Panorama Ski Condo Kitchen - Before & After

Panorama Ski Condo Kitchen - Before & After

Panorama Ski Condo Kitchen - Before & After

When space is at a premium, you need to be creative. And we had to really reimagine how the main living space in this ski condo in Panorama, British Columbia, could be configured to function better. 

Previously, you entered the space and walked right into the dining table. You then had to walk around the dining table to get into the living space. We knew creating a better flow of traffic through an improved floor plan would be a huge part of this redesign. 

A standard builders kitchen also wasn’t providing much storage, custom cabinetry, banquette seating for up to eight and task lighting improved the overall function and vibe of the space. 

To keep with the condo’s mountain modern aesthetic, we added a little sparkle throughout the space with details like polished fixtures and tiles with a bit of sheen as a nod to the ice crystals and hoarfrost of the mountain town. 

Improved space plan

One of the biggest ways we made this space more functional was by relocating the door to the bedroom. This allowed us to open up the dining space and add banquette seating that can seat up to eight people, a huge improvement from the five of the original dining table. This also opened up floor space and greatly improved the flow of traffic in the whole space. 

Space-saving configuration in the kitchen 

Typically, with standard cabinet sizes you end up with a lot of dead space that gets filled with a filler strip. To avoid this and to maximize storage, we worked with a workshop to create custom cabinetry designed to specifically fit the space. 

We also added in two rollouts beside the dishwasher in the island for added storage and went for an integrated microwave hood fan over the stove to free up counter space. 

Lighting plan

Not only is layered lighting important for the actual function of a space, it goes a long way towards creating visual interest and adjusting a mood. 

In this space, we added task lighting over the dining table and under the cabinetry so there’s plenty of light in functional areas. We worked in some mood lighting with an arc lamp in the seating area to make things a little cozier for movie nights and early mornings. 

Need to elevate your own kitchen and dining area and create a more functional space? Give us a call.

Rosedale Office Nook - Before & After 

Rosedale Office Nook - Before & After 

Rosedale Office Nook Before & After 

As a family grows over the years, their needs inside their home change, too. 

For this family in Calgary’s Rosedale neighbourhood, they found their space couldn’t keep up with their evolving family dynamic as the kids grew up. The owners also knew their needs would continue to evolve and they didn’t want to do another renovation in a few years.

We were hired to transform a walk-out basement into a contemporary flexible space that would create a new space for the teenagers in the house now and evolve with the family in the years to come. 

By adjusting the floor plan, adding in some multi-purpose furniture and improving the overall aesthetic, we were able to create an inviting flex space that the kids – and the entire family –  actually wanted to hang out in. 

New floor plan 

In order for this space to function better we had to completely reimagine the layout, including relocating the bathroom to create a better flow. 

We had a lot of constraints because of the physical structure of the home but we were able to work with some of the barriers to improve the function of the space, such as hiding support posts inside a stub wall to create a separate zone.

Desk and daybed for lounging and focused work

Given that this space will be heavily used by the teenagers in the house, we knew we needed to incorporate durable items. The desk is made from an embossed laminate panel so it’s nearly indestructible but still stylish. 

The daybed is a great multi-purpose piece that can be used socially as extra seating or easily accommodate overnight guests. 

Leather accents in pulls and chair

Incorporating leather accents worked really well with the contemporary aesthetic of the space and added an interesting design detail. Leather is also a practical fabric choice because it’s a forgiving surface that can absorb little nicks and marks over time. 

To learn more about this project check out our latest portfolio: Rosedale Modern.

Need help making a space better suit the needs of your family? Give us a call.

Panorama Ski Condo Guest Room

Panorama Ski Condo Guest Room - Before & After

Panorama Ski Condo Guest Room - Before & After

We were hired to update a ski condo in Panorama, British Columbia. The entire space needed an update to be more functional including the guest room. 

Since guest rooms accommodate an eclectic mix of people they need to be flexible and a few simple design decisions made that easy to accomplish. 

One of the main goals for this guest room was to increase the sleeping capacity. It functions great for two people but the addition of trundle beds make it easy to add four. 

The style of the entire condo is casual mountain modern. This was achieved in this room by using a natural palette and simple forms – the furniture is unfussy but the pieces are solid – creating a relaxed space that’s perfect for guests. 

Trundle beds

Separating the beds and adding trundles allowed us to increase sleeping capacity in this guest room. 

One particularly great thing about these trundle beds is they tuck in completely flush so you can’t tell they’re there. There’s also no room for dust to accumulate so you don’t have to vacuum them before each use.  

Lighting and artwork to define the space

We hung artwork from a local artist above each bed and then installed sconces above the artwork. This helps to highlight the art while also defining the space, creating a canopy effect above the beds. 

