Layout 5 - The Room at Coulter`s

A YOUNG LASALLE COUPLE CREATES A TASTEFUL HOME ON THEIR TERMS
STORY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PIETRANGELO
CONFRONTED WITH THE MILLION or so decisions that
must be made when building a new home while also preparing for
their first child, a couple narrowed their focus to the floor tile in the
kitchen, ultimately selecting a subtle blend of grey, taupe and off
white. “It inspired the entire colour scheme,” says Paulette
Nicodemo, lead design consultant for The Room at Coulter’s Furniture, whom the couple contracted to do the design for the complete
interior.
Teamed with Robby Lynn Young and Cindy Catton on the project, Paulette says, “The homeowners worked closely with us. They
were involved in every aspect of the home design to achieve an elegant yet comfortable feeling.”
For decorating consultants, design projects frequently involve creating focal points where none exist. In the LaSalle home, however,
there were architectural bonuses everywhere. “The builders, Timberland General Contractors, gave us so many unique features to
work with,” Paulette remarks. The design team let each space shine,
emphasizing coffered and recessed ceilings, archways, stone walls and
other elements.
To carry out the master plan, The Room team set their associates
to work. Zibi’s Painting & Contracting hung the deluxe wallpapers
and applied specialty wall finishes. “All the trades were excellent to
work with. It came together as a great collaboration,” says Paulette.
The Room provided most of the furnishings and draperies, sourcing products through its home base, Coulter’s Furniture, Ontario’s
largest furniture store. Wall sconces, chandeliers and other lighting
fixtures were supplied by The Lighting Boutique. The home▼
Family Lifestyle
Left: Upon entering the new LaSalle home, guests are immediately greeted in the
casually sophisticated great room. Floor to ceiling silk draperies emphasize the
Palladian curve of the windows positioned on either side of the double front doors.
Above: Box beams were constructed to give a coffered effect to the great room
ceiling, 25’ high. A quiet feature wall presents the fireplace and TV.
owners also contributed treasures: The wife found area rugs
and decorative pieces, adding her personal touch.
Finished two months before the baby was born, the new
home seems to have wrapped its arms around the contented
family. Done in cool neutrals, it’s interesting the interior
exudes such warmth. It demonstrates why grey is enjoying
such a revival in interior design right now. Back in 1960, in
the original Ocean’s Eleven film, the colourful personalities
of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack leapt off the predominantly grey palette of every set, causing homemakers to
head to the paint store after the credits rolled.
In the LaSalle family’s home, grey tones set the stage for
the antics of their charming baby girl.
The home’s opening sequence begins with flare as oversized dark grey front doors enter directly into the great
room. The grand entrance is flanked by contemporary Palladian arched windows, reaching up to the 25’ high ceiling. The grey tone on the walls brings the space down to
size.
Even so, the eye is drawn upward in appreciation of the
modern coffered ceiling framed with detailed white beams.
Inset lighting makes the ceiling almost glow at night. Floor
to ceiling greyish taupe draperies made of soft silk frame
the windows. The light catches embellished crystal finials
adorning the drapery rods.
The sprawling room gets an infusion of coziness with
chocolate brown hardwood flooring and an extra-large sectional covered in warm grey chenille. Arranged before the
fireplace and TV feature wall, the comfy furniture anchors
an attractive spot for the family to gather during the cold
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This page, clockwise from right: Clean and crisp, the master bathroom’s
espresso wood vanity with rectangular vessel sinks floats above the floor;
a cookies and cream colour scheme enriches the kitchen, custom designed with the homeowners' preference for espresso wood in mind; a
lemon lime settee and armchair grab attention in the den and home office area.This page, clockwise from right: Clean and crisp, the master
bathroom’s espresso wood vanity with rectangular vessel sinks floats
above the floor; a cookies and cream colour scheme enriches the kitchen,
custom designed with the homeowners' preference for espresso wood
in mind; a lemon lime settee and armchair grab attention in the den and
home office area.home office area.home office area.home office area.
Clockwise from above: Orange cushioned
wicker furniture arranged on a creamsicle
area rug make a lively conversation area.
A bathroom’s amber vessel sink and oiled
bronze faucet make even flossing exciting.
Every woman’s dream...a dedicated makeup
area, with a custom designed vanity and a
wall to wall mirror made to her specifications.
A red topped pool table is the star of the
games area.
