Decorating & Design
A brand-new condo in a chic high-rise gets a lift from colour and customized coziness
Decorating & Design
A brand-new condo in a chic high-rise gets a lift from colour and customized coziness
Annie Gaudreault and Peter Shier were delighted to land a beautiful corner suite in a stylish new Toronto condo building. But despite its high ceilings and wraparound views, it was, like most condos, still a typical white “box in the sky,” without much character. They called in Emilia Wisniewski of Studio 1NINE1 to fill their nest with colour and one-of-a-kind style.
Designer Emilia Wisniewski (shown above) divided the long living room wall into zones – seating/storage, TV and hearth – and visually organized the spaces with two banks of oak slats: one bank (formerly a windowless den prior to the removal of a wall) conceals HVAC controls, cabinets and a display niche. A once-boring hallway (top right) becomes a gallery space with the addition of a seating alcove and expanded storage.
DESIGN, Emilia Wisniewski, Studio 1NINE1. CONSTRUCTION, Genikos Contracting. MILLWORK, Millworx. The Frame TV, Samsung. Amantti FIREPLACE INSERT, Stylish Fireplaces. Custom SOFA, STOOLS (under fireplace), CLUB CHAIR, OTTOMAN, Whittington & Co. Cream VASE, tall VASE (with fronds), TRAY (on ottoman), PLINTH, SCULPTURE, CB2. Small BOWL, THROW, Studio 1NINE1 Shop. STANDING LAMP, Elte Mkt. Custom RUG, Studio 321B. DRINKS TABLE, Black Rooster Decor. WALL PAINT (throughout), Chantilly Lace OC-65, Benjamin Moore. PILLOWS (in alcove), CB2; Elte.
Because the kitchen’s bold blue is so assertive, Emilia kept other elements and hues – the counters, the island’s light oak cladding and the coffee station’s back-painted glass backsplash – low-key. Now the room is one of Annie Gaudreault and Peter Shier’s (shown) favourite spaces in the condo. Brass fixtures and hardware warm things up.
CABINETRY, Millworx. CABINETRY PAINT, Old Navy 2063-10, Benjamin Moore. Emtek DOOR AND DRAWER HARDWARE, ADH Hardware.
“Annie’s favourite colour is blue, so we started with the kitchen colour and that directed everything else in the condo.”
Finding just the right balance between closed storage, exposed appliances and open shelves is crucial in a small kitchen. Here, the fridge is behind panelling on the left, while on the right, open shelves add a light touch above the coffee station. Brass mesh fronting the bar cabinet strikes an airy but not-quite-exposed middle ground.
Brizo FAUCET, Watermarks. COUNTERTOP, Apex Stone & Fabrication. JUG (by sink), SHALLOW BOWL (on island), VASE (with branches), Elte Mkt. ACCESSORIES (on island shelves), CB2.
The dining table seats four for everyday meals; at night, the draperies open to a stunning skyline view. For dinner parties, it’s the more the merrier: the table accommodates an extra leaf and two more chairs. The island’s radius corner (left) was the couple’s idea.“It has built-in recessed lighting that looks lovely at night,” says Emilia.
DRAPERY FABRIC, Threadcount Inc. DRAPERY SEWING, Drapes by Fae. PENDANT LIGHT, Robinson Lighting & Bath. BOWL, CB2. Ethnicraft TABLE, Style Garage. CHAIRS, EQ3.
“Annie’s favourite colour is blue, so we started with the kitchen colour and that directed everything else in the condo.”
“The chandelier and bouclé fabric draperies juxtapose nicely with the loft aesthetic of exposed ductwork and concrete.”
The bedroom is fairly small, so everything was kept cozy and neutral – floating side tables and a built-in headboard minimize visual clutter. Glass doors by Komandor with a glass upper transom maximize light; the chandelier once belonged to Peter’s mum.
DRAPERY FABRIC, Threadcount Textile & Design. DRAPERY SEWING, Drapes by Fae. Custom DOORS, Komandor. THROW, PILLOWS, Studio 1NINE1 Shop. RUG, Crate and Barrel. Sylvie Adams’ ARTWORK, Art Interiors.
A comfortable and functional home office for Annie was essential. “The wallpaper functions almost like artwork on its own,” says Emilia. Along with a custom-fitted closet for organized storage, an IKEA unit (gussied up with new knobs) is great for storing everyday necessities out of sight.
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