Flirty pinks, aged brass and quirky animal prints combine to create a space that feels well curated but still playful for this growing family.

Three years ago, homeowner and designer Christine Dovey did something drastic. She sold just about every stick of furniture in her Oakville, Ont., home on Craigslist and started all over. “What we had was a mix of stuff from before we were married, and it just didn’t work anymore,” she explains. The purge gave Christine an opportunity to indulge her super- feminine, glamorous side, including plenty of gold, pink and animal prints, and actually helped to kick-start her very own design blog, Bijou and Boheme. As for her husband’s tastes, hits of modern – like a Mid-Century Modern sideboard and a clean-lined sofa – keep him in mind.

With two children, Scarlett, 6, and Malcolm, 4, at home (eldest daughter Natasha, 18, is away at university) and another on the way come spring, all those pretty pastels and shiny things might seem to be risky choices. But happily, the fabric selections and finishes are durable and kid-friendly, and Christine cleverly worked in spots to stash toys in every room of the house.

 

Lighting and cabinets

Meredith Heron designed Christine's kitchen. A tall pantry cabinet at one end of the kitchen is fronted by antiqued mirrored glass to hide its contents. At the other end is a matching tall china cabinet with the same glass at the back to create a dramatic backdrop for homeowner Christine Dovey’s pretty things.

Stunning vintage lighting – over the island and above the dining table – brings glamour to the kitchen. Framed wallpaper panels flank the large window, which is dressed with custom-made hand-painted silk drapery created especially for Christine by Meredith.

 

Kitchen design

Meredith (left) and Christine enjoy a chat in the revamped kitchen. While feminine and glamorous touches like marble countertops, brass hardware and antique lighting make the kitchen pretty, new stainless steel appliances – including refrigerator drawers – and plenty of storage keep things practical.

 

Dining area

In the dining area, a custom bench upholstered in faux python leather makes a great kid-friendly perch but is swanky enough to handle dinner parties, too. Christine purchased the dining chairs from West Elm, then painted them gold. The overdyed rug underfoot is “indestructible,” she says.

 

Treasured family heirlooms

Many treasured family heirlooms get everyday use in Christine’s kitchen, including this silver tray and creamer.

 

Flirty and feminine style

Christine’s flirty and feminine style is immediately on display when guests walk into the home’s foyer. Lots of pattern comes from the ostrich wallpaper, graphic upholstery on the armchair and zigzag rug. A vintage table lamp and an old mirror bring the patina of antiques to the space.

 

Living room

The long, low sideboard in the living room stores tons of stuff and is a nod to Christine’s husband’s love of Mid-Century Modern style. Likewise, the vintage Platner chair by Knoll was a lucky eBay find and is enjoyed here by the family’s beloved (late) pooch, Lola.

 

Coffee table

Christine had the coffee table base gold leafed for a more luxe look. Wall-to-wall drapery hangs from a brass rod and was given a pink flounce at the bottom for a girly glam look.

 

Coffee table books

Even a stack of fashion and design books displayed on the coffee table fits in with the decor theme of plenty of pink.

 

Antique gilded mirror

An antique gilded mirror is happily at home next to a sleek, organic-shaped vase.

 

Feminine aesthetic

Soft pink walls, accessories and artwork, as well as sidechairs reupholstered by Christine in blush-toned faux fur, give the living room a feminine aesthetic. In contrast, the sophisticated charcoal sofa with nailhead trim is a masculine touch. The display cabinet was a Craigslist find.

 

Living room mantel

Original artwork and an array of chic decor accessories adorn the mantel in the living room.

 

Great finds

A chair found on Kijiji received a special fabric treatment with a bold floral back and graphic Marimekko front, while the vintage fashion sketch shown in the mirror’s reflection is from Holt Renfrew.

 

Dramatic foyer

Black doors and brass lion’s head pulls turn standard foyer closet doors into something dramatic.

 

Bronze faucet

Open shelves in the kitchen showcase one-of-a-kind pieces, and the bronze coloured faucet speaks to Christine’s love of shiny metals.