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I have opened up an Instagram account for Great North! Please give us a follow @greatnorthdesignco for all things interior!!

Tile Crazy

Ever since I went to Portugal I have been obsessed with tile patterns and spaces that incorporate lots and lots of tiles. Portugal is very inspired by Moroccan design dating back to hundreds of years ago, and it is evident on most of the buildings through out the country. The exteriors of building facades are covered in beautiful displays of colourful tiles, as well as the inside. They are literally everywhere; exteriors, interiors, bathrooms, floors, ceilings. Not only do they look beautiful, they also keep the building cool in the hot summer months and trap the heat in during the winter.

I found the continuous use of tiles to be incredibly inspiring, so when I discovered a few spaces that incorporated tiles as the main focal points, well I am sure you can imagine my excitement! This beautiful patio was designed by the talented local design firm Mason Studio located in the design chic neighbourhood The Junction (Toronto, Ontario). It was a showroom space for a boutique condominium development called The Duke. I was so drawn to the pattern, and I feel that the simplicity in the furniture and light fixture really allows the tile to stand out as it should. Not to mention the contrast with the warm wood panels just ties this space together perfectly. All I have left to say is well done Mason Studio, well done. 

Design Evolution

I feel as though the last few months I have really been going through an evolution in my own personal design taste and influence. Perhaps it is the various inspirational outlets I check out daily (House and Home, Style at Home, Pinterest, various blogs… just to name a few) and their constant update on the latest trends. Or perhaps its my personal evolution as a designer and the impact that working in the industry and continuing to learn more and more that has affected it.

For years I thought my only niche was traditional. Traditional came easy to me I understood what client's were hoping to have achieved, how they wanted a space to look, and how it would make them feel. I felt like I could relate to it. Traditional was comfortable, it was a crowd pleaser; and when you're first starting out at anything and you are uncertain in your own decisions I think there is a huge sense of security in comfort. That is not to say I don't still enjoy traditional design, I admire the feeling of warmth and home-i-ness that goes along with it (for those of you who may not know what I mean when I describe traditional I have two words for you… Pottery Barn).

After working at a handful of design firms now with a number of different clients, I have had the opportunity to explore various style influences and inspirations that have truly broadened my personal design taste. We are fortunate to live in an era that has not just one style approach but a wide variety of them. A traditional room with contemporary finishes and Scandinavian inspired decor that is completed with a modern pendant light can be a recipe for a well balanced space.

I have found my eye being drawn to more simplistic design approaches; streamline furniture, mixing of metals and materials, warm and cool tones. My style has gone from what I felt was predictable, to something more personal, easier to relate to as a person and my career as an inspired and evolving designer. It makes me truly excited to explore this design evolution, which is such a rewarding reminder of how fortunate I am to be able to do what I love.

BIG NEWS

So after about a month of making everything was just right, I have finally opened up my Etsy page online!

My page is all about easy design solutions at a low cost; developing design packages online that provide people with design inspiration, space planning solutions, budgets and furniture recommendations. The idea is that clients will e-mail me regarding their plans for a space they are hoping to re-do, and depending on the package they choose to go with I will send them an electronic solution to get them started and feel confident to go forward on their own.

I am very excited about this new endeavour, and hope for the best that this will be a success!! Be sure to check it out and spread the word!

GreatNorthDesignCO. on Etsy!

Katelyn :)

Living Room Facelift

My parent's house is one of those beautiful 1930 old homes in a cute lakeside town that has a lot of character. With exposed brick walls, plaster ceilings, and original crown moulding and hard wood floors still in good condition. My favourite type of renovation is keeping the existing characters that define a home, and updating in a way that doesn't cover up the old, but rather emphasizes its perfectly imperfect qualities.

The colour of the living room was a deep red with hues of purple and maroon, making the room seem small despite the large west facing picture window that lets in lots of afternoon light. The furniture was a mix match clutter of pieces collected over the years (I think the couch dated back to the early 90's… and I also think my Dad won it in a golf tournament)! The oversized wood finish pieces took over the room, blocking any sense of flow and space.

First thing we all decided on was to paint out all the walls; everything was painted out Benjamin Moore Decorator's White, except for the wall that housed the original stone fireplace. We decided to paint that wall Benjamin Moore "cement grey" to draw the eye to the feature wall and bring out the colours of the natural stone fireplace. What a difference the paint alone made, all of a sudden the room was brighter and airy, and made the oak floors stand out so much more due to the contrast in tones that was not there before.

We replaced the couch and area rug with two great finds from Homesense, and most of the accessories were found there as well. The couch is a more modern streamline piece that contrasts with the traditional wingback chairs. Two items that I knew I wanted to keep were the two wingback chairs my parents had selected when they were newlyweds. The chairs are a beautiful design and well made pieces, however the fabric was old and fraying. I went to Designer Fabric Outlets in Parkdale and selected a few fabrics to choose from. We all decided on a light grey and white one with a slight geometric pattern, and had them reupholstered by the talented crew at Gavinchi in Toronto. They did an amazing job and the chairs looks good as new.

For a budget renovation this space has completely transformed into a bright and spacious living room that touches on all of the amazing characteristics in the history of this home. 

Another article!

My second article has been published on Home Decor Hacks for an Organized space! Be sure to check it out and other great articles on The LUXE Life!

Home Decor Hacks for an Organized Space

Where I have been...

I haven't been active on my blog again I know, but it's for good reason! I am working on a small project that will be displayed on Etsy very soon. I am very excited about it, it is just taking me longer than I originally thought to get everything looking just the way I want it to!!

Stay tuned!!!!