BEFORE & AFTER – Downsizing to Perfect Proportions

Anne-Marie Brunet, CMKBD, CAPS

 

Downsizing to perfect proportions doesn’t have to mean downsizing your life!
A small-ish new-construction home receives the royal treatment as the client prepares to downsize into perfect petite proportions for her next chapter!

New beginnings are sometimes not always planned, as was the case for this client; however, as the saying goes (or at least partially), when a door opens, you might as well walk right in! In an unexpected change of course, this client opted to build a new home in the city.

With a dizzying array of decisions to be made, Sheridan Interiors was selected to help navigate this new construction, create a floor plan, and design a vision to make the new home comfortable, comforting, and a reflection of her personality: petite, graceful, warm, and welcoming.

Starting with a blank slate can sometimes be more challenging than doing a renovation with at least some parameters, but it’s also really exciting to create something from nothing!! 

Our client was gracious in giving us carte blanche for design creativity and furnishings, with the caveat that we find a way to include a few traditional, cherished heirloom pieces into the spaces.  And that’s exactly what we did.

So let’s dive into the BEFORE and AFTER story and how this process unfolded.

NEW CONSTRUCTION – A BARE CANVAS

Since the builder would not share the actual house plan with us, I had to measure the whole house once the framing was up to create the as-built in our software, to develop the interior design plan.

FURNITURE LAYOUT FOR SMALL SPACES

Once the shell of the house was in the software, I started by developing the furniture layout options for the small-ish living room, to maximize its function and keep in mind the pieces the client wanted to reuse.

CUSTOM FURNITURE IS A MUST FOR SMALL SPACES

As I was working through the plan, it was clear that ‘off-the-shelf’ sofas would be either too big or too small,  and either too modern or just not the right style for her aesthetic.

To achieve an elegant and chic look, I specified custom upholstery from my trade vendor and customized all aspects of each piece to fit the space.  I was able to specify the length and depth of the sofa, the sofa arm and leg style, as well as the stain colour. I then selected the appropriate type of fabrics and their coordinates, for a beautiful, cohesive, and chic look.

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FIREPLACE TYPE AND LOCATION IN SMALL SPACES

One challenge in the living room plan was the corner fireplace.  It’s not really noticeable in the photos, but it ate up a lot of floor space, limiting furniture placement options and furniture sizes, as mentioned above, but the fireplace was there to stay, and I had to work with it.  

I needed to make provisions for a TV above the fireplace, since there was no other wall the TV could go on, and I also needed to plan where to locate the media peripherals, including a chase to connect everything.

To accomplish this, I added a niche at the bottom of the fireplace wall for the peripherals and finished it with the same tile.  It’s tucked away, is not the focal point, and it works perfectly. 

The fireplace wall is dressed with a light coloured stone to keep it from overpowering the small room. 
To finish the edges properly on this angled wall, I had the installer bevel the back edge of each tile to butt into the adjacent walls, eliminating a nasty straight cut and subsequent gap at the wall.  It was definitely worth the effort.

With the main seating area starting to take shape, next up was to select and coordinate the colour palette for both the furniture and the paint colours.

CHOOSING A COLOUR PALETTE FOR A SMALL LIVING ROOM

In selecting the colour palette for the home, the client’s only stipulation was for ‘light and bright’.
As I got to know her better, I started pulling selections and concluded that this collection and combination suited her perfectly. Bright yet warm, welcoming, and chic.  (not all fabrics shown)

A combination of ivory, spa blues, coral, and green, in prints, solids, and textures, perfectly complemented the small space and my petite client.  The mix of patterns bridged and blurred the line between traditional and contemporary.

Mixing traditional and modern furniture in different wood and metal finishes worked wonders in this small space, and is what gives it style and character, as if curated over many years.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN AREA RUG FOR A SMALL ROOM

With the main upholstery pieces and most fabrics and colours confirmed, I needed to coordinate an area rug for the living room.  Now you wouldn’t think that selecting an area rug would be this difficult; however, the room size made it impossible to select a standard-size rug. 

They were either too big or too small, or the patterns were not oriented in the right direction. It had to be just long enough to extend beyond both sofas, yet not trip on it coming down the hall, and not run into the angle of the fireplace.

