Decorating & Design
May 30, 2017
Discover The Inspiration Behind Our July 2017 Cover
Senior design editor Joel Bray reveals what inspired our July 2017 cover, which celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday.
When Stacey Smithers and I were tasked with developing a room that represents Canadian design for the July 2017 issue, we began by looking back at some very memorable spaces published in House & Home that felt unique to our country. What started as a stack of over 50 images was narrowed down to less than a dozen. Here are a few interiors that spoke to us the most, and why.
See more of this space in our July 2017 issue on newsstands from June 5th.
The living room of Canadian textile designer Virginia Johnson strikes the perfect balance between layered and decorated, and clean and simple. A pair of curvy sofas upholstered in a vibrant chintz balance the more pared-back contemporary envelope. We love Virginia’s log storage niche, and colorful, uplifting artwork hung above the fireplace.
This epic corner of Canadian designer Jill Kantelberg’s own living room was another standout interior. The strength of the fireplace wall and seamless closed storage allow the rest of the space to be sparingly decorated, although each piece is incredibly unique and captivating. The space is full of subtle luxuries, and is anything but boring.
This Princess Margret show home living room designed by Lynda Reeves has always been a favorite of mine. The calm and creamy envelope is very restrained (including the intensional lack of area rug), in stark contrast to the vivid and unexpected color Lynda introduced through upholstery and accent pillows. And just like the previous two photos, the firewood is on display and looking as chic as ever.
The summer home of former House & Home editor-in-chief Suzanne Dimma is a magical place that truly captivates the natural beauty of the landscape, and the major influence Scandinavian style has had on Canadian design. Pared back to the most essential elements, and then flourished with personal mementoes and artwork, the space feels almost spiritual and is profoundly inspiring.
The former living room of Canadian textile guru Ali Yaphe has an incredible sense of scale and strength, but is still very inviting and cozy. The deep-seated line sofa is full of global-inspired textiles, and the soaring Benjamin Ficus makes for some serious houseplant envy.
The summer home of Canadian designer and former shopkeeper Youssef Hasbani is a bright, art-filled interior full of quirky and playful design moves, alongside serious antiques and modern furnishings. So often, the magic is in the mix, and this interior is a perfect example.
This second floor living room/den by Canadian designer Mazen El-Abdallah is a great example of high design and genuine comfort working together seamlessly. A large family-friendly sofa, a no-fuss coffee table, and large-scale, impactful art are among a few of the standout pieces.
One of the oldest photos in the stack was of this living room by renowned Canadian designer Connie Braemar. The term “undecorated” is sometimes used to describe this restrained and incredibly chic aesthetic. We love how the windows were left bare, and the placement of furniture and area rugs seems to break the rules in all the right ways.