House Tours
This Modern Calgary Home Is A Soothing Sanctuary
Photography, MJAY
House Tours
This Modern Calgary Home Is A Soothing Sanctuary
A soothing palette, soft textures and a mix of design styles achieve a newly modern aesthetic in a Calgary home.
Getting carte blanche on a project is music to any designer’s ears, and that’s what principal designer Alykhan Velji was given by Dominium, the builder of this new home in Calgary. Aly and senior designer Alison Connor relished having free rein. “It really allowed us to have fun with our selections and create a space that speaks to the home’s gorgeous architectural details,” says Aly. He and Alison took inspiration from the modern architecture, then layered in different styles of art and furnishings to usher in warmth. “It’s a mix of the modern Scandinavian look with traditional elements, warm textures and patterns,” says Aly. Mixing styles for a curated look suggests that an interior has evolved over time, and it’s a signature look his firm is known for. “We call it Modern Renaissance,” says Aly, and that’s apt. As in the original Renaissance, order and beauty are prized, and harmony reigns.
Photography, MJAY
“Calgary’s Currie area is a true mixed residential community in terms of style,” says Aly. “I love that each home has character and is a little different from its neighbour, making it feel less cookie cutter. The view from the street makes this facade quite striking.” The roofline affords lofty ceilings inside and contributes to the home’s street presence.
DESIGN, Alykhan Velji Designs. BUILDER, Dominium.
At the rear of the home, a steeply pitched roof with soaring windows links the combination office/library space to the outdoors. “The angles of the glass made window coverings a bit difficult,” says principal designer Alykhan Velji. “However, we just went with it, as they are very architectural and offer so much interest in the spaces.” Faux wood cladding in a white oak finish hints at the light-tone woods found inside.
Wanderlust by Aly Velji ENTRYWAY TABLE, RUG, Urban Barn. URN, HomeSense.
“We wanted to anchor the entryway space with a sculptural table, an overscaled arrangement and a traditionally inspired rug,” says Aly, adding that the table’s curves and the big wall sconces with their Midcentury Modern feel soften the more severe lines of the open-riser staircase and glass railings. The rug brings in colour, texture and pattern. Says Aly, “It’s a gorgeous soft greeting when people enter.”
Family room
FURNITURE, RUG, Urban Barn. FIREPLACE SURROUND, Dekton in Soke, Cosentino. ACCESSORIES, HomeSense. PILLOWS, Tonic Living. BOOKS, Indigo.
The design and layout of the great room, which is just off the kitchen, makes the space welcoming for small and large gatherings. A surround fashioned from stone-grey Dekton and black ash vertical cladding grounds the two-sided fireplace and makes it a focal point.
FURNITURE, Urban Barn. ACCESSORIES, HomeSense. PILLOWS, Tonic Living. DRAPERY DESIGN, Alykhan Velji Designs. DRAPERY FABRIC, Maxwell Fabrics. FAUX TREE, IKEA.
“The great room was designed to be a space for casual family get-togethers, entertaining friends and lazy Sundays spent on the sofa.”
Velvet, bouclé and linen add warmth, as does the natural colour palette. “Gorgeous leathers, deep greens, creams and different wood tones all work together to create a warm, cohesive space that invites guests in,” says Aly. Eclectic furnishings – like the sleek bouclé chair and tribal-influenced coffee table – give that evolved look the designers were after, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling sheers filters light.
Airy kitchen
COUNTERTOP, Silestone in Concrete Pulse, Cosentino.
The kitchen, with its sleek flat-panel white cabinetry, encapsulates the modern aesthetic of the house. A subtly patterned light grey counter warms the white and brings in subtle texture.
STOOLS, RUNNER, Urban Barn. PENDANTS, Lumens. ACCESSORIES, HomeSense; Indigo.
An expansive 12-foot island allows room for the most ambitious chef to shine, with ample space for a crowd of admirers, so comfy seats were a must. “We wanted stools that made a statement and we love the design detail on the back of these,” says Aly. “The soft, almost bouclé-like fabric mixed with the light wood is a perfect combination.” The Scandi feel comes through in the island’s white oak cladding and the modern black pendant lights.
COUNTERTOP, Dekton in Liquid Shell, Cosentino. TILE, Julian Tile. FIXTURES, Kohler.
The designers avoided adding millwork in the main-floor powder room for a pared-back look in the small space. Tiles were installed on the back wall so they’d reflect in the mirror, adding pattern and texture. “We opted against wallpaper – which is a big shock, as we almost always wallpaper powder rooms – but the tile was the perfect hit,” says Aly. A clear pendant keeps the look clean and serene.
