Decorating & Design
See Stunning Spaces By H&H’s Designer Of The Year, Nam Dang-Mitchell!
Updated on November 29, 2018
Designer Nam Dang-Mitchell was named House & Home‘s 2018 Designer Of The Year in our December issue, and it’s no surprise why. Her spaces have filled the pages of our magazine for years, with many admiring Nam’s keen eye for detail and effortless style. Revisit Nam’s stunning designs and tell us which space is your all-time favorite!
With a mix of textural materials, modern finishes and an emphasis on artwork, Nam’s basement is a hip hangout that her whole family enjoys.
Nam’s vision for the basement started with a custom ping-pong table. Now, she and her husband, James Mitchell, love to enjoy a match or two. “We play table tennis and the video game Just Dance,” says Nam.
White oak cabinetry, classic subway tile and limestone flooring give the laundry room a clean appeal. A rustic pendant light anchors the moveable island.
Natural woods carry through to the kitchenette, which is always stocked with tasty treats.
Nam gave Mark and Skye McLean’s new build an infusion of cool European style. “We were inspired by apartments where the walls are painted white, creating a modern sparseness that everything else pops against,” says Nam. “You can pull off minimal when you have a good envelope: tall ceilings and great light.”
A coffered ceiling and contrasting inset shelves add historic charm, while vinyl ottomans bring contemporary texture to the living room.
The kitchen serves up plenty of unique features: refined glass cabinets, thick marble slabs, historical hardware and bold fridges. “We tricked out this duo with walnut panelling and polished-nickel trim,” says Nam.
Modern furniture and limed oak built-ins make for a handsome home office.
Blush pink throw pillows, drapes and a coverlet create a soft, feminine envelope in daughter Keira’s bedroom.
Mark and Skye’s principal bedroom calls to mind a luxe Parisian retreat: a Platner chair, herringbone floors, and crystal chandelier make the space feel chic.
To make the principal bathroom feel lush, Nam framed the tub in soft, floor-to-ceiling drapes.
Nam put a contemporary spin on the Calgary home of Amy and Ryan Goos, featured in our March 2016 issue. A marble-clad island is the focal point of the kitchen. “A waterfall effect wasn’t enough; we wanted it to be monolithic, like it was carved from a block of marble,” says Nam of the showstopping piece.
Nam added drama in the family’s walk-in pantry. “We gave this tiny utility space its own graphic hit,” she says of the space’s high-contrast cement tiles.
Known for her love of white oak pieces, Nam designed a custom wall unit for the Goos’ family room using the signature material. Open shelves allow room for display, while chevron-patterned doors conceal the TV when not in use.
Iconic Fornasetti wallpaper draws the eye into this cozy reading niche — a favorite hangout zone for homeowner Amy.
Bold accents — including a graphic black pendant light and blue artwork — punctuate the dining room.
To energize the principal bedroom’s restful scheme, Nam added a striped rug from Ikea beneath the bed and opted for a geometric light fixture. “All ceiling fixtures should have personality,” says Nam. “They’re such an important part of the vocabulary of a house.”
A freestanding tub framed with drapes is another one of Nam’s signature design moves. Her reasoning? “It makes a bathroom feel more civilized and less clinical — like it’s an extension of the home.”
Drawing inspiration from the Goos’ graphic pantry, Nam added patterned cement tiles underfoot in the mudroom for visual interest against a wall of white oak built-ins.
To impart a historical feel in this rural Calgary home, Nam adopted a soft palette, balanced styles and tones, and established symmetry. “The most challenging aspect of any new home is to make it not feel new — to give it some soul,” she says. “I used materials that aged well: Venetian plaster on the walls of the first floor, and natural materials like limestone, silk and grasscloth.”
Tucked neatly into the corner, this custom settee makes for a cozy reading spot in the living room.
To establish luxury and coziness in the principal bedroom, and to emphasize the room’s height, Nam added a dramatic pelmet behind the headboard.
When custom-home builders Paul Murray and Ryan Glover approached Nam in 2013, asking her to design a home that would redefine luxury, Nam was excited to take on the challenge. “The days of the ostentatious McMansion, with its sprawling rooms filled with stuff, are over,” she said when dreaming up the space. “Luxury now means pairing down to the things that make you happy. It’s simpler and more restrained, with more quality-focused interiors that feel comfortable because there’s no pretense and no excess.”
In the kitchen, Nam established an urban country feel with a sophisticated, modern palette. The giant custom hood takes center stage.
Nam mixed periods and pedigrees in the living room for a casual yet luxe feel. Lucien Rollin and Warren Platner chairs happily coexist in the space. “It’s like a great cocktail party with an array of characters and personalities.”
For a glamorous French mood in the dining room, Nam splurged on an ornate silver wallpaper and a starburst chandelier. A rustic dining table keeps the space grounded.
A graphic wallpaper makes for a striking focal point in this guest bedroom. A pair of walnut stools stand in for a bench at the foot of the bed.
Nam’s second feature in House & Home was her own century-old abode in Calgary. Striking pieces mixed in among a sophisticated palette of cream, brown and grey showcase Nam’s trendsetting style.
Grasscloth wallpaper envelops the den, creating a cozy family space. A stool clad in Mongolian lambskin adds soft texture.
With limestone counters, an apron sink and arched wall lined with Carrara marble subway tiles, Nam’s kitchen has a distinctly British feel.
Contemporary artwork juxtaposes glossy grey panelled walls in the dining room.
An iconic double-armed Serge Mouille sconce functions as both lighting and art in Nam’s principal bedroom.
This stunning upscale kitchen was Nam’s introduction to the pages of H&H. Nam’s design was centered around two standout features: an island large enough for eating and entertaining, and a cooking area with European country flair.
A collection of copper pots draws attention to the dramatic stove. “They’re not only beautiful but I actually use them,” says homeowner Cheryl.
A richly panelled hallway leads the way into the open-concept kitchen. Vaulted ceilings above the dining table make the room feel expansive.