Inspiring Interiors – Black & White Interiors Moodboard

Hi Everyone!

My love for interiors and architecture knows no bounds and I am frequently mood boarding different styles that I love.  So today instead of sharing a particular project that I am currently loving I have decided to share with you one of my boards.  I am still working on decorating my condo (and frequently day dreaming about building my dream home) so mood boarding is a daily respite for me.  Lately I have been gravitating towards dark and moody interiors sometimes beautifully contrasted with white to elevate the entire space.  I generally find that this style is done particularly well lately by talented design studios such as Transition State Design, Well Received Design (both of who’s work is showcased on this mood board) and Studio McGee (obsessed with their new Netflix show btw!).  It beautifully balances modern and contemporary, chic and welcoming, timeless design.  Love it!  Let me know in the comments below what is your thoughts on this style of design and the mood board, I would LOVE to hear from you!
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Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit http://www.well-recieved.com

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Featured Image Photo Credit: http://www.transitionstate.com

The Stratford London by Space Copenhagen

There are many things that I love about travelling. Like many people bitten by the travel bug, I relish the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, attempt to communicate in a new language, meet new people, try new food and learn more about this beautiful and diverse planet we call home. Another thing that I love about travelling is staying in a hotel. Now I realize that not everyone who travels enjoys this part of it (or even does it given the growing popularity of AirBnB), but I love it and spend an enormous amount of time researching hotels while making my travel plans. This may seem odd to some but I love the luxury of a good hotel, the thought that has gone into the design and the effort that is made for the guest to have an enjoyable experience. I have such great memories of my hotels throughout my travels: crawling into a dreamy bed with a pastel de nata and watching Chicago PD after a long day of sightseeing in Lisbon, trying my first Nepresso coffee thanks to the courtesy machine in my room in Barcelona or unwinding with a chilled glass of wine on my hotel room balcony in Madrid are just some of my favourites. So while travel has been put on hold for me at the moment I am still dreaming of the day that I will get back to enjoying my hotel experiences. The most recent hotel that I am dreaming about is The Stratford in London. This room was designed by the multi talented design team Space Copenhagen.

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Like all of Space Copenhagen’s projects this room is elevated elegance while staying true to their Scandinavian roots.  The colour palette is both welcoming and relaxing and the various textures and materials used add just the perfect amount of interest without being overwhelming.  

The bathroom is a marble oasis with a lust worthy tub to relax in after a busy day. The veining in marble adds interest and helps the eye to softly move throughout the space. Black fixtures and natural accents elevate this space to dreamy.

The countertop sink further elevates the slight Eastern influence, and coupled with the balance of fixtures successfully gives guests a subtle zen vibe throughout the space.

The colour palette and textures in the bedroom is my favourite thing about this space. From the natural wood floors to the softly coloured walls elegantly contrasting and elevating the hardware and colour of the furniture throughout the room. The gorgeous green of the bench and headboard of the bed has completely grabbed my attention and I will be looking of ways to incorporate it into my own space. Love it!

Overall, this dreamy refuge by Space Copenhagen has captured my attention and has me looking forward to dreamy future hotel visits.

Thank you for visiting Stylishly Zen today, I hope that you have a safe and beautiful day! XXS

All images via http://www.spacecph.dk

Dreamy Design

Hi Everyone!

I have always gravitated towards light filled spaces, but lately it is one of the first things that I took for when researching a space.  Maybe it’s because like most people I have been spending a lot of time indoors and now all I want is to immerse myself dreamy, light filled designs.  

d5ac204f-1de0-4008-a216-f8629338ea6cToday’s dreamy design is unique in many ways.  It’s a renovated 1920’s bungalow in Sydney that had an addition added to it in the 80’s.  It was in dire need of a makeover and thankfully the owners were up to the task.   It order to make the most of the natural light that filled the top floor of the house the owners decided to flip the living spaces by moving the common areas such as the kitchen and the living room to the top floor and the bedrooms to the lower level.  Normally I dislike this sort of flipped design as I don’t like the idea of sleeping in a bedroom on street level but in this case the home is elevated.  Entry to the home is via a set of concrete steps that lead to the main entrance.  Due to the elevated design, the bedrooms are above street level.  