In the furniture plan, the dimension of the rug turned out to be almost square, but not quite – important to note for installation day! 

Once again, I turned to my trade-only vendor for a custom rug. I loved the look of this one in neutral cream/ivory/gray. It was subtle, abstract, and neutral enough (but not bland) to support the light-coloured upholstery, and I was able to have it sized and fabricated to my specifications.

The other thing to note about the rug was the nap, or direction of the fibers.  Depending on which direction the light hit, it completely changed the look and colour of the rug. It was almost like having 2 rugs in one. This was very important to note for installation day.
(You don’t want to be handling a rug more than once on installation day with the delivery guys waiting for you to make up your mind). 

PLANNING FOR LIGHTING IN A SMALL SPACE

With the furniture layout completed, including the art and accessories, I turned my attention to the lighting plan. The client did not want any large table lamps in the living room, so I had to make sure there would be adequate lighting located in the right spots, for both task and ambiance. 

I always include dimmers on all lighting so you get the most use out of one fixture – bright full light for tasks, and softer ambient lighting for entertaining and relaxing. It’s a win-win!!

New home construction is notorious for not having a high enough dollar allowance for lighting. 
I will reiterate here that you MUST invest in lighting to make your home work flawlessly.
This is a non-negotiable in our firm. You don’t want to have a beautifully curated and inspiring interior with inadequate lighting, or worse, the wrong type of lighting, which makes you and your room look bad.  You will not be happy with having skimped on lighting and you will regret it almost immediately.
You might even end up changing it out and adding on later, which will be more expensive and messy.

Below are a few photos of the finished living room.

A PLAN FOR A SMALL KITCHEN

The kitchen layout was tweaked from the builder’s original plan, and I included a lot of organizational cabinetry accessories to make this kitchen work as hard as it is pretty. 

I selected a neutral cream colour, with a slight gray undertone for the cabinetry, and complemented it with a slightly brighter quartz countertop.  I chose to use the same quartz material for the backsplash.
Using quartz for the backsplash maintains clean lines and limits distracting grout lines. Less is more in a small space.

Polished nickel hardware brings a little touch of ‘glam’ to this small kitchen.

A large walk-in pantry is tucked behind the kitchen and stores all of the extra appliances and knick-knacks that you don’t use on a daily basis. 

The microwave was also planned for the pantry, and is on a dedicated shelf, close to the entry for easy access from the kitchen. It would have been difficult to locate it in the kitchen, without losing either counter space or cabinet space, which were more important to the client.

HOW TO STYLE AN ENTRY FOYER IN A SMALL HOME

You’d think that I would start at the entrance when working up a design plan, right? Nope.
I most always start with the great room (big or small) and develop the design and aesthetic there first. That will then inform the design direction for the rest of the home.

This foyer is actually not a bad size for this small house, and I wanted to ensure that it was as functional as it was pretty. The foyer continues into a long hallway that leads to the main rooms. The garage entry also empties into this long hallway, and that long hallway needed to be addressed with the same design aesthetic. It’s not always about putting up lots of pictures.

To make the best use of the space, I designed a custom console table to fit the entry, and coordinating shaped floating shelves for the longer opposite wall. I had these custom-designed pieces fabricated by my cabinet company.  We wanted something sleek, contemporary, and functional.

I included small ottomans on casters that are easy to pull out, and these can roll over to the garage entry (in the same long hallway) if needed.

This is the opposite wall of the foyer – the long hallway wall – styled to perfection.

Now there’s a place to drop off keys and purse, and sit down to put on or take off shoes and boots.

PRIMARY SUITE DESIGN FOR A SMALL HOME

This bedroom is sooooo pretty!

I had it in my mind from the beginning of this project that the owner’s suite had to be ALL OF THAT! ….and realistically, who doesn’t want a magazine-worthy bedroom right?

The bedroom set was part of the furniture pieces the client wanted to reuse in her new home. It is very traditional and dark in style, yet the client wanted light and modern.  Following the colour palette and keeping it fresh and light, I curated all of the elements to elevate this room from regular to wow!

