Poised between urbane and welcomingly intimate, a living room defined by millwork marries form and function.

“This is our homage to a New York brownstone,” says Calgary designer Suzanne Tetrault. “The home is classic yet welcoming, understated yet unique, with pops of contrast and texture that elevate the design to create a warm and inviting inner-city home.” The mix of bold pattern in the striped chairs with soft neutrals and luxe materials speaks of quiet confidence, but there’s nothing demure about the showstopping fireplace. Its strong floor-to-ceiling ribbed millwork centres the room and creates intimacy and sophistication all at once, while the blue built-ins bring functionality to the stylish lounge-like setting.

DESIGN, Suzanne Tetrault, Studio Felix.

 

Photography, Rebecca Frick

 

Gather Round

Ribbed millwork and a distinctive round facade make the fireplace a focal point. “Though in many homes the fireplace and TV are designed into the same wall, we wanted the fireplace to be a stand-alone feature that anchored the room and accented a more intimate seating area,” says designer Suzanne Tetrault.

 

Photography, Rebecca Frick

 

Built-In Style

The blue media wall has it all. Low drawers with recessed pulls provide storage and are topped by a quartz ledge for a record player and vinyl collection. “Above, narrow bookshelves and an open shelf give an opportunity to display books and treasures while leaving the centre open for a large piece of artwork,” says Suzanne. In this case, it’s not art, but a Frame TV that can display art, letting the room do double duty as a space for entertaining or relaxing and streaming a show.

“The mix of neutrals with a bold hit of pattern and subtle touch of colour adds a layer of depth and visual interest, and keeps the space from feeling too stuffy and formal.”