THE PHOTOS
ABOVE THE
CABINETS WERE
TAKEN BY THE
HOMEOWNER. WE
PLACED THEM IN
OVERSIZED FRAMES
WITH LARGE MATS
TO GIVE THEM
A BALANCED
POLISHED LOOK.
Photography by Larry Arnal, www.arnalpix.com
A YOUNG COUPLE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN REDESIGN
THEIR HOME WITH DESIGNER YVONNE WHELAN.
CANADIAN HOME TRENDS CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE SPACE’S DESIGN?
YVONNE WHELAN The family room is
where the homeowners spend most of
their leisure time hanging out and watching
TV. It had to be cozy, comfortable and kid
resilient. We chose furniture pieces to give
them lots of seating, maximizing the sofa and
adding lounge chairs for extra seating. We
decided to keep the palette very neutral
but warm and added lots of textures and
prints to keep the room interesting. We
included these retro-looking cabinets to
flank each side of the fireplace providing
ample storage for TV equipment, toys and
board games. The living room is the first
room you see when you enter the home so
the homeowners wanted it to be glamorous
and beautiful. The chrome and glass of the
coffee table adds just the right sparkle while
the art and credenza help bring some color
to the room.
In the master bedroom, we worked with
warm neutrals and rich textures to create a
sophisticated zen vibe. The jumping off point
was the textured gold wallpaper that really
gives a high-end look to the room. We chose
a warm upholstered bed in an oatmeal color,
lined with nail head detailing to give it some
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CANADIANHOMETRENDS.COM
punctuation. The dresser and nightstands are
timeless pieces lacquered in warm gray paint.
The linens are a combination of different
materials and textures that give a beautiful
pop even though they are neutral. Finally,
the patterned rug pulls the room together
and adds a warm spot for cold feet in the
morning.
CHT WHAT IS A COMMON MISTAKE
PEOPLE MAKE WHEN DESIGNING THEIR
SPACE?
YW A common mistake people make when
decorating is not having a plan. Most of
the people I meet with have exceptionally
good taste but struggle with pulling a room
together. Another mistake people make is
impulse buying. They see something they like
and purchase it but it often doesn’t work in
the room. Have a plan and follow it!
CHT WHERE DID YOU SAVE AND
SPLURGE?
YW We splurged on all the larger pieces of
furniture. We customized the upholstery as
it had to be comfortable and perfectly sized
to fit into the space. Accessories and some
of the lounge chairs and cabinets were quite
the steal at local big box stores. - Yvonne Whelan,
www.yvonnewhelandesign.com