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Serenity Home
By : Douglas Design Studio
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Residence / Residential Space > 5,400 sq.ft. (> 500 sq.m.) : Gold Certification
Categories : Residence / Senior-Living Private Residence : Silver Certification
A refuge in a new era of home-centric living, this luxury design strikes a perfect balance between the ease of open spaces and the effortless comfort of natural palettes.
Commissioned by clients ready to enjoy the now as well as prepare for the future, the design brief specifically requested a concept suited to “aging in place”. We gladly took this request into account, prioritizing accessibility and ease of use throughout the home: Flush thresholds, wheelchair-friendly access ramps and lowered heights for switches, storage and appliances are just some examples of such design decisions that still never compromise on contemporary elegance.
Beyond such future-proofing, the concept for this modern, comfortable family home started with the clients’ desire for warmth, natural light and an uncluttered environment, controlled with ease. Inspiration came from intrinsically Canadian imagery – ripe apples in the fall, spices, earthy browns, pine needles and leafy greens, the charcoals and ambers of a campfire, all contrasted with the airy pale blue of open skies.
In the architectural palette, stone and wood therefore became just as much design elements as light itself, both from the large panoramic windows as well as intricate light installations. In furniture and accessories, materials like wool, mohair and accent silks – all naturally recyclable – add warmth and a richness in tactility. Shades of turmeric, cinnamon and saffron punctuate an otherwise understated colour scheme that perfectly suits the elegance and timelessness of the design.
Along those same lines, the project − a teardown and rebuild on an existing lot − opts for an open concept in the main floor living areas. As the original house had many subdivided rooms, too many of which felt like they were barely in use, the open concept successfully subverts expectations and ensures all available space is aesthetically and practically utilized. Its lived-in and relaxed feel encompasses both family living and fuss-free entertaining.
One dimension that especially makes this possible was mastering the challenge of acoustics in an open concept space. The two-storey family room, for example, has a full height full width window facing the garden. We added thick acoustic panels on two opposing sides to capture the reverberation, and introduced a wood ceiling for resonant warmth. Carpet, furnishing and a deeply textured stone fireplace contribute to a successful listening room. To contain the sound even better, we added a glass panel enclosing a space that was open to the central staircase. This helped to minimize echoing throughout the house.
Special Features
The dining room and adjacent living room sit right next to the open hallway off the entry. To one side of the room, dark wood panels frame white ones, hiding storage and a pocket door to the butler’s pantry in a symmetrical structure. No handles or other distractions impede the minimalist effect. The dining room table, which sits 10 and easily extends to accommodate another 4, has a pedestal base with shapes inspired by the lunar phases of the moon, directly connecting to the family heritage of observing holidays according to the lunar calendar. This is a dining room ready for constant use, but unencumbered by unnecessary, stuffy formality.
The primary bedroom on the upper floor is intentionally minimal and uncluttered in its design, while also holding space for the clients’ daily yoga routine. A generous strip of wood flooring continues through the adjacent ensuite, connecting the bedroom to the dressing room on the far side of the bathroom. Between two vanities, a foldout make-up table with built in mirror and lighting provides the perfect environment for daily beauty rituals.
In the basement level, a home theatre is situated right under the garage. Since it is surrounded by concrete on all four sides – a material which transfers noise – it required sound isolation, to prevent sound from going beyond the room, as well as insulation, to ensure a pleasurable sonic experience in the room. This was achieved by installing a ventilation system separate from that of the rest of the house, and specialist acoustic construction commonly used in commercial environments such as recording studios or radio broadcasting.
The basement also holds a guest bedroom and lounge with a built-in murphy bed that comes out as needed. The room looks out on a lightwell that functions as the walk-up to the back patio, but is also tastefully set up as a miniature Japanese Zen garden. outside this basement room with views of a garden, Japanese inspired viewing area. Sliding panels doors easily close this space for privacy or open it up to the central basement hallway for easy access and use.
The clients report that they now utilize and enjoy every corner of the house. Thanks to the layout of the space, husband and wife each have their own spaces providing privacy and quiet, especially precious during a period when leaving the house became unsafe or even impossible. Yet the entire family can also come together in the warmth of the shared spaces on the ground floor. As homes take on more functions than just as a living space – entertainment, office, exercise routines, to name just a few – we feel this interior design sets a benchmark as to what luxury design can achieve: Creating a serene refuge within generational journeys as well as in uncertain times.