Guests can take a break from playing games
to refresh themselves at the bar.
weather months. During sunnier seasons,
though, the great room’s proportions are easily enlarged by opening the large glass doors
leading into the lanai.
A flexible space, the lanai is an enclosed,
all weather sunroom that transitions the indoors to the outdoors. Its glass pocket doors
disappear into the walls, extending the living
and entertaining area. At one end of the
lanai, the wall is completely clad in grey and
taupe ledge rock, surrounding a wood burning fireplace. A foursome of brown leather
club chairs encircling a drinks table are
pulled up the hearth. Leather studded bar
stools encourage conversation around a pub
table.
On the opposite end of the room, a bank
of dark wood custom cabinetry assists food
preparation, accommodating a convenient,
built in wine cooler, refreshment fridge and
gas grill. If the weather doesn’t cooperate
with the homeowners’ barbecue plans, the
party proceeds in sheltered comfort. A
durable tile floor handles dirt tracked in
from outside. Giving the nod to a more traditional pub, the contemporary space boasts
dark wood beams on the ceiling.
Although the perimeters of the home’s
rooms are clearly defined, each area offers
generous access into the next, as with true
open concept layouts. Visible from the great
room is the kitchen, big, bright and off
white, with just enough grey for balance.
The towering custom cabinetry is painted a
creamy hue “for a light airy feeling,” Paulette
says. Granite countertops compliment the
grey, taupe and off white of the glass backsplash tile. A substantial island doubles as an
eating bar, with four upholstered bar stools
pulled up to watch the cook at work. Three
crystal balls suspended over the island send
sparkles over the room.
A gas cooktop and stainless appliances
give the home kitchen a professional vibe.
In addition to the jumbo stainless fridge,
there is also a walk in fridge and walk in
pantry. “The homeowners have a big family
and love to cook. They are close and gather
a lot,” Paulette explains.
White columns support the wide arch
leading from the kitchen to the raised dining
area. An ethereal crystal chandelier casts its
soft light over the stamped tin ceiling finished in a dark grey antiqued patina. “The
stamped tin will age gracefully over time,”
Paulette says. Eight chairs upholstered in
pale grey fabric seat family and friends at the
large round wood table. With a baby and
visiting youngsters eating in the dining
room, the fast and easily cleaned tile floor,
left bare of a crumb catching area rug, was a
smart choice.
Also on the main floor is the homeowners’ private retreat. The master bedroom is
deceptively understated. Every detail speaks
of quality and originality. The design team
and homeowners balanced feminine with
masculine through girly accents tempered
by a navy, grey and white colour scheme.
Striving for a boutique hotel ambiance, “we
wanted understated elegance,” says Paulette.
She designed the custom made headboard
for the couple’s king sized bed. Navy blue
fabric was tufted onto the 8’ tall arched
headboard, its curves picked out in silver
nail studs. Mirrored chests on either side of
the bed reflect the bling of silver lamps.
Navy reappears in the shag rub, another find
of the wife, who also chose the ceiling light
fixture, a smoky oval of crystals displayed
against a bronze backdrop. “It’s a sophisticated look,” Paulette finds.
For relaxing with a book or after a bath,
there is a chaise covered in soft, dove grey
faux suede. It is placed in front of wrap
around windows dressed with shimmery
white sheer panels for romantic appeal.
That same yin yang was carried into the
master bathroom, where a translucent crystal chandelier dangles over the granite and
marble tub. Bold navy wallpaper embossed
with a metallic damask pattern dominates
the walls and is used again as an accent on
the ceiling. “It really adds to the drama of
the en suite bathroom,” Paulette notes.
On either side of the tub are his and her
glass doors entering a shared, spacious walk
in shower room, covered in marble. There
are also his and her granite topped white
vanities placed on opposite walls, giving the
husband and wife their space as they get
ready for the day. For good measure, a few
more dashes of dazzle were added in the
form of crystal wall sconces and crystal
knobs on the cabinet doors.
The nursery and guest room are on the
second floor. “With a new addition to the
family, we needed a princess room,” Paulette
says. Once again, the homeowners and new
parents demonstrated their commitment to
their overall vision for interior design. Eschewing the usual pink hues found in many
baby girls’ bedrooms, the couple opted for
classic cream and silver damask wallpaper
with shimmery sheers draped on the window and swagged on the recessed ceiling. A
delicate crystal chandelier is the centrepiece
of the swagged effect, providing the baby
with a fascinating rainbow maker of her very
own.