Layered window treatments to control the light

Window treatments are an easy way to add a level of interest to a simple room. And because people require different levels of light for sleeping, layered window treatments are a good idea in a guest room. 

We added a light roller shade that blocks light but doesn’t completely eliminate it under a larger Roman shade that completely covers the window to create a full black-out. 

Need to elevate your own guest room and create a more functional, inviting space? Give us a call.

Panorama Condo Principal Bath

Panorama Ski Condo Principal Bath - Before & After

Panorama Ski Condo Principal Bath - Before & After

When you’re working with a small bathroom, every square inch has to be carefully considered. 

When we were hired to update this principal bathroom in a ski condo in Panorama, British Columbia, our focus was on maximizing space – both physically and visually. 

Reworking the vanity helped to lengthen the space and provided better function and storage. We also wanted to create a little drama in this bathroom but going too dark in a small space can make it feel cavernous. We balanced this by incorporating black and white tiles that complemented the rest of the condo’s modern mountain aesthetic. 

Backsplash ledge over a raised sink

Adding a backsplash ledge above the sink not only added an interesting design detail but created extra (and much-needed) counter space. 
We used a top-mount sink and lowered the vanity down a couple of inches; this visually expanded the room, making it feel larger. 

Graphic wall tile

We chose this graphic wall tile because it added a little interest to the space. We also went for a tile with peaks – as opposed to round or square ones – as a nod to the surrounding mountains. 

Drawers in vanity

Storage is often the biggest challenge in a bathroom. The previous double-door vanity didn’t provide functional and convenient storage for household items and bathroom essentials. Drawers are much easier to organize and give this bathroom a huge boost of usable storage. 

Need to elevate your own small bathroom and create a more functional space? Give us a call.

Lakeview Dining Room

Lakeview Dining Room - Before & After

LAKEVIEW DINING ROOM- BEFORE AND AFTER

The owners of this contemporary home in Calgary’s Lakeview neighborhood are collectors and have accumulated an impressive collection of art and furniture over the years. 


They hired us to update their dining room and wanted to incorporate some of those treasured pieces into the new space – including the light shade (pictured) above the dining table – while also expanding storage and creating more seating. 

From a design perspective, the key here was to leverage the organic style of existing pieces, like a sideboard purchased on their honeymoon, while still keeping a clean, contemporary look. By mixing in a few nods to art deco via moss-coloured, velvet dining chairs and a bold feature wall we were able to marry the styles and make everything feel intentional. We also created opportunities for art pieces and sentimental items to be displayed, resulting in a functional space with plenty of personality. 


FURNITURE SCALED TO FIT SIZE OF ROOM

The scale of furniture has a big impact on the overall aesthetic of a room. The original table in this space was too small, which not only limited the seating but made the room feel out of proportion. We incorporated a substantial wooden table in a tone that complements the sentimental pieces in the room and comfortably seats eight. 

CUSTOM BUILT-IN

A cleverly designed built-in cabinet made use of a corner void in the kitchen so it neatly rolls right into the wall without adding any freestanding furniture to the dining room. The bottom of the cabinet creates storage for stemware and serving dishes while the upper shelves are shallow glass, perfect for displaying items.  

 DISPLAY TREASURES

Incorporating art (painting and sculptures) and sentimental pieces into the design was hugely important for our collector client. We worked hard to create opportunities around the room for display by adding a variety of surfaces where pieces could be set out and appreciated. 

Need to elevate your own dining room? Give us a call.

ASPEN HEIGHTS HOME OFFICE

ASPEN HEIGHTS HOME OFFICE - Before & After

Three moves to improve your home office mood

We’ve officially hit the January blahs and it certainly feels like there is no end to working from home. If you are looking to shake things up in your home office space there are a few changes that can add instant mood improvement. It might surprise you that the best moves are not always aesthetic. 

SOLID ORGANIZATION

Getting your space set up and organized around zones is the key to being able to tidy things away at the end of the workday. Decide what the key functions are of your particular work tasks and set the room up with dedicated space to accommodate each functional requirement. For example, a beautiful surface for computer work, an area to socialize with visitors and flexible storage were key features of this space.

EXTRA STORAGE

Despite all the opportunities afforded by the digital age, some old school comforts like shelving for books you need to reference, a place to tuck away supplies like paper and ink as well as any systems you use that have paper-based elements. Unifying all of those with boxes, folders and sleeves in a consistent theme or finish was essential to keep it all visually appealing and easy on the eyes.

INSPIRATION

No space is complete without something to inspire the view and original artwork is never, ever a mistake. In this case our client selected a beautiful piece by Robert Lemay. Art is often the jumping off point for the designs we create in our client’s homes. Having a special piece to lift your mood is as important as good wifi and adequate lighting.

What are the most important functional requirements for your office space?  We’d love to hear them in the comments below.