The Pink Chandelier

Flowers on Friday – Wine Goblet Arrangement

2010-07-09T13:54:08Z

Photo courtesy of Anne Paterson’s Flowers

Isn’t this arrangement so lovely? The idea of putting a tiny arrangement in a wine glass is so charming and elegant. This particular bouquet was designed by Anne Paterson’s Flowers, a favorite florist of mine here in Calgary. This arrangement is my flower inspiration this weekend. Hope you have a very happy one!

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Mudroom Lockers

2010-07-07T20:52:26Z

Interior Design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Most of our interior design clients have busy families. Mudrooms which are well organized and carefully planned keep all the family members’ coats and boots organized and tidy and keep Mom & Dad less stressed! One common request that we get time and time again when we are working on renovations or new home construction projects is to incorporate locker storage into the mudrooms. Lockers are ideal since little ones can easily hang their own gear and keep organized. We are currently working on several mudrooms for our clients. Here is a sampling of the floor plans for these rooms and some images showcasing different kinds of locker storage.

We are working in conjunction with Mission Homes and McDowell & Associates Architecture on this custom-built Calgary home in the neighborhood of Altadore. This mudroom features a row of four lockers and lots of shelves and drawers on either side for extra storage. There will also be a closet opposite the lockers with single and double rod hanging for overflow coats. Another great feature of this mudroom is the countertop under the window which will have extra plugs for charging cell phones.

For this Calgary renovation project in Bearspaw, we are expanding the mudroom into a space that is currently not used in the garage. There will also be four lockers in this scenario and we will be adding an extra bathroom and dog washing station in this mudroom. I’m jealous of this one!

Here are some great images of mudroom lockers…

Image courtesy of K+BB

Building the bench surface of the lockers out of wood is a brilliant idea if you want painted lockers. The wood handles wear and tear better than a painted surface and adds warmth to the room. The extra deep drawers under the bench are perfect for lots of shoes!

Image courtesy of the RemodelingCentre.com

Love the bead board backing on these lockers and the open shelf space below the bench for tall boots. Some of our clients opt for this instead of the drawer below because it is easier to clean. The arched niche at the top is a nice detail too.

Image courtesy of Southern Living Magazine

If you don’t want to see the lockers, you can always put them behind closed doors!

Image courtesy of the RemodelingCenter.com

This bench is not a locker, but I had to show it to you anyway! The antique mirror and carved wood surround makes this mudroom bench pretty enough to be in the front hall! What a lovely detail!

If all the piles of boots, shoes, backpacks and coats are getting on your nerves, locker storage may be the answer for you! Summer is a great time to get your mudroom designed and organized before school and hectic family schedules begin again in the fall.

Cheers!

Jacqueline

New Look

2010-07-05T21:08:28Z

I have some exciting news to share! The Corea Sotropa Interior Design blog will have a brand new look and name in the next few weeks! This has been in the works for quite a while and I am so excited and can hardly wait to show you! We are also revamping Corea Sotropa Interior Design’s website too. I’ll keep you posted on when the website is up and running. There will be lots of new portfolio photos and examples of our work. I hope you’ll be impressed!

In terms of the blog, all the previous posts will be transferred over and I’ll still be writing about the same sort of topics. With this new look and new launch, I want to make sure that I am writing about topics you find helpful or interesting. I am curious to know what your favorite posts are and what burning design questions you have that you would like my two cents on. Please, don’t be shy! Leave me a comment and let me know what floats your boat!

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Red and White Interiors for Canada Day

2010-07-01T13:45:49Z

Since I’m feeling patriotic today on Canada’s 143^rd birthday I thought I’d share a couple of lovely rooms using our national colors. As you can see, using a touch of red against a white backdrop adds so much character and punch to your rooms.

Photo via the blog Coco + Kelley

I love this shot of red on the bed in this all white room. Talk about fresh! The colors in the painting just pop out!

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful Magazine

Usually, I’m not a fan of a feature wall painted a different color. But this photo caught my eye, and the treatment works well here because that same brick red is repeated on the antique chair and because the wall is paneled, making it stand apart from the drywall.

Photo via Apartment Therapy. Interior design by M Design

Red curtains are bold and dramatic in this chic living room.

Interior design by Sarah Richardson

This office is sweet with the white walls, chrome accents and red chair and accessories. And, it was designed by Canada’s decorating sweetheart, Sarah Richardson.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

We selected a red and white scheme for this bedroom in a Calgary interior design project we worked on a few years ago. The adorable drapery was made from a pretty embroidered floral fabric.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Flowers on Friday – Red and White

2010-06-30T17:15:18Z

Photo courtesy of The Hostess Blog

I know it’s not Friday, but I’m having a BBQ for some friends on Canada Day and I needed some floral inspiration early! Doing a red and white arrangement will be fun and patriotic for our nation’s birthday party, but most of the time this color combo feels a bit like Christmas to me. Then I stumbled upon this unique way of combining red and white flowers in a grouping from The Hostess Blog which, by the way, looks like it’s full of great ideas to check out. This particular collection of flowers is so much more fresh and summery than putting everything together in one vase. Pure genius – problem solved! Happy Canada Day everyone! I hope all of you enjoy celebrating this incredible country we call home.

