Creating a beautiful home from the ground up is one of the most satisfying parts of my work and this STUNNING home was no exception! Working with a palette of predominantly gray, white and black, we created a home with warmth, class and the perfect backdrop for the homeowners exceptional art collection.

And while some gray homes are already out of style as they went TOO hard into the gray trend, the majority of the finishes in this home will withstand the test of time.

Why?

Because they’re classic and timeless – not just trendy.

The color of the exterior is similar to Benjamin Moore Dior Gray with stark white trim and dark gray ledgestone. The striking black double front door is a focal point to this beautiful tone-on-tone home.

THE STYLISH ENTRYWAY: ARTWORK & AMBIENCE

The entryway is the space most people see first when they enter a home, and the one they see LAST when leaving a home – make sure your entryway leaves an impression!

With the double-front doors being tucked into a bit of a niche, we added a touch of drama and formality with a striking black colour (Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black) and beautiful black marble tile that was inset into the wood floor. It’s a sharp, clean palette paired with Benjamin Moore Oxford White wainscoting.

A home doesn’t need to be your personal style, for you to appreciate its beauty. So, while this style isn’t quite my jam (not even with peanut butter on it), I know we created a stunner. However, I would change the light to be softer, so it casts a less graphic light (I don’t get a say in EVERY choice). Even then, the overall look is curated, collected, and classic…

These homeowners have a HUGE art collection in a variety of genres. Many collectors lean towards classic shades of white when painting their walls. My clients wanted a slightly softer approach, using gray as a consistent backdrop. We chose Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray as the main color and supplemented it with a few different colors in secondary spaces.

Stonington Gray is a light shade of gray (on the HEAVY side of the light range). While it can look cool, it’s more of a stormy gray with subtle blue-green undertones.

Stonington Gray is a great choice as it easily transitions into other spaces, as seen in the 1/2 bath (to the right in the above photo).

THE HALF-BATH/POWDER ROOM

In keeping with the gray theme but adding some drama, we chose Dior Gray for the powder room. Now, most 1/2 baths or powder rooms won’t have a sink, toilet, and free-standing tub, but my clients had particular needs for their home and this set-up was one of them!

Leaving the powder room and returning to the entryway, these next photos show how nicely the entryway transitions into the kitchen area…

THE KITCHEN – GRANITE, MARBLE, & MORE…

This kitchen is a Chef’s DREAM with black granite perimeter countertops, Vancouver Island Marble on the island, and coffered ceilings. Because the kitchen is open to the dining room, living room, and entryway, the eating bar gives a small visual barrier between daily living and the messy bits (although, PERSONALLY, I’m not a huge fan of it).

The cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Oxford White with a soft gray glaze to take the edge off. All trims, including the coffered ceiling areas, are Oxford White as well.

Many people wouldn’t do white grout in a kitchen, but for this super tidy, low-key couple, white grout won’t be a hassle!

As for the sink area, I wish I had the photography skills to show you the GORGEOUS ocean view outside their windows – you’ll have to settle for the INSIDE view!

This kitchen was designed almost ten years ago and the owners planned on living in it for a looooong time, so they wanted to love it for themselves!

However, for mass appeal and CURRENT trends, a few things could be updated (without spending a TON of money). Sure, I’d love to see all new countertops and would run the wood floor right through the kitchen, but often, there’s a good happy medium with a few smaller changes…

• the glass and stainless steel mosaic tile backsplash – either run the black granite up the backsplash or do a subway tile
• remove the raised eating area on the island and possibly do a new island slab  – not that marble isn’t timeless, but you’d need a bit more depth for eating once the raised area is removed
• do solid white pendant lights, not champagne-style ones
• consider repainting the cabinets white WITHOUT the glaze
• soften the look with less modern/contemporary bar stools
• less open wine storage

Moving along to the dining room and living room…

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-PART SERIES

A CONTEMPORARY-STYLE LIVING ROOM & DINING ROOM

The homeowner wanted to use her old dining table and chairs, which have a less contemporary, and more traditional vibe. In the ideal world, the chairs would be a bit more modern, but this set gives the space a bit more of a homey, collected look…

The Right Height to Hang Artwork & Mirrors

As for the living area, their beautiful art collection is, once again, in its glory with white wainscoting, gray walls, and a classic marble fireplace surround…

The living room is simple and understated. Sadly, I don’t always get full control of the furnishings and decor (even when my soul is BEGGING to intervene!)…

How to Choose Your Home’s Best Shade of White

Here are a few suggestions to make this living area even more beautiful…

• a textured, solid-color rug to add some softness and anchor the furniture pieces
• I would also simplify the toss cushions with more solid colors
• a table lamp on the left with a matching floor lamp on the right
• OR, a longer sofa table/console behind the sectional, with a lamp on either end of it
• nothing on the ottoman

Thank you for visiting – I hope you enjoyed this home as much as I did!

READ MORE

Is Gray Outdated on Walls, Cabinets, & Exteriors?

