Inspirational Workspaces

Being a visual learner, I am all about work environments that visually spark imagination and creativity. Like most designers, my dream work space would house beautiful images, pictures, textures, fabrics to get my creative juices flowing.

I will be the first to admit that I am an easily distracted individual; luckily that tends to work to my advantage in my industry. Creativity never sleeps, so you want to make sure that you are constantly surrounded by inspiring belongings; particularly in the office where most of your work is being done. A large pin board of "this and thats" is a perfect example of a creative outlet in the workplace. Its a place to put images you came across in a magazine, post-its of ideas you jotted down, swatches of various finishes, etc...

A designer's work space can become cluttered very quickly with sample swatches, furniture and fixture brochures, among other things so organization is essential whether your work space is a corner of a room or an entire studio. My "10 year plan" consists of owning my own residential firm; perhaps with a friend or two from school. I would love to one day have a space like the studio in the last picture that I have every resource I need right at my finger tips. I love the brightness of the entire space, the warmth of the wood, the industrial feel in furniture and fixtures, and the organization of resources, its like a dream come true. Hopefully one day!! 

No Words For

A quote by the very talented Georgia O'Keeffe that I believe many or most designers, artists, and anyone creative can relate to.

Rustic Barn Home

A number of months ago I came across this project from the New York interior design firm S.Russell Groves. It is a historic barn originally from Canada, that was moved to Washington, Connecticut and completely revamped into a residential masterpiece.

Most of the original elements of the barn including the wood beams and wide plank flooring were restored to maintain their naturally distressed appearance. The barn was opened up between the two storeys in main areas including the family room to expose dramatic vaulted ceilings. 

One of my favourite architectural elements of the entire space is the exposed structural wooden beams across the ceiling. The rustic and weathered appearance really adds a sense of comfort to the home, along with the flagstone detailing in the fireplace which adds a great contrast in colour and texture. 

The kitchen area is definitely a highlight in this space, with its traditional shaker inspired beat board cabinets in a soft grey complimenting the warmth of the wooden beams. I also love the added wooden detailing above the hood range, the change in stain of the wood along with mosaic tile backdrop really makes this a feature wall in the kitchen.

The original rough hewn floors found through out the home are a consistent element that compliment the chosen shaker inspired furniture that was made by a local work shop. Contemporary design sneaks it way into this home as well, such as the very clean deep oval tub in the ensuite bathroom. The mix of modern and traditional design elements gives this space the uniqueness that the home owners were striving for.

All in all, the design of this once barn turned cozy home is the definition of successful design. I love everything about this space, and hope to see a lot more creative residential designs like this in the near future. 

My DIY Headboard

So I am sure you have seen images for reclaimed barn wood head boards on various blogs and pinterest, but I completely fell in love with the idea and decided to make one myself! My Aunt and Uncle own a beautiful farm in Fergus, Ontario and on their property is an original barn with wood boards that have been through years and years of weathering. Each board was unique in its colour, wash, and texture which added character to it. I love it so much more that the barn boards are from their farm; a place I have attended countless family gatherings, Christmas celebrations, and three beautiful weddings for my cousins. I love the way it turned out in the end, and thanks to my Dad and Aunt Jo-Anne for their help in prepping the wood and assembling it.

The prep work took the longest, the boards had to be washed thoroughly and sanded. It was recommended to use a sealant on the wood, but I really enjoyed the rough salvaged look that the original barn boards had, so I decided to skip that step and keep the wood as authentic in it's weathered look as possible. After that it was just a matter of measuring twice and cutting once, adding the boards to a set of 2x4 legs, and bolting them to the metal bed frame. I added an additional 2x4 in the middle to avoid warping. All in all I am very pleased with the end result, and am happy to have created a personal headboard that I can be proud of. 

Love for Staircases

One of my favourite elements in a home would have to be a beautiful staircase. I love the grandness that comes with a feature staircase, it has the ability to really open up an entry way and give a home that wow factor the second you enter.

My favourite staircase designs take on a more traditional style, with a strong contrast between light and dark colours. Wood paneling and wainscoting are a design element must-have in my books to achieve that cozy home-like feel. I love the simplistic features of the banister, spindles and posts, it really sets the tone for the rest of the house.

Let's Design!

One of my favourite images ever; mostly because I loathed science and math in high school (just ask my best friend Nicole, I don't think I would have completed those credits if it wasn't for her).

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Katelyn Rempel, and I am a recent graduate of the Interior Design program at Ryerson University located in the heart of Toronto, Ontario. Design has been my true passion in life for as long as I can remember, from early childhood colouring books to a full time career. I believe that good design has the ability to transform a space into something truly wonderful, and that it possesses a positive impact on the way in which we as humans live. A person's home is their most personal possession; you can tell a lot about a person based on the design of their home because it directly reflects them, and who they are. It was this thought that made me want to specialize in residential design. To help people design the house of their dreams, where they feel it is completely unique to them is something I feel great accomplishment in.

My intention for this blog is for it to act as a source of inspiration for those interested in interior design. It will be a collaboration of both great design ideas by others and a few of my own, along with random thoughts and rambles. I hope that you enjoy the posts that are yet to come, and if  you ever have any questions, or wish to work with me on creating your perfect home, please feel free to drop me a line.