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Designer's Own Home

2010-06-29T04:30:42Z

I have been MIA lately due to my obsession of finishing my home for the Alberta Ballet Home and Garden Tour. The running around, finishing off to-do lists and fussing with details on my own personal residence has been a marathon to say the least. I finished everything just in time with a lot of help from my co-workers, fantastic suppliers and tradespeople as well as a very patient and understanding family! The tour took place this weekend and was a great success with a variety of interesting and unique properties and gardens to inspire. If you missed attending this wonderful fundraising event, here are some pictures of my own home taken by the very talented John Bilodeau for the annual magazine. I hope you enjoy them!

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Photo by John Bilodeau.

The above photos are of my living room. I recently added the coffered ceiling when I renovated last year. The Kravet coral silk I used for the drapery was the starting point for this room and I found the perfect area rug at House of Persian Rugs.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Photo by John Bilodeau.

My kitchen features honed Calacatta marble countertops and walnut cabinetry. I designed a sliding panel made from the marble to conceal spice racks that are recessed into the wall on either side of the range. It was a tricky detail to pull off and needed coordination between the cabinet maker, stone installer, drywaller, and hardware supplier as it had never been done before in Calgary!

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Photo by John Bilodeau.

I designed the huge concrete fireplace mantle and had it constructed and installed by Sculptural Design Studio. There is a messaging centre to the right of the television behind doors that conceal a bulletin board, phones and all that weird junk that seems to collect in the hub of your home!

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Photo by John Bilodeau.

The master bedroom was a favorite among the tourists! It is very colorful and dramatic, but serene at the same time. The wall paper is one of my favorite patterns called Grove Garden by Osborne & Little.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Photo by John Bilodeau.

You can tell by this first picture of my ensuite bathroom that I like to watch TV! I love watching the morning news as I am getting ready for the day.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Photo by John Bilodeau.

My son’s room got some new curtains just before the tour began and they didn’t make this shot. The walls were painted with Farrow and Ball paint and it took my extremely patient painter 40 hours to get those stripes right!

Later this week I am having a few more shots taken of my patio and deck as well as my dining room and other areas of the house that weren’t quite picture perfect when this photo shoot was completed.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Photo by John Bilodeau.

Special thanks to all the wonderful sponsors of my home on the tour. Many wonderful products were used in my Calgary renovation from Icon Stone and Tile, Banbury Lane, and Mountain Technologies. The amazing flower arrangements were provided by Anne Paterson’s and my landscaper, JVR Landscaping, did an incredible job in my yard, which I will feature in an upcoming post. Of course, the talented team that I have had the privilege to work alongside at Corea Sotropa Interior Design worked their fingers to the bone helping me to coordinate all the renovation, decoration and floor scrubbing that needed to be completed before the show. Thanks gals – you are absolute rock stars in my books!

I hope that you liked the photos of my home. Let me know what you think and please leave me a comment. If you went on the tour I would love to hear what was your favorite detail or decorating idea you saw while viewing these residences. I thought it was a wonderful tour featuring so many different styles and incredibly beautiful homes and gardens and I was thrilled to be a part of it.

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Flowers on Friday – Peonies & Viburnum

2010-06-30T22:20:02Z

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Peonies have to be one of my all time favorite flowers! The color and feathery texture of the petals are so glorious. This sweet little arrangement mixes chartreuse viburnum with gorgeous pink peonies for a fun and whimsical look. It will be my inspiration for my weekend flower arrangement but I think I’ll skip the hot gluing of the green chrysanthemums to the vase and go for a pretty container instead. For a great tip on how to get peonies to open up check out this video from Martha Stewart. Who knew?!!

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Alberta Ballet Home and Garden Tour 2010

2010-06-30T22:19:45Z

Photo courtesy of the Alberta Ballet.

Every June, a variety of spectacular Calgary homes are featured on the prestigious Alberta Ballet Home and Garden Tour. The home tour is a fantastic way for Calgarian design enthusiasts to get an inside glimpse into some of the most innovative, creative and beautiful homes in the city. If you are thinking of building or renovating a home or kitchen, this event can’t be missed. Ticket proceeds go toward funding the Alberta Ballet which is an innovative and incredible group of dancers. The tour opens to the public on Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th.

Photo courtesy of John Bilodeau Photography. Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Floral arrangement by Anne Paterson’s Flowers.

I am excited to tell you that this year, my own home will be a part of the tour! I promise to feature more photos of my home soon, but for now this photo will have to tempt you! It is a great honor to be involved and I am especially excited to open my home to the public and to support the Alberta Ballet. I must admit, I am incredibly nervous and have been very busy finishing up all the decorating and renovations. My house has been a whirlwind of activity!

Here is how the Ballet has described my home in their brochure:

“Designer’s Delight – Altadore

Definitely a show stopper, this classically elegant inner-city home designed by Corea Sotropa sparkles with a little bit of glamour.”

Talk about having a lot to live up to! All of us at Corea Sotropa Interior Design are working hard to get my house in ship shape for this tour. Tickets are available on the Alberta Ballet’s website. Please come out to this great event and support our local arts!