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

The Ultimate GUIDE to Choosing White Paint Colors

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Decorating and Colour Consulting Services – I’d love to help!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2016, UPDATED FOR GRAMMAR AND WHATNOT IN 2022

The post Gray & White Home – Marble, Dark Wood, Artwork & More! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’ve been feeling tempted to update your early 2000s home, this just might be your tipping point – consider yourself warned.

When my Online Colour Consulting client sent along these after photos, I actually WHOOPED for joy. Why? Well, not only was this family home updated with TIMELESS appeal but its HEART and SOUL were saved in the process.

And while I could listen to myself talk (or type) all day long, I know you’re just here for my wit, charm and the pretty pictures, so LET’S DO THIS!

THE ENTRYWAY REMODEL

This space had great bones, just outdated finishes and fixtures…

And after…

If you’re wondering about the paint colours, you’ll find a FULL LIST at the end of this blog post.

And for all those hubbies who’ve REFUSED to paint the wood railing, remember…

JUST BECAUSE IT’S WOOD, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S GOOD! 

One of the MANY things I love is that you’ll see a lot of the same furnishings in the before/after photos. This isn’t just a great way to save money, but a way to keep familiarity and authenticity, as some pieces just suit the home and the people living in it!

I also find it interesting that while EVERYONE else is putting in light natural oak flooring, my clients went the other way and restained their floors in a DARK finish – LOVE IT! Sure, they could’ve chosen some fancy wide plank, brushed finish new floor, but they would’ve spent a FORTUNE doing so.

THE LIVING ROOM REMODEL

Again, GREAT BONES, but it was begging for a fresh colour, flooring, and fireplace surround to go with the gorgeous furniture…

Ermmmm ya, it turned out alright…

SO STINKIN’ PRETTY! A beautiful modern take on traditional style. And those dark floors are just DELICIOUS!

I actually like travertine tile and it wouldn’t have been the end of the world if they’d kept the original fireplace surround…

But HOT DAMN, does it look good now or WHAT!?

TILE DETAILS AT THE VERY END OF THIS BLOG POST

THE DINING ROOM REMODEL

As for the dining room, not only was the wall colour out-of-date but so was the FURNITURE. And that sponge-painted ceiling is AMAZING! Said nobody ever.

It’s like a brand-new home with the charm of a lived-in one!

As for the dining set, again, good bones – outdated finish. My client had it professionally painted in Annie Sloan Old White with a gray glaze and it’s freakin’ GLOOOOORIOUS!

Look at how much better the DRAPES look too, the SOUL of this room is so much more at peace…

Now, are you ready for things to get even better?

THE FAMILY ROOM

I was so happy my client didn’t want to paint her brick fireplace. Some brick fireplaces are too fugly to be saved, while others are the EPITOME of timelessness and hominess – and this is one of them. HOWEVER, the rest of the room needed to step up its game…

I could seriously curl up in this room in my fave jam-jams, with a bottle of wine and a straw glass of wine and never leave.

This room ALMOST had me at hello, but the cherry stain on the beams was too graphic and red-hued for this lil’ Ginger, even though I would’ve camouflaged nicely…

By blending in the coffered ceilings, the room feels brighter and bigger, while still having a cozy vibe…

The chandelier looks JUST like the one in our home – mad love.

And did you get a sneak-peek of the KITCHEN? That’s a creature unto itself and you’ll see the FULL GLORY of it HERE. BUT WE’RE NOT DONE YET, KEEP READING!

In the above photo, notice the bookshelf supporting the railing. We painted it a dark colour to ground it and give the railing a more modern foundation to rest on (also notice the colour connection with the toss cushions in the above photo).

Here’s a good before shot showing the split-level layout, as well as the outdated finishes…

And after. Notice that even the metal spindles were painted for a fresh look…

Back to that brick fireplace. There were many aspects of this room that I loved. I didn’t totally hate the warmer golden wall colour (how’s that for a ringing endorsement). It’s a bit off with the brick, but I’ve seen way worse. Even the beams made sense considering the red-purple tones in the brick. It all looked cozy, but it ALSO looked early 2000s and heavy.

And whether you love painted brick or prefer it raw, this fireplace looks stunning for any style (well, maybe not mid-century, but you get my point)…

Read more: 5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

As for the KITCHEN I alluded to earlier, you’ll see it ALL HERE – and it’ll be worth it!

BUT WAIT!

There’s one more room that’s going to knock your friggin’ socks off…

THE HOME OFFICE REMODEL

This home office had such GREAT bones with crown moulding, wainscoting and built-in bookcases, it was just so HEAVY looking…

Okay, seriously, can I move in?

I don’t have a great AFTER photo of the built-ins, it can be tough when shooting into the light. However, you can see a bit of them in this next photo…

Want to know what colours we chose? I’ve got it ALL at the end of this blog post!

