West Coast Modern

For my directed studies project, I am designing a house located in South Surrey, B.C. The concept for the home is inspired by the lush west coast scenery and the stylish family, blending nature with man. The style of the home is west coast modern to appeal to the style of the trendy client. After spending close to seven weeks on this project, I have looked closely and studied many examples of west coast modern homes. This one that I came across on www.houzz.com seemed to stand out. I love the blend of earthy wood with sleek and modern concrete. The combination of the two captures the west coast modern style perfectly. The home that I am designing uses many of the same materials. For the two main fireplaces in the living room and family room, I have used a combination of wood for the millwork and concrete for the hearth. I think I am drawn to the west coast modern style because of the way it modernizes homes while keeping with the natural elements of the beautiful west coast. It is a perfect harmony of nature and trend wrapped into one sleek building. I love the way it maintains a cozy feeling while at the same time having a sleek look. I envisioned my home that I am designing in South Surrey to look similar to this one. Hopefully one day I can actually design a home like this and actually see it all the way through to construction!

Double Island

The kitchen is a very important room in the home. When entertaining, it tends to be the area where people like to gather. For some odd reason, rather than gathering in the living room where there is comfortable furniture to lounge on, guests will always migrate to the kitchen. I think the main reason for this is the food. We all love to eat and we are drawn towards yummy smells in the kitchen. This can sometimes be a pain for the host while they are trying to prepare the food. This contemporary kitchen shows a great solution for providing entertaining space in the kitchen while still giving the cook enough work space. By having not just one, but two islands, you create a work space for the cook, as well as an island for people to gather. In this example, both islands have sinks. This way the cook can choose to prepare food further away from guests, while still being able to hold a conversation, or he/she can use the sink on the same island the guests are gathered around.

At first I thought the idea of having two islands was a bit overwhelming and unnecessary. However, the more I look into the idea, the more I understand it and begin to like it. If you have the right amount of space for two islands, then I think it is a definite must!

EcoSmart

EcoSmart is a company that produces bio ethanol fuelled fireplaces. The cool thing about bio ethanol fuel is that its composed completely of biological materials. The ethanol is made by fermenting sugar and starch components of plant products. Some of the products used are sugarcane, corn, potatoes, and rice. As a result, the combustion of the product produces clean emissions! EcoSmart designs many free standing fireplaces as well as fireplace inserts that can be inserted into a wall as thin as 6 inches! Since the emissions are clean, there is no need for a chimney. This means you can place these bio ethanol fireplaces literally anywhere in a room, not just on a wall. Their designs are mostly modern with very sleek lines and materials like glass and metal. The bio ethanol flame has a cool look and adds to the modern appeal. The three images above are just a sample from the collection of fireplaces they feature on their website. If you want to check out more of their fireplaces and see some of their cool designs, go to www.ecosmartfire.com

Cat Mountain Residence

The cat mountain residence is the perfect balance of contemporary and antique. The exposed beams that run throughout the living space give the home a lot of character. The blend of this original element with sleek contemporary furnishings gives a unique look to the home. The pairing of the modern barcelona chairs with the more rustic elements such as the fireplace works well. Even though the chairs are modern and the fireplace is rustic, the two together create an interesting contemporary look. The neutral tones also help to bring the space together. The large window in the living space allows for a lot of natural light. The stone fireplace is a major focus of the room and provides warmth to the space. I love the sense of flow throughout this home. The neutral tones used throughout the space blends the main floor together. Teal blue is used as a slight accent colour to provide interest and tie all of the spaces together. The warm beige tones used throughout the home give a strong feeling of comfort. I would definitely feel at home in this cozy environment! 

I find this space very appealing because of its blend of styles. I would love to blend modern with rustic elements to create a contemporary space in some of my own designs. I am also very drawn to neutral palettes. The colours used in this space create a warm and cozy feeling. I love how well the accents of blue are incorporated into the design. When planning out my own spaces, I sometimes forget about the interior accessories and how they can play an important role in the design of the space. The blues are incorporated beautifully in accessories such as toss cushions and glassware. Hopefully someday I can design spaces as beautiful as this one!

Colour Inspiration

Colour inspiration can come from anywhere. It can come from a bouquet of fresh flowers, a pretty dress hanging in your closet, or even an odd household object.

A great way to find colour inspiration is from photographs. Many of us are drawn to certain photos in magazines, or in art galleries because of their interesting colour schemes. If there is a certain photo or painting that you absolutely love, try drawing a colour scheme from it. Chances are you will love the colours in your home just as much as in the photo!

Many people are scared of using bright colours in their homes. I think it's because they have an image in their head of bold colours used everywhere throughout the space in a chaotic manor. Paired with neutrals and used in smaller quantities, bright colour can add a lot of interest in a tasteful way. A great way to visualize a space with colour is to cut colour swatches to the proportions in which they will be used. This will give you a better idea of how the colours won't be overwhelming! 

Images above were taken from Pinterest.

Mirror Mirror

Over sized mirrors done two ways: Rustic and Glam

Oversized mirrors are all about proportion. When used the right way, in the right space, they can become a major feature in the room. They add a sense of scale and drama to any room. If you have the right amount of space for one, then it is a great way to create visual interest! I love the way these ones are casually leaning up against a wall. It creates a casual feeling for any room. Oversized mirrors work great in bedrooms, living rooms, and even hallways. Even though they are such large pieces, they will actually make any space appear bigger. 

The rustic mirrors are done in an unfinished wood, creating a very casual feeling. I love the way the example on the right is proportioned with an equally large frame. It does not overwhelm the eye or feel too heavy because of the mirrored finish. 

The glam mirrors create a more formal feeling. These particular ones are vintage looking, finished in a glam gold colour. Here they look very feminine, but paired with deep blue hues and more structured furniture, you can make these "glam" mirrors quite masculine. 

Industrial Pendants

I love the look of these industrial style pendants. I find it so interesting how these old, beat up fixtures can be used in a space to give it a real funky feeling. These particular ones would be great in a kitchen, over top of an island. These tattered fixtures, paired with a clean lined, polished looking countertop would give an edgy feeling to a space without being too rustic. Living in Vancouver, I can see them working well in an industrial style Gastown studio apartment. I think the more worn out the fixtures are, the more character it gives to the overall space!

Images above were taken from Pinterest.