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Modern Furniture That Works Anywhere

2010-06-14T19:54:43Z

Many clients are afraid to incorporate modern furniture styles in their homes if they tend toward a more traditional style of decorating. However, many pieces of modern furniture are so well designed that they have a transitional appeal, meaning they can be mixed with other styles seamlessly. I have been known to mix contemporary furniture with antiques in the same room, and I like the contrast between different styles of furniture. It keeps your rooms unique and unexpected. Here are some classic furniture pieces that we will often incorporate into our Calgary interior design projects. You may have seen these pieces before in design magazines because they are favorites of many designers. Here are some ideas of how to incorporate them into your home and where to find them in Calgary.

Photo courtesy of Coco Cozy

The Saarinen Tulip table is available in several sizes and finish options, but my favorite has the round marble top. The base is simple and sleek and doesn’t compete with an ornate chair. Kit Interior Objects carries this piece of furniture.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

This is my own kitchen dining table. I paired my marble Saarinen table with chinoiserie-style black lacquer dining chairs from Maria Tomas. Since the base of this table is so simple the decorative chairs do not compete with it.

Photo courtesy of Nibs Blog

The writer of Nibs Blog did a lovely post featuring several different rooms with the Saarinen table. This room took my breath away. I like the idea of using it in a library space.

Photo courtesy of Nibs Blog

This table looks perfectly at home surrounded by these antique wood dining chairs. What a lovely dining room!

Photos courtesy of Sunset Magazine via the blog Material Girls

Here it is sporting a dark wood top. Again, it works really well with modern pieces like the chairs and traditional décor. Check out those candelabra on the fireplace!

The Phillipe Starck Ghost Chair has become an iconic piece of furniture. It is available through Kit Interior Objects in Calgary and works wonderfully as a dining chair, accent chair or desk chair. The modern take on this traditional style is a huge hit with designers because of its classic shape, clear finish and versatility.

Interior Design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

In this teenaged-girl’s bedroom, we used the Ghost Chair at our client’s homework desk. It’s fun and since it is clear, it’s not bulky in a small space.

Photo courtesy of My Lavender Fields

The chair works really well in this sophisticated study too. It disappears so that the interesting bookcases become the focal point.

Photo courtesy of Decorpad

In this dining area, the Ghost is paired with other clear acrylic chairs. I love the modern farmhouse look this designer has created.

Photo courtesy of Nori Studios

I never thought to use the chair outdoors until I saw this lovely dining area!

Photo courtesy of Herman Miller

I would be shocked if you weren’t familiar with the Eames Lounge and Ottoman. This beautiful example of craftsmanship was designed in the 50’s by Ray and Charles Eames and is arguably one of the most recognized pieces of furniture ever built. In Calgary, you can order this chair from Contemporary Office Interiors (COI).

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

In my own home, I used an Eames Lounge and Ottoman in my family room. I chose the walnut wood finish and a camel-colored leather. It sits atop a vegetable dyed traditional area rug and is a favorite place to sit with my son when we are reading a book.

Unknown Source

I haven’t seen it upholstered like this before! Usually it is covered in leather but the plaid is a fresh approach and I like its novelty.

Photo courtesy of Smart Furniture

This piece has a masculine feel, and is right at home in this study. The Eames Lounge is a terrific choice in an Arts and Crafts home because the attention to detailing suits the Craftsman aesthetic. It also would look marvelous in a more rustic home with its molded plywood frame and leather seat complimenting the architectural style.

Photo courtesy of In Design

Upholstered in white leather, this chair has a lighter, more feminine feel. It’s a perfect choice for a reading area because of its comfort. It’s also great if you have a wonderful view and want a swiveling chair. Hands down, this is the best looking swivel chair out there!

Child-sized Eames replica by Little Nest

This child-sized replica is not yet available in Canada to my knowledge, but I am hoping it will be soon! How adorable!

These iconic pieces of furniture have a timeless appeal, and are built to last if you buy an original. Of course there are stores in town like Nood, which carry less expensive knock-offs, but I am a huge aficionado of the real McCoy. They are built better and last longer. Plus, they will retain some of their value. As the above images illustrate, these pieces of furniture can work in many different styles of home. Their classic lines, interesting design, flexibility and craftsmanship make them favorites in the furniture industry. Have some fun and don’t be afraid to add some modern furniture into the mix!

Cheers!

Jacqueline

Flowers on Friday – Lilacs

2010-06-11T18:05:54Z

Photo courtesy of Fotobank

One of the greatest luxuries in life is having fresh flowers in your home. There is nothing quite like the color, texture and aroma that a lovely arrangement brings to your interior. I have decided that every Friday I am going to indulge myself and pick up a bouquet to enjoy over the weekend. Each Friday I will showcase the arrangement that will inspire my flowers on the blog. My hope is that these posts will encourage you to do the same and treat yourself once in a while to the luxury of fresh cut flowers. This week it’s luscious lilacs in shades of pink, lavender and white. I’m hoping that I can snip some blooms from an obliging neighborhood shrub!

Cheers,

Jacqueline