But first, three things…

1. Did you check out the KITCHEN in this home? You should (I know, I’m a bossy lil’ Ginger)

2. Did you know I have an AWESOME SEARCH function on the right-hand side of your screen? Seriously, 400+ articles to choose from – SURELY I have what you’re looking for!

3. Did you know I have an awesome INSTAGRAM FEED & EPIC YOUTUBE CHANNEL you can subscribe to? I’ve reviewed almost ALL of the colours you just saw! True story.

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting and E-BOOKS! 

Chat soon,

PRODUCT DETAILS

LIVING ROOM FIREPLACE SURROUND

Glazzio Tile, French Baroque Series Ash

PAINT COLOURS

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

TRIM AND CEILINGS

Benjamin Moore White Dove

METAL PAINTED SPINDLES/RAILING

Benjamin Moore Onyx

BUILT-IN BOOKCASE

Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10

OFFICE WAINSCOTING AND TRIM

None other than BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER

OFFICE WALLS

Benjamin Moore White Dove

READ MORE

A New Home in Sherwin Williams Pure White

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray and Greige Paint Colours

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

The post Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray: A Fresh Home Remodel appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Let’s start with the outside. Because it was new construction, I obviously don’t have before photos – unless you want to see two acres of trees and bushes – whoopie ding, right?

It was a CRAZY sunny day when I took these photos, so it was hard to capture how beautiful the colours and curb appeal of this house are. We went with Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray, one of my fave greige paint colours and Cloud White trim.

Step in the front door and you’ll see a gorgeous staircase and reclaimed solid wood flooring from Antique Impressions. We chose Benjamin Moore Gray Owl for the main hallways, entryway and stairwell.

If you look to the bottom left of this next photo, you’ll see my puddle of drool…yes, this house made me drool (but I blamed it on the dog).

Read more: Colour Review Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

On to the heart of the home next…

Black granite and butcher block countertops were partnered with Cloud White cabinets for a high contrast, but subtle country vibe. The paint colour on the walls is Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere.

Read more: The 3 Best White Paint Colours for Cabinets

Obviously, I’m not a pro photographer so I couldn’t quite capture EVERY awesome moment of this house, so I’ve tried to focus on the areas that are the most amazing (soooo, pretty much everywhere).

Seriously, look at this friggin’ fireplace…

My client got some old wood, whitewashed it and applied it to the fireplace surround (he’s not just good lookin’ you know). Oh and the fireplace insert? LOOK AT IT! It is THE most gorgeous wood burning fireplace…evah. Love how the glass front slides up, so you can have an open fire or a closed one!

And guess what? There’s ANOTHER awesome fireplace. This one has a more industrial application as it’s in my client’s home office. We went with a palette of Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal and Navajo White to set off the faux metallic surround.

This fireplace is see-thru and because I’m not the best photographer, I couldn’t get a decent shot of the one on the other side (which is again, different from the one in the living room).

Now, here’s where I’m going to blow your mind. Are you ready?

Look at this built-in bookcase. Sure, the decor looks good, the paint colour is gorgeous, but WATCH THIS…

BOOM – MIND BLOWN! He’s seriously living out my childhood dreams…

Okay, deep breath – WHERE’S MY WINE! On to the master bedroom and ensuite bathroom…

We used Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter in the master, along with Cloud White trim. With the reclaimed wood and blush accents, it gives a super rustic romantic vibe.

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Revere Pewter

The paint colour is Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray, a gorgeous gray with blue-green undertones.

And check out the pebbles under the freestanding tub, giving it a relaxing spa vibe. The same pebbles were used in the shower base (no photo, sorry).

Now, we’re going to move to the ‘kid’ section of the house with a few quick pics before we wrap up our tour…

Their daughter wanted a purple room, so we went with the lover-ly, Benjamin Moore Lily Lavender, which is beautiful with gray and white accents.

Their teenage son wanted a more studly colour, we went into the blue world with Benjamin Moore Colorado Gray. Chicks dig it.

And while I don’t have a great shot of the whole family room, I do have a GORGEOUS shot of the paint colour, Benjamin Moore Sea Star…

And lastly, the kid’s bathroom…

The paint colour is Benjamin Moore Ocean Air, one of my fave blue paint colours.

PHEW, we did it! Now, do you want to meet the guy that did all of the hard work on this house? Here he is…

Seriously though. Hunter the dog had some serious help from the owners, Scott and Erin Allen of Millhouse Projects, who not only created the AWESOME floorplan of their custom home but also helped build it themselves, including those FABulous fireplaces – they put a heck of a lot of heart in this home.

Chat soon,

NEED HELP WITH YOUR OWN HOME?

CHECK OUT MY AFFORDABLE AND FUN E-DESIGN AND E-DECOR! 

READ MORE

Our Entryway – From Dark and Dismal to DAMN GORGEOUS! 