“The pendant lights are simple, give a nod to the Scandi aesthetic, and the black adds a subtle contrast to the space.”
Sleek dining room
ACCESSORIES, Urban Barn; HomeSense. PRINTS, Etsy. FRAMES, Amazon; HomeSense.
In the dining room, custom millwork wraps around a corner, helping to eke out storage from every square inch. “The floating shelves were added in for a great styling moment,” says Aly. Small framed artworks layer in personality; foliage from plants and branches add texture; and ceramics bring in earthy organic shapes.
Senior designer Alison Connor and Aly Velji lean against a built-in storage cabinet of white oak that acts like a piece of furniture in the dining room. Its white slab top and sides contrast the wood but disappear into the wall behind. A low horizontal window above the cabinet inspired the designers to add a floating shelf above it, which helps to visually balance elements. A mix of vintage accessories and modern art and ceramics gives that curated feel.
FURNITURE, TABLECLOTH, FRAMES, abstract PRINT (opposite page, bottom right), HomeSense. PENDANT, Crate and Barrel. DRAPERY DESIGN, Alykhan Velji Designs. DRAPERY FABRIC, Maxwell Fabrics. DISHES, Urban Barn. PRINTS, Juniper.
“We opted for a more industrial-style pendant in the dining room for something a little different,” says Aly. “We loved the patina on the metal, and the brass tone in its interior creates a gorgeous glow.” The chairs have a more refined feel but aren’t fussy. Rounded backs and splayed wood legs appealed to Aly and worked with the home’s palette. A tablecloth softens the mood and adds contrast. “I wanted to style the table in a casual way and the striped linen was so perfect,” says Aly. “I love adding in something unexpected, like using a tablecloth in a modern space.”
Serene bedroom
“The primary retreat has an almost ethereal feel thanks to the monochromatic colour scheme, which helps make it a calm and soothing sanctuary.”
“The angled windows are such a great architectural detail and you have to use them to your advantage,” says Aly. Linen ripple-fold drapes diffuse light and preserve the airy feel. The black rod picks up on the room’s pièce de résistance: a sculptural light fixture that energizes the mostly neutral space. The long custom headboard brings a cozy but uncluttered feel, and simple white sconces free up space on the night tables.
Vertigo Small Suspension LIGHT FIXTURE, LightForm. CHAIR, CONSOLE TABLE, Urban Barn. PILLOWS, Tonic Living. BED LINENS, House of Jude. DRAPERY DESIGN, Alykhan Velji Designs. DRAPERY FABRIC, Maxwell Fabrics. PRINTS (above chair), Juniper; Etsy. ARTWORK (above console table), TABLE LAMP, HomeSense. FLOORING, Wildwood Antique Oak in Istanbul, Metro Hardwood Floors. PLASTER TREATMENT, Luxury Wall Designs. FIG TREE, Silk Plant Warehouse.
In the primary suite, easing into the day is an indulgent experience thanks to millwork that added a coffee station, prep sink, under-counter fridge and vanity stations to a wide hallway that connects the ensuite and sleeping area.
Aly loves the “perfectly curated moment” created by mixing in the traditional console, rattan lamp, modern art and moody landscape.
Muted patterns
FURNITURE, Urban Barn. MURAL, Rebel Walls. Custom DRAPERY DESIGN, Alykhan Velji Designs. PILLOWS, Tonic Living. BED LINENS, House of Jude.
“Mixing patterns is key to how we design our spaces,” says Aly, pointing out the patterned drapes that are side by side with a stunning black-and-white mural in a secondary bedroom. “The light blue plaid print on the drapery is a beautiful yet unexpected combination.” The cream channel-tufted headboard brings in yet another texture.
COUNTERTOP, Dekton in Bergen, Cosentino. LIGHTING, Kohler.
In the primary ensuite, soothing, neutral colours create warmth. A slab mirror opens up the room; sconces installed on the mirror double the light at night.
“The feeling we wanted to evoke in this space was one of serenity and calm.”
FIXTURES, TUB, Kohler. RUG, ACCESSORIES, Simons. SIDE TABLE, Urban Barn. TOWELS, House of Jude. ARTWORK, HomeSense; Etsy. BAR CART, IKEA.
The curb-less shower in the primary ensuite is sleek and modern and amplifies the expansive feeling established by the architecture. Black fixtures contrast the white tile, which has a slightly variegated pattern for interest. “Choosing an eclectic mix of artwork for the wall above the tub brings some of that Modern Renaissance feeling to the space,” says Aly.
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