A Touch of Luxe

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WE KNOW THE LOOK OF LUXURY WHEN WE SEE IT, BUT HOW DO YOU CREATE IT?
By: Yanic Simard, design editor of New Condo Guide and principal designer of the Toronto Interior Design Group.
The art of luxe design is not simply a matter of spending money, but more one of spending time to create spaces with depth, sophistication, and a certain considered air. Here’s my professional opinion on how to add a sense of luxury to your every interior, to bring that designer appeal out of your personal investment – whether starting a full renovation or perfecting an already beautiful home.

POWERFUL PALETTES
›› One of the most subtle yet powerful ways to communicate a sense of luxury is through the use of an expertly assembled neutral colour palette. When done wrong, the look can read drab, but when created correctly the scheme reveals new depths upon every viewing. The key is to combine multiple shades, textures and tones to achieve a calm but complex look – subtle contrasts accent each others finest qualities.
›› Review your space and consider what subtle tones are the strongest. For example, if you have a warm-hued floor, add some touches of cool metals or icy-grey leather to play against it. Look for places to add white, cream, beige, taupe, grey, “greige” (grey-beige), tan, brown, gold, bronze and tiny touches of black, while mixing soft and hard textures for full variety. By sticking to neutrals you’ll be sure to coordinate, as long as you reapply warm and cool tones throughout the room.
Luxe Look: Sheep-fur pillows always add a rich textural statement, or try a small splash of an animal-inspired pattern. (Safari Crewel Embroidered Cushion, Yanic Simard Selected Collection.)

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  Lotus capiz shell tea light holder
  Bronze rose tea light holder
  Safari crewel embroidered cushion from the Yanic Simar Collection

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AREAS OF INTEREST:
›› I often encourage clients to run one flooring material throughout a space, applying a single hardwood to the living, dining, bedroom and even kitchen areas, making a clean, continuous statement. However, this doesn’t mean you should avoid carpeting altogether, but actually the opposite: layering a large area rug over your hardwood creates the most sophisticated statement.
›› Size a rug to leave about one to two ft. of floor exposed at each side, making sure the carpet tucks under your seating. Enough wood will show around the borders of the room to reveal its presence, while giving you a soft surface to nestle into and an opportunity to add a new colourful or elegantly textural statement.
Luxe Look: Cream carpeting layered over deep espresso walnut.

LIGHT UP THE DARK
›› Embracing wood or stone finishes on vertical surfaces adds visual texture and a sense of intimacy to a space, but can absorb a great deal of light and leave an area feeling heavy. Layering light is always important, but be sure to add extra sources around your dark cabinetry, wardrobes or other weighty elements. Ensure as many lights as possible are controlled by a dimmer to allow you to adjust the atmosphere to suit your mood.
›› A dropped ceiling panel over an island provides space for a plenitude of new pot lights, while subtly defining a zone within an open plan. Diversity of light sources avoids harsh shadows, for a rich glow, so consider adding soft new lights to every room.
Luxe Look: Use at least three light sources in every space. Consider adding tea light holders in warm metallics to add a complex golden glow anywhere.
TANTALIZING TILE
›› The must-have bathroom statement of the design era is an oversized tile wall, applying a richly grained stone floor to ceiling for the ultimate spa-like atmosphere you can enjoy every day.
›› Pairing this treatment with a minimal glass shower enclosure and sparkling neutral fixtures (in white, dark woods, and nickel) lets the natural patterning take all the well-deserved attention. Add a cut-crystal vessel sink as the jewel of this treasure chest.
Luxe Look: Try Roberto Cavalli tile installed vertically on a simple offset

HIDDEN DEPTHS
›› A full wall of floor-to-ceiling drapery is a powerful designer trick in more ways than one: it creates a rich textural backdrop that speaks of bespoke craftsmanship, but also erases any imbalances or asymmetry in the placement of windows, bulkheads, or other awkward architectural features, for a seamless look.
›› Draping an entire wall with no break (on a hidden track in the ceiling if possible) puts the focus on the beautiful material, and anything else you choose to layer in front of it. Don’t be afraid to apply a textural fabric behind an upholstered headboard for a doubly luxe bedroom setting (with extra sound dampening).
Luxe Look: Use simple unpleated drapery in a textural linen to create soft elegant waves of material.
AFTERTHOUGHTS:
Here are a few other ways to add last-minute luxe touches to your space – even after the designer has left.
› Replace two chairs at your dining table with a bench or settee to create the feeling of a private booth, and a fun visual surprise.
› Trade out busy bedding for white linens with a single colourful bolster matched to an upholstered bench. Add my Aspen Faux Fur throw folded neatly at the foot for additional inviting texture.
› Have a good florist create a cactus planter to add exotic flair that will survive your week away unattended.
› Instead of adding a lamp to the bedside table, order a floor lamp with a built in table from a lighting boutique, for an uncommon traditional- yet-modern twist.
› When your space is already beautiful, the most stunning artwork will be an oversized mirror in a textural frame.
YANIC SIMARD
is the design editor of New Condo Guide and principal designer of the Toronto Interior Design Group. Specializing in residential and commercial projects, Yanic often applies his signature high/low and old/new combination design techniques in developing unique interiors. Yanic has created designs for clients in Toronto, Montreal and Miami, and has appeared as a regular guest expert on Citytv’s CityLine. For more information visit tidg.ca.
Original source: Metro Vancouver New Condo Guide (Oct 31 – Nov 14, 2014 issue)