A Whole-Home Makeover/Update with White Dove and Edgecomb Gray

The Best Farmhouse Paint Colour Palettes

The 12 Best Whole Home Paint Colours – Gray & Greige

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, UPDATED IN 2021 FOR FRESH LINKS!

The post A Modern Farmhouse Style Home: Paint Colours and More! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Sometimes a home comes into my inbox that has everything going for it – everything but the paint colour. And this home was DEFINITELY one of those.

I loved what I saw in the before photos; the cabinets, lighting and appliances all looked great, but the dirty dingy paint colour was weighing it down. So what did we do? We went white (and I’m not just referring to my fave wine).

When it comes to white paint colours, it can be hard to find one that works every time in every home – because that magical paint colour just doesn’t exist! However, Sherwin Williams Pure White comes DAMN close and it certainly saved the day this time.

The Foyer, Staircase and Office

Before, the architecture was great, as was the light fixture, but things were lookin’ a weeeee bit murky…

AFTER, it’s like it was always meant to be (just like me n’ Tim – RIGHT TIM???)

BTW, ALL after photos are courtesy of Rich at Western Exposures Photography – awesome job.

Look at how the white walls POP against the black front door, stair railing and gorgeous sliding barn door going into the home office. White is one of the BEST ways to get strong features of a home to stand out…

Pure White also created a seamless transition between trim, ceiling and wall. Not that this space NEEDED to look any bigger, but this application creates a larger, less cluttered look…

Now, moving along to the REAL showstopper of the home – the open living area.

The Open Concept Living Area

Before, the paint colour made the dark wood cabinets look dated and in need of some paint themselves (seriously, I will paint ANYTHING)…

But AFTER, I’m actually inspired to put dark wood cabinets in my own home! Not only do they ground the space, but they also create a gorgeous contrast with the soft white of the walls…

Read more: The Best Paint Colours for Dark Wood Trim

And seriously, cognac/tobacco coloured leather is my long-time love, I’ll NEVER get tired of it. But I also said that about the perm I got two years ago (#wishIwasjoking)

Taking a look at the dining and kitchen areas – woooooof. If you know me well, you know I say that when I don’t like the looks of something, or when Doug (our dog) asks me a question.

After, LET THERE BE LIGHT! Sweet hallelujah…

I’d add some filler words, but I know you’re all here for the pretty pictures. JUST JOKING, I know you’re REALLY here for my charm and wit…riiiight? I’m pretty sure only my Mom would answer yes to that one.

On to the next zone, which had a gorgeous stone fireplace and built-ins, but was CRAVING a little KLC…

Seriously? Seriously…

LOOK AT THOSE FREAKIN’ BUILT-INS! Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart was the PERFECT paint colour (see more ideas here) as it grounded the space, gave contrast to the stone fireplace and white walls AND brought some of the contrast of the kitchen into the living room. Painting the built-ins DARK was important for flow based on the dark stain of the kitchen cabinets.

BTW, stunning photography by Richard at Western Exposures photography, he totally captured the brightness and beauty of this family home.

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting and E-Books! 

Chat soon,

READ MORE

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove

Sherwin Williams Pure White in a Brand-New Home!

The 5 WHITEST White Paint Colours 

The post E-Design: A Paint Makeover with Sherwin Williams Pure White SW 7005 appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’re looking for some white home inspiration, you’ve come to the right place.

For those of you who’ve followed me for a while (thanks for drinkin’ the Kool-Aid), you’ll know that 99% of my work is Online Colour Consulting (E-Design). In fact, I take only a limited amount of local projects each year. But regardless, when my sister and brother-in-law decided to build their dream home, I HAD to reserve a front-row seat on that bus. In fact, they bribed me with copious amounts of wine, not knowing they couldn’t have stopped me anyway – we’re family! But I still took the wine.

Another fun part of the story is that Sarah and Brett had been transients for over two years (I mean, not like homeless…but kind of homeless) and were SO excited to finally settle down. However, with a newborn and  2-year-old, settling in was low on the list and they were living out of boxes – literally. ANYWAYS, shortly after moving in, they went on a vacation and while they were away…I kind of took over (which is SO unlike me).

I unpacked every single box, and put my OCD to good use arranging cabinets, cupboards, the garage, storage room and closets – I even folded Brett’s underwear. Using a modest budget (with secret permission from him so I could surprise Sarah), I outfitted the house as much as humanly possible. They had a few basics to start – a sofa, two chairs and a sectional, but really, not much else for me to play with, so I had my work cut out for me!

Are you ready for a tour? Let’s start in the entryway

The Entryway

I love this space. It’s still waiting for a high shelf, board and batten and hooks (which is why the clock is so high), but even then, it’s still a beautiful place to walk in to!

Urban Barn clock (here). Adley area rug (here)

The clock is a big boy at 40″, he’s from Urban Barn and is a glorious beastie. The area rug is an indoor-outdoor rug, so it’s good and hardy for muddy feet and flat enough that the door doesn’t catch on it.