92BCE674-46F2-4714-8D63-0CD27CDC9848The common areas are bright open spaces with large windows and tall ceilings that helps the home to feel immersed in nature.  Combined with a modern yet timeless aesthetic, the flow of the home is streamlined.  I especially love the board formed concrete counter in the kitchen as it adds a cool industrial vibe to the space.  There are massive sliding glass doors in the kitchen that open onto a concrete patio that overlooks the street in front of the home. This level is organized into both active and quiet zones that can be separated by sliding glass doors.  34F8BDC1-BED9-4F2D-87EF-7F4F23DE9A322C1D770E-A993-40A3-A103-642AE9DA4EB3The sitting room and library at the rear of the house opens to a rear garden by another massive sliding glass door.  This further helps to bring the outdoors inside and create a cohesive flow within the home.59905D5C-5780-4DEF-9048-1783B8E8E7F885C2F9FC-F367-4FDC-9FD4-A7888BB7C54B37D6E86C-4689-4D2F-B7D9-C267DB5ACE0CContrasting with the rest of the spaces on the top floor, the powder room is a beautiful cool grey colour with a large floor to ceiling mirror and a Jorn Utzon light fixture.  AFD6282E-6D8C-4A01-94D2-39CCF5150FB9The values of simplicity and contrast are imbued throughout the home with the goal of creating a space that supports the lives of the occupants.  9E6808F1-A73B-4D89-B969-0AD51BFEFABFI love a sculptural staircase and the one in this home does not disappoint.  It is a focal point when people enter the home with bedrooms branching off of the entry hallway.  A3EC6B87-6B3A-4D1D-B0C0-81128419138CThe master bedroom opens to a private garden terrace furthering a sense of calm in the space.  6A2BB2A2-2A09-4FF0-A68B-CDA1756057BA3399EFA9-6249-428F-8485-5AFA0E044E59Overall this home is a chic and light filled refuge from the frenetic pace of daily life.  It seamlessly blends together the indoors with the outdoors for a calming, functional and timeless space.

I hope that you have a beautiful day!  XXS

All images and information via http://www.dwell.com.  To see more of this gorgeous home please visit http://www.dwell.com

 

Behind The Design with Annaliesse Kelly

Hi Everyone!

Today’s Behind the Design is very exciting for me as it is the first Canadian designer that I have featured on this series.  Annaliesse Kelly is the principal of Annaliesse Kelly Design & Consulting based in Vancouver, British Columbia.  AK Design is a full service interior design firm with a clear focus on working with their clients thru the design process to complete interiors that their clients have dreamed of and meet their needs.  The result is clean, elegant interiors that are welcoming and functional.  Without further adieu here is Stylishly Zen’s Behind the Design with Annaliesse Kelly:

  1. Did you always know that you wanted to work in interior design? Has it always been your passion?

Always.  My mother was an interior designer and I was always hording her interior design magazines when I was growing up.AK_Haywood_Web-18

  1. How would you describe your design esthetic?

I hate that question!  I like to say that we don’t sell a look we sell a service.  Function proceeds form and we focus on what works well for your home.  We collaborate with interior architects to design and plan what you need for your home to work or you.  This includes everything from floorplans, lighting details, staircases, etc.  Then we work in our esthetic of clean lines and balanced elegance.  We try to have fun with our spaces.

  1. Where do you find your inspiration from?

Our client’s inspiration boards (we give them the tools to help to show us what they like), partners we collaborate with, trend research from social media, fashion, and travelling.20190705_AK_DESIGNS_1055RICHARDS-09

  1. What has been your most challenging project to date?

We are currently working on a project in Strathcona that is both challenging and very exciting.  The home is 100 years old and we have to be mindful of building codes that apply to historical buildings.  The lot is very small but quite high so access is difficult.  We are lifting the house to put a basement below which again comes with its own set of challenges.

