Decorating & Design
Cori Halpern’s Bold Studio Shows Off Her Signature Design Moves
Published on November 6, 2024
Interior designer Cori Halpern wanted her studio to look like a home, so she loaded it with custom millwork, bespoke upholstery and quirky details like bobble-trimmed pillows. “I specialize in residential design, and I wanted to incorporate elements you would find in our kitchen and dining room projects,” says Cori. “This studio gives clients an impression of what’s possible and showcases some of our specific design moves.”
Located in Toronto’s Castlefield Design District in North York, the 613-square-foot studio is only a 25-minute commute from Cori’s home. Once a dingy industrial room with papered-over windows, the space is now a fabulous, light-filled work hub that includes a double desk, sample library, island for displaying client presentations and swatches, plus an unplumbed kitchenette and lunch area for staff.
The jumping-off point for the overall look was a chinoiserie-inspired wallpaper that depicts red dragons twisting through branches. “I wanted the back wall to be a focal point,” says Cori. “It had to be big and bold — a real wow moment. That wallpaper sets the tone for the rest of the space.” Throughout, eclectic throw pillows inject texture and interest. “Contrasting backs, trim and piping elevate the pillows and help clients visualize different details.”
The green kitchen cabinets are custom. “In a world full of white kitchens, I need to show what I do best, which is to incorporate color into design,” says Cori. “There’s such good energy here, and beautiful sunlight; the studio brings me joy every single day.”
Keep scrolling for some of Cori’s go-to design moves!
Go Bold With Wallpaper
A large-scale patterned paper completely changes the mood in the studio. “You need enough wall for a big repeat like this one,” says Cori. “I love the painterly quality of it; it feels very organic and there’s a lot of movement. It’s incredibly joyful.”
Play Favorites
If you love a vibrant color, embrace it. Green is Cori’s go-to hue. Here, it pops up in a chartreuse overdyed rug and moss-toned kitchen cabinets. “Chartreuse makes everything else around it a little brighter,” says Cori. “It’s unexpected, and that’s what I love about it.”
Try A Double Desk
Instead of a side-by-side setup, these two 30- by 60-inch walnut desks are a more sociable way to interface. “I needed a big surface to spread out my files, and the waterfall design highlights the beauty of the wood,” says Cori.
Mix Up Upholstery
Give chairs personality with punchy upholstery in different patterns. “I wanted to show clients that they don’t need to be afraid of choosing patterned fabric for upholstered pieces,” says Cori. “Not everything has to be plain or solid — you can have a little wow.”
Display Books As Art
Typically, books are shown with their spines facing out, but shallow display ledges near the sample library turn them into art. “I love design books so much that I wanted to display them like a gallery wall,” says Cori.
Install Whimsical Lighting
Cori needed something large to balance the island and illustrate how the right light fixture can transform a room. “Everybody comments on this light fixture — the glass baubles are playful but elegant,” she says.
Virginia Macdonald
House & Home
Cori Halpern