Next, let’s take a peek at that beautiful black front door…

FULL PAINT COLOUR LIST AT THE END OF THE BLOG POST

Front Door: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black

And if you sit your lil’ toosh down on that bench and look ahead, you’ll see a GORGEOUS powder room that makes me GREEN with envy!

The Green Powder Room

Seriously, I’m lovin’ on this vanity, which was a brave choice for someone who wanted all-white walls! Partnered with the hexagon tile floor and gold fixtures, it’s a small space with a BIG personality.

And see how the entryway rug ties into the green in the powder room? It’s ALLLLL about connections baby.

And seriously, look at the link between the vanity hardware and the floor – MAD love.

Hexagon knobs Wayfair (here). Blais Light Fixture Wayfair (here). Faucet TBA. Mirror Home Sense

You can also get a feel for the layout, as the staircase going downstairs is to the right of the powder room…

And up as well…

Looking at the last two photos, notice how the shiplap is continuous (but separated by a ceiling) from the bottom stairwell to the top one! I chose SW Web Gray for the shiplap feature wall as it’s a great partner to the kitchen island, which we’ll get to shortly.

And while I know it’s popular to do wood on stairs, it’s also a) expensive and b) not great for acoustics unless you install a runner, which is another added cost. I’m a BIG fan of carpet on stairs and chose it for our own home too. With all of the activity in this area, there’s WAY more sound absorption and it was considerably more budget-friendly. Those reasons are also why we did carpet in the master bedroom (wink wink).

Read more: Where Should I do a Feature Wall and What Colour Should it be?

The Living Room

In this open concept home, the kitchen, living room and dining room share the same square footage, so it was SUPER important that we had colour connections via furnishings and accents.

I love the balance of the fireplace and the built-in cabinets, which are also handy for putting kid’s toys in when company comes over.

The marble coffee table wasn’t finished/installed by the time I did the photoshoot (I’m exaggerating, it was just me with my camera, a bottle of wine and a funnel, but I like to sound fancy), so I had to go back with my i-phone and grab a quickie shot, which explains the quality. It’s a stunning table from Vancouver Island owned, BC Marble Products and what a friggin’ amazing slab it must’ve come from – I can’t even IMAGINE an entire kitchen in this product!

The gallery wall was almost the death of me. I couldn’t use nails as there was a vent RIGHT behind the frames, so I used a popular velcro-style hanging strip and may or may not have wanted to shoot myself trying to get the damn things in a perfectly square display. Er…mer…gerd. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer using nails.

Below, you’ll see that we chose SW Cyberspace for the built-ins which are a) the same colour as the island and b) the darker version of the shiplap feature wall in the neighbouring stairwell. If we’d done the built-ins white, I think we might’ve overdosed a bit and lost the opportunity for some contrast and connection with the adjoining spaces.

And the fireplace – I just love me some mixed textures. With white shiplap on the top and painted veneer brick tile on the bottom, the textures add some subtle interest, without changing the paint colours.

If you’re wondering what white we chose for all of these surfaces, it’s none other than one of my FAVE white paint colours – Sherwin Williams Pure White. This home has a great blend of south, east and north-facing windows, so you can get a good feel for how it changes on a room-by-room basis!

Read more: North, East, South, West, Which Paint Colour is the Best?

Mosely area rug (here). Odin pouf (here). Higuchi black side table (here) Chairs: n/a. Similar look here/here/here

The Kitchen and Dining Room

The kitchen is DEFINITELY the heart of the home in this project as Sarah is an EPIC chef, to which my subtle buddha belly can attest to. And in case this is all ringing a vague bell, you might’ve already checked out the FULL kitchen in this blog post here.

Bar stools from Wayfair (here). Pendant lights (out of stock, but similar version here)

If you’re admiring the floors, they’re an awesome naturally finished product from Goodfellow flooring – durable and budget-friendly! We did the same product in our own home but chose a slightly darker stain (Stone White Oak).

The dining table and chairs also came late to the party, so again, I’ve got a slightly-blurry i-phone for now. Or maybe, you need to cut back on the wine as it’s PERFECTLY clear on my end of the screen, just sayin’.

Captains chairs (here). White dining chairs (here). Bradding dining table (here)

I’m in LOOOVE with the two captains chairs from Pier 1, that pattern just slays me. And we actually had that same dining table in our last home, which I loved so much I got it for Sarah too, so I could relive the glory of it again.

I made sure to coordinate the dining chairs with the counter stools as I didn’t want too many different styles going on and wanted the consistency of the white as well.

And btw, I’m sure you know that the ONLY painter I use in my own home is Delea of Details Painting, so naturally, we got her to paint this one too and she did a great job (as usual).