  1. How long does it take for you to normally complete a project?

That’s impossible to answer – it depends on the project.  A condo can take 6months and a house can be well over a year.

  1. You have worked on a variety of projects from residential to commercial, one on one with clients to development projects, do you have a favourite type of project to work on?

I enjoy them all, it’s about the people and it’s a privilege to help them.  I like different aspects for different reasons. One on one for helping people curate their dreams, development projects for branding.  It’s all a journey of discovery and forward thinking.AK_Design_1535_Vine_St_Web-13

  1. What has been your favourite project to work on so far?

My company.  I love working with people

  1. Any favourite travel destinations that you like to escape too?Why?

NYC for the incredible design and varied architecture and businesses.  I love the colours in California.  I also love travelling to Europe, I am headed to Spain in the spring.AK_Haywood_Web-44

  1. Vancouver is a well-known wellness city; do you have any wellness practices that you have incorporated into your life to help you deliver such wonderful projects?

Go to bed at 9 and wake up at 6, exercise, good food and meditation at times.  Even just getting outside and going to a walk can help.

  1. Any words of wisdom for someone who is just starting out their design career?

Trust yourself, try not to compare yourself to others and think outside of the box.  Be brave!  There is so much space for everyone!20190705_AK_DESIGNS_1055RICHARDS-10

Thank you so much Annaliesse for taking the time to do this interview.  All images courtesy of Annaliesse Kelly Design.  To see more of Annaliesse’s designs please visit http://www.annaliessekellydesign.com

Thank you everyone for stopping by Stylishly Zen and I hope that you have a beautiful day!  XXS

Inspiring Design

Hi Everyone!

Today’s Inspiring Design is a gorgeous Victorian home located in San Francisco.  Victorian homes have always had a special place in my heart since I saw Mrs. Doubtfire when I was younger.  When I first saw pictures of this house, I was expecting beautiful and classic design, but with each picture that I saw my jaw dropped further to the floor.  It is widely billed as the former home of actress Meg Ryan but the home has undergone quite the transformation since. When the current owners purchased the home in 2014, they hired local architect Tim Murphy to update the home which included a new kitchen, master suite, family room and upstairs lounge.   IMG_7761Murphy was able to retain a lot of the original magic of the space by keeping the gorgeous crown molding and millwork throughout the home.    IMG_7762Interior design firm Nicole Hollis was also hired early in remodel process to consult on interior finishes, hardware and custom cabinetry along with the furnishings and the majority of the decorative lighting among other things.  The front living room is particular favourite (first image).  I love the contrast of the marble accents with the chevron walnut flooring against the navy, grey and white colour palette.  IMG_7755IMG_7756The house is 7050 square feet with five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms.  The blend of classic and modern throughout the home is stunning, but the incredible bay views is what really made this Victorian home stand out to me.  IMG_7759Sliding doors in the kitchen which open onto a terrace offer breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay.  The kitchen itself is a dream with a waterfall marble island, exquisite custom cabinetry and top of the line appliances.  IMG_7758Adjacent to the kitchen is the family room and the dining room, both of which offer beautiful views of the bay as well.  Aside from the beautiful view, I am completely in love with the sculptural smoked glass lighting fixture hanging above the dining room table.  Gorgeous!IMG_7757The most incredible room in this house though is on the top floor.  The upstairs lounge offers panoramic views of the city and the bay, including offering unobstructed views of Angel Islands and Alcatraz.  The lounge opens to a stunning terrace which houses a fire pit to help create a cozy atmosphere.  The views from there both day and night are fantastic and it looks like the most incredible spot to unwind with a glass of wine after a long week.  IMG_7753IMG_7752All information and images are from http://www.dwell.com and you can find more images for this gorgeous home here.  

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today and I hope that you are safe and have a beautiful day!  XXS