their company culture and boosts morale for the employees. The space was planned with the ideal adjacencies in mind while still encouraging social interaction among staff. The overall space is more organized, cleaner, and more professional than the previous office space while allowing for company growth.

The layout and planning of the space was created with the client’s input, initiating flow between departments while maximizing efficiency. The layout is harmonious with the overall aesthetic of the space—open and light filled—promoting a sense of wellness throughout.

A feature wall at reception was included to highlight the company culture in horse racing, injecting the welcome space with the company’s unique personality and history.

The colour palette is strong and bold, utilizing black accents and trim around doorways and windows, juxtaposing the light-coloured walls and flooring. The use of texture throughout the offices is evident, seen on the grey-lined, patterned walls, geometric floor design and the wooden paneling on the ceilings. Every texture means something in this design, adding a distinctive level of detail to the overall look and feel of the project.

The boardrooms were designed to be large enough for the company’s expanding team, while still allowing them to be separated for smaller meetings. Both situations allow for productive meetings with adequate tech and other features such as white boards, sound proofing, etc.

Wellness is paramount to the design for healthy employees. An abundance of natural light complements the soft, natural materials, both protecting and promoting employee wellbeing. Sustainable materials were used as much as possible with low VOC's& off-gassing, as well as pre and post consumer recycled goods.

The overall design for The Stronach Group’s corporate office fosters organization, comfort and efficiency, encouraging social interaction in a beautifully open and natural space. The tone is warm and welcoming as well as effortlessly professional and an effective design solution that will prove to be beneficial for years to come.