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White

The Playroom

At the top of the stairs, we decided to use the space above the garage for a playroom (originally slated to be storage). But first, let’s look at the landing, leading to the playroom…

Both the bench and the bike canvas were from my secret garage stash and it’s like they were MEANT for this spot. I’m gonna miss that bench though…

And more of that shiplap staircase wall we looked at earlier…

Light fixture (here)

In the above photo, you can see how the 2 storey entryway opens up to the landing at the top of the stairs, letting SO much light spread throughout the top floor! And that light fixture is one of my FAVES and I have a similar, larger version in our home which is pretty badass.

Now for the playroom…

Buffalo check poufs (here)

Seriously, could it be any cuter? I stretched the budget FAR on this bad boy. The cutie-patootie poufs are from Walmart and almost ALL of the furniture and storage items are from good old Ikea!

And she might just be my fave thing ever…(Home Sense)

Now, I’m not known for being brief, and there are SO many more beautiful spaces in this home that I want to show you, so from here on out, I’m just going to give you snippets of a few of my fave spots so you can keep your sanity (mine is irrelevant, it’s loooooong gone).

The Master Bathroom

Just look at that large white hexagon tile. Sarah and Brett shouldn’t be surprised to find me showering in their bathroom one day. I know they’re crossing their fingers…

The Family Room

I LOVE the gallery wall in the family room, it’s full of some of my favourite people. And because I used NAILS, it was way easier to hang than the four pieces in the living room!

Really though, by the time I got to the family room, the budget was exhausted (and so was I). I was able to use their original pieces and grabbed a bookcase from my hoard for under the TV! I also love that we were able to continue the shiplap look down here, which was a great way to add personality to this space without spending a ton of money. We went with SW Grizzle Gray, which is a wicked gorgeous darker green-gray.

The Laundry Room

We chose a budget-friendly laminate countertop from Formica for the laundry room and it turned out awesome. It looks like marble, without as much maintenance and is perfect for this busy lil’ household.

Read more: The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why It Rocks

So, there you have it – well, most of it anyways!

Need help with YOUR home? 

Check out my E-DESIGN services, I’d love to help! 

Chat soon,

PAINT COLOUR LIST

• Walls, trims, ceilings: Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Kitchen and bathroom cabinets: Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Front door: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
• Kitchen island and living room built-ins: Sherwin Williams Cyberspace
• Powder room vanity: Sherwin Williams Isle of Pines
• Feature wall in the family room: Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray
• Feature walls in staircases: SW Web Gray
• FLOORING: Natural Wirebrished Oak from Goodfellow

The post Sherwin Williams Pure White, Walls, Trims, & More appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Virtual E-Design on a Country Farmhouse Home

If you follow my blog, you’ll remember a similar blog post from about a month ago re: a country paint palette with a REAL person in a REAL home with a REAL budget (here).

‘Real Homes, Real People, Real Budgets’ means (to me) that the homeowners have put a bit of their heart and soul into their home. That it’s not about what’s trendy – even if it happens to be, or what’s best for resale – even if it is. It’s about what feels good and is authentic to the family that lives there. It’s about homes that have a little bit of magic. It’s about products and furnishings that fit within their budget, even if they aren’t fancy-shmancy. It’s about homes that aren’t always magazine ready (even if they DO happen to be tidy and organized ALL the time). It’s about homes that invite you in for a glass of wine (because tea is highly over-rated) and would even let you pass-out on their couch, drooling, with Fixer Upper playing on the TV.  That, is a real home to me.

And JUST in time for fall, this REAL home is going to inspire you with a colourful, autumn-inspired palette full of country charm and more! You ready Betty?

Deedra has been a LONG-time e-design client (she bin’ drinkin’ the Koolaid for YEARS). And in the great words of her hubby…

‘…My wife can decorate with the best of them…however, she has changed color so many times, in so many rooms that we have been able to reduce our tax assessment as we now have less square feet of living space. You know what else we have less of?  Money!  Painting over and over again costs a lot, I meant to say, A LOT of money! The amount of money that my wife has paid to Kylie has WAY more than paid for itself in that we finally have paint colours that work! No more repainting! No more of my wife sitting on the couch with a half dozen paint wheels for hours on end…’ 

And let me finish that off by saying that Deedra has some MAAAD skills, her hubby is right, she CAN decorate with the best of them (including yours truly), now let’s take a look at her beautiful home!

A Farmhouse Country Kitchen

It only makes sense to start our tour in the heart of the home! nd if you’ve EVER tried to take interior photos, you know how hard it can be to get a crisp, bright photo. Deedra did a FAB job and while some of them I couldn’t edit enough to use, I got some beautiful shots to share with you…

When it comes to painted furniture, once I went black, I never went back and it looks like Deedra feels the same way!

Ooooh, this kitchen melts me.  With Benjamin Moore Powell Buff on the walls and soft white wainscoting (Cloud White) it has all of the charm of a farmhouse country kitchen (complete with black soapstone countertops – MAD LOVE!).

This photo gives you a good shot of the beautiful pine floors, butcher block island and a sneak-peek into the gorgeous autumn-infused dining room…

A Cozy Country Dining Room

I LOVE that Deedra wanted to embrace colour in her dining room, it’s not often I get to play with red (other than what is on my head)!

