See How Stately Antiques Sing In This Elegant Pied-À-Terre
Designer Colette van den Thillart has helped clients update their styles many times in her career, but the experience never fails to thrill.
In this particular case, Colette was enlisted to help the homeowners move from a grand house in Montreal to a 2,517-square-foot Toronto condo so they could be closer to their adult children and grandchildren. “We agreed to keep the spaces quite clean, which allowed the antiques to really sing,” she says. Click through to see inside this elegant condo.
In the entry, Colette used a circular rug to break up the boxiness of the space.
A custom sofa upholstered in a ribbed cognac cotton is accented with dark trim.
Colette chose an artisanal rug with a tonal leaf motif. “We had an opportunity here for some pattern and we made it count,” she says.
Colette, in her clients’ living room. “You have clients who get to an age when they want to go younger,” says the designer. She’s not referring to a hemline or hairstyle, but how to inject a youthful energy into rooms of stately antiques. “It’s so much fun, and I love doing it.”
“This condo is a wonderful space to entertain — it can easily host 20 people,” says Colette. The games table (right) and the extendable dining table see plenty of action when guests visit.
A vignette of flowering branches in green glass vases strikes a fresh note in the dining room.
Colette arranged a collection of Irish crystal on the sideboard in the dining room, where it injects subtle sparkle.
The owners’ extensive collection of china is tucked into a storage cabinet in the dining room.
The furnishings in the family room have a more contemporary vibe that’s complemented by subtle wallpaper and soft grey hues.
The family room’s new desk and cabinets are an elegant upgrade.
New sconces and graphic wallpaper update the powder room. The gilded mirror moved with the clients and adds grandeur.
The clients originally wanted their bedroom to be quiet and neutral. “Then they called me saying, ‘There’s something missing!’ Yes, it’s personality,” says Colette with a laugh. She responded by adding bold accents.
New cerused oak millwork gives the principal bathroom architectural distinction and a warm, contemporary look. Medicine cabinets were built in behind the mirrors and are touch latch.
- Photographer Virginia Macdonald
- Designer Colette van den Thillart