HOW TO USE WALLPAPER TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN A SMALL SPACE

This bedroom and ensuite design were inspired by this wallpaper. I mean, look at it! It’s encrusted with small crystals (and no, they don’t fall off!).  Although the design is a traditional shape, it feels modern and updated. 
When I saw it, I knew we had to use it for her bedroom, and that was the jumping-off point for the rest of the room. Shimmery, feminine, refined, and chic!

CUSTOM-BEDDING FOR A LUXURY BEDROOM

Bed linen and pillow fabrics were selected for their calming colour and soft textures, then custom-designed and fabricated into this luxurious bedding set. I kept the colour palette slightly monochromatic and added soft textures for touchability, making this bedroom elegant and refined.

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT TYPE OF AREA RUG FOR YOUR BEDROOM.

With the main fabric components confirmed, the next item to select was the area rug.  As soon as I saw the small sample of this rug, I knew it was the one. The softness of the fibers was silky with a little shimmer making the pattern and colours pop.

The fibres, a mixture of silk and wool, were the perfect blend.  Wool for stability and durability, and a bit of silk for some shimmer and softness.  The contemporary abstract pattern, with a mixture of the right colours and shades, ticked off all the boxes.   This rug was also custom-sized and fabricated to fit the room.

A CAUTIONARY TALE WHEN SELECTING RUGS WITH SILK OR VISCOSE

I very rarely use rugs that have any more than approximately 20% viscose in them since the viscose fibers will eventually flatten out, cannot sustain any type of humidity or water drips. They will just completely flatten out, the colouring will change, and you will never be happy with your rug purchase.

If you insist on having a rug with more than this percentage of viscose in it, they should only be used in areas with low traffic, where no small children preside, and where no food or drink is used.

 

CUSTOM DRAPERY FOR A SMALL BEDROOM

Small rooms always benefit from drapery and window coverings. They add a sense of luxury to small spaces and definitely elevate the style of any room. In this bedroom, I chose a ‘stone’ shade of greige, and added the large tape trim to the leading edge to give it presence.  The same tape trim is also used on the bolster pillow for continuity. 

I chose a brushed nickel rod with small Swarovski Crystals detail in the finials, which relate to the small crystals in the wallpaper.

CUSTOM ARTWORK FOR A PRIMARY BEDROOM

The artwork originally selected did not look like the finished product in the imagees.
The original was a different size and a different colour palette altogether, but the style and subject were perfect for this project.

Once again, I turned to my preferred trade vendor, and we reproduced the image in the correct size and the right colour palette. It was a great process and the outcome and final canvas is perfect!  

A PRIMARY ENSUITE WITH FEMININE FLAIR

In selecting finishes for the ensuite, I opted for a dark stain on the vanity so that it relates to the owner’s bedroom set and creates a complete ensemble. 

Keeping the ‘light & bright’ caveat, I paired it with a light quartz countertop and light coloured floor tiles.  The floor tiles are larger, 24” x 24”, for this small space, but create a quiet space void of too many distracting grout lines.  

A full shower was selected instead of the usual tub/shower combination, and it really makes the space look and feel larger than it is with the inclusion of the large glass door. T

This shower has it all: a rainhead, a sliderail for the hand shower, a soap niche, and a grab bar – all in modern shapes and finishes.

BEFORE & AFTER – A Tiny Bathroom gets Organized! – Sheridan Interiors

A lovely, small original art canvas, in a dark frame, completes this petite ensuite.  You can just see it above the toilet.

A delicate touch with accessories in complementary pinks and mauves gives this space subtle energy and
definite feminine flair.

 

DOWNSIZING DOESN’T MEAN DOWNSIZING YOUR LIFESTYLE!

If you’re transitioning into a smaller home or condo, let’s ensure every square foot reflects comfort, beauty, and intention.

Book a conversation with Sheridan Interiors and discover how thoughtful space planning, curated furnishings, and elevated design can make your new chapter your most luxurious yet.

I could not have gotten through this process without your help and wonderful support and guidance during a challenging time. Your thoughtful touches and kindness make me love, love, love my new little house!

Serving professional clients in Ottawa, Cornwall, and surrounding areas.

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