Of the beautiful red-inspired options, Deedra settled on Onondaga Clay (otherwise known as Boxcar Red, which I also used in my Mom’s kitchen). It’s a beautiful, grounded way of using red, without being either turned-on all the time or angry (which are common psychological reactions to red – just so you don’t think I’m THAT crazy).

And while I know white is the ‘go-to’ for most farmhouse country looks, I think it’s the black details that make this palette come together. Without them, the palette would have been missing a real grounding factor.

Above and below, you can see how the dining room is sandwiched between Powell Buff in the kitchen as well as the entryway, giving some flow, balance and a bit of visual relief to the stronger dining room walls.

Stairway

How often do you get to see solid pine stairs? NEVA! I love this staircase in it’s simplicity. My next passive-aggressive goal is to convince her to paint the risers, banister and spindles white (wink wink nudge nudge Deedra).

Below, take a sneak peek at the left side of the photo, you’ll notice the lovely bench from the entryway and see how the 2 spaces connect to one another.

The living room is a north facing space and it REALLY gave us a run for our money. Not only is it north facing, but it also has a deck overhang and an owner who is almost as anal about colours as I am! (that would be a compliment btw).

The winner winner chicken dinner was Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan, lightened by 25%. It hits the spot with regard to warmth and softness. It doesn’t compete with the pine flooring, doors and furniture, but also balances out the cooool northern light coming in the windows.

I love the rich, warm, earth toned neutrals and accents in this room. I could easily curl up with a bottle glass of wine for an evening.

The Master Bedroom

They say this is where the magic happens and I have NO doubt that’s the case with this beautiful room…

The paint colour is Benjamin Moore Arctic Gray, a gorgeous blue/green/gray blend.

Read more:  The 8 Best Blue Green Paint Colours

Want to see another gorgeous, farmhouse style home palette? A More Colourful Farmhouse Palette

The Home Office

I’d work in here all day! The office is painted in Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray which is an earth-toned toned green with enough depth to be cozy, but not heavy.

The Guest Bedroom

And one of my fave rooms ever, the guest bedroom…

I’m personally not a blue fan, but Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue has won me over with it’s subtle gray undertone with a weeee willy wink of green in it to soften things up. Deedra may want to paint over this soon, otherwise, I might become a permanent guest…I’D NEVER LEAVE!

So there you have it.  Are you ready to commit to some colour in your home?

Check out my affordable E-Design and Virtual Colour Consulting and let’s do it!

Chat soon,

The post An Autumn Inspired Country Paint Palette: Real Homes, Real People, REAL Budgets appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

My clients, Lisa and Brian Birnie, were the dream team. They knew what they liked, what they didn’t like, and were totally open to new ideas. Creating their home was all about blending their personal tastes with my knowledge, to come up with a design plan that suited them to a tee.

Working with Alair Homes and my new BFF, Dan (who is like the Rainman of home building and renovation), this home exceeded all expectations in quality and appearance and I know the homeowners were thrilled with the final product – it even got its own magazine feature!  I may have had to buy Dan’s love via Starbucks coffee, but hey, I’ve done way worse things for love (wink wink).

So without further ado, let’s check this bad boy out…

The Modern West Coast Exterior

Using Hardi Board in Cobblestone, we created a layered palette of black, brown and greige, with stone for texture.

Read more: The 8 Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door

The Modern Contemporary Entryway

Lisa and Brian had a vision of an entryway and dining room that were separated by beams. And while the whole ‘cedar beam’ thing is on-trend, they wanted something a bit more contemporary, so we kept it simple with drywall and paint colour and let the architecture speak for itself.

The dining room is a nice step off the entryway. The entire open layout palette consists of layered grays from the Sherwin Williams palette with colourful accents (see the end of the blog post for a paint colour list).

The Expansive Dining Room

With photography by their talented daughter, Jessie Robertson, the dining room makes a statement all of its own.

The Open Layout Kitchen and Living Room

I love the layout of this home. Just enough definition to create well-defined function from space to space, but open enough to feel bright, spacious and visually connected. We can thank Austin of Datum Point Studios for the fabulous home plan/architecture.

I love the way the island countertop rolls right into the view of the striking, vaulted fireplace.

With a nice peek-a-boo view into the dining room.

Don’t mind the dusty floors, this was obviously a ‘pre-move-in’ photo and I didn’t have my cleanin’ pants on.

OH WAIT, MAYBE I DID!  Look, Mom, my cleanin’ pants! (and yes, she is going to kill me for putting this photo in that SHE TOOK, but really, it IS my best side…)

Lisa’s LOVE of teal came through in the furnishings and accessories!

The kitchen countertop and island are topped with Cambria Ellesmere, a striking black, brown, gray and white blend quartz countertop.

Read more: The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They ROCK!

The Stairwell with Peek-a-boo Wine Room

Early on, we decided to open up the stairwell so that as you were walking down, you’d see down into the wine room/family room – it was an expensive, but smart choice!

Opening up the wall makes for a graphic detail, which is WAY more fun to look at than plain old drywall! And if you look juuuust to the left, you can see the bed that they’ve made for me – I live in the wine room now.

The Contemporary Cozy Family Room

The stacked stone fireplace is a nice balance to the dark espresso built-in cabinets and floating shelves created by Krystalyne at Mid Island Cabinets (official creative genius).

Read more: 5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Fireplace

The Master Bedroom

With an ocean view, the master bedroom is a restful retreat, equipped with a walk-in closet, laundry room and beautiful ensuite bathroom.

The master bedroom palette is a range of soft, warm gray neutrals that flow seamlessly into the ensuite bathroom.

The bathroom palette consisted of a soft warm gray on the walls, hexagon marble accent tile and porcelain that looks like marble (a great way to save money AND maintenance).

To see more of the bathroom, check out this blog post…A Contemporary Marble Bathroom – Ultimate Luxury

Other Bathrooms

This home boasts three other bathrooms – one for each guest room and a powder room upstairs.

1. Guest Bathroom 

Just look at that freakin’ countertop – so gorgeous! It’s Cambria Galloway, a beautiful blend of neutral colours, glitz and earth-toned green.

2. Guest Bathroom

We just fell in love with the mosaic tile with the mother o’ pearl accents.

And the Powder Room…

Again, Cambria Galloway looks STUNNING with the graphic wallpaper.

Master Paint Colour List

• Living Room:  SW Repose Gray
• Kitchen:  SW Dorian Gray
• Dining Room:  SW Dovetail
• Master Bedroom:  BM Escarpment and BM Collingwood
• Ensuite:  BM Balboa Mist
• Bottom of Stairwell: SW Dorian Gray
• Guest Bath 1: SW Aesthetic White
• Guest Bath 2:  SW Worldly Gray

Do you want help with YOUR dream home? 

Check out my Online Consulting and E-Design Services…

Chat soon,

READ MORE

• The Best WHOLE HOME Gray and Greige Paint Colours
• How to Choose the Best Exterior Paint Colour – 5 STEPS

The post A Contemporary and Comfortable New Home in Nanaimo appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

A Warm and Inviting Palette for a New Home

I love working on new homes and having worked with this client in previous years, I was more than happy to assist her with the construction of her new home in the popular Linley Point area of Nanaimo.

Rich and warm, but not heavy was the feeling my client was going for, which was a TOTAL shift from the world of grays and whites that I’ve been working in lately – no trendy grays for her!

And remember, I’m a decorator – not a photographer and I do my editing with a bottle of wine by my side (and a straw) so please excuse the less than epic picture quality.

The Exterior Palette – Country Lane Red and Lenox Tan

Hardiboard Countrylane Red with warm coloured trim and gables complement the stonework, wood detail and landscaping.

The Kitchen – Cherry Cabinets and Quartz Countertops

Warm toned wood cabinets and exotic wood flooring keep the palette low contrast and soft.  She preferred black appliances to the ever-popular stainless steel, so we chose a warm palette with cherry cabinet, quartz and a mosaic tile backsplash that would help the appliances become part of the palette. (Wall colour Benjamin Moore Cable Knit)

And you might notice that I don’t overly stage my photos.  While there are exceptions, I generally like to show homes how they are lived in (minus clutter) and in homes like this, it’s more about the play of the products together, not the vase of flowers that will die in 3 days.  I mean really, do you always have a fresh loaf of bread half cut on the counter with a glass of wine sitting next to it?  Not likely, just sayin…

The Powder Room, Stairwell and Fireplace

Simple and warm toned was the goal with the fireplace.  The stacked stone and solid wood mantle complement the wood floors.

The warm toned carpet on the stairs works well with the wood detail and paint colour.

Paint colour Benjamin Moore Cable Knit

I love that she was brave enough to embrace the idea of doing the mosaic tile from countertop to ceiling – what a great way to make an impact in this small bathroom!  And it was HARD to get a photo of this room without being reflected in the mirror, so you can see me peeking out – lucky you

Paint colour Benjamin Moore Jamesboro Gold

Ensuite Bathroom – White and Brown With Rose Accents

When we went shopping, my client fell head over heels for this mosaic accent tile with mother of pearl accents.  And I’m not usually a pink girl, but I had to agree that it was a stunner!

We had quite a bit of fun in the master bathroom where she wanted a warm, but slightly more striking look.

Keeping an eye on the budget, we chose an affordable porcelain tile that looks like a brown-veined marble as well as porcelain 12×24 tiles on the floor and the mosaic version of those on the shower floor.  We could then have a bit more fun with the striking mosaic tile which has glass tiles, marble and mother of pearl!

Paint Colour Benjamin Moore Cloud White

Chat soon,

The post New Home Construction – Countrylane Red appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.