House Tours
This Toronto Condo Is All About Bold Colour And Patterns
Photography, Donna Griffith. DESIGN, custom MEDIA UNIT, custom SOFA AND CHAIR, Cynthia Ferguson Designs. MEDIA UNIT PAINT, Fabulous Grape SW 6293, Sherwin-Williams. SOFA FABRIC, Designers Gallery. PILLOW AND CHAIR FABRIC, Primavera Interior Furnishings. OTTOMAN, Theo. SIDE TABLE, RH. FLOOR LAMP, Elte.
House Tours
This Toronto Condo Is All About Bold Colour And Patterns
Saturated colours and wild patterns defy the stereotype of what a senior’s condo should look like.
This condo overlooking Toronto’s High Park has a hot pink foyer and a kitchen the colour of Cookie Monster. Even the bright yellow stove is memorable. But the digs don’t belong to a trendspotting influencer; rather, a woman in her mid-80s lives here. “She is a firecracker,” says designer Cynthia Ferguson, who was enlisted to decorate the 1,650-square-foot space. Her adventurous client, bored by beige, wanted to load up on colour and pattern. “It was also important to incorporate her art collection, which is unbelievable,” says Cynthia. “Every single piece, save for two Alex Colvilles, is by a female artist.” One example in the foyer is the lifesize lady by Dutch artist Carla Kranendonk: the striking piece is a harbinger of the confident interior beyond.
“It’s rare for people to have original art – there are a lot of bare walls out there. But artwork brings such character to a space.”
CHANDELIER, COFFEE TABLE, 1st Dibs. WALLPAPER, Phillip Jeffries.
“Because of the heritage of the art, we didn’t want everything else in the room to feel new,” says designer Cynthia Ferguson, speaking of the living area, where her client frequently hosts a book club (hence, the multiple seating areas). Retro pieces – from the funky travertine limestone coffee table to the chandelier that looks lifted from a circa ’70s disco – mesh beautifully with the vintage artwork and the homeowner’s antique rugs. Wheat-toned grasscloth, meanwhile, lends warmth and depth to the room.
Custom CHAISE, CHAIR, OTTOMAN, Cynthia Ferguson Designs. ACCENT PILLOW (on chaise), Peter Fasano.
A soapstone sculpture on a Lucite stand fills a formerly bland void in the living room. The piece is an effective foil to the plaid chaise and lavender chair. “The room’s layout is flexible,” says Cynthia. “She can move the couch, if needed, but when she’s by herself, she often reads on the chaise longue.”
CHAIRS, Cynthia Ferguson Designs. CHANDELIER, 1st Dibs. WALLPAPER (main), Phillip Jeffries; (niche), Voutsa.
Combining furnishings from different eras and using plucky prints gives the dining area verve. The vignette includes an intricate hand-painted Scottish chest that’s a family heirloom, plus wild printed chairs and a Tulip table. “The chair fabric was the first one selected for the condo,” says Cynthia. “My client set the tone for the entire apartment from here. She’s extremely in love with the pattern.”
WALLPAPER, Milton & King. VANITY PAINT, Wisteria SW 6822, Sherwin- Williams. LIGHT, Visual Comfort. FAUCET, The Rubinet Faucet Company. COUNTER, Crystal Fabrication & Contracting. MIRROR, Renwil.
“We wrapped the bathroom in a wallpaper that looks like a watercolour painting,” says Cynthia of the exuberant guest loo. For cohesion, the vanity’s lavender hue picks up on the pretty petals in the wallpaper while the peacock blue door links to the condo’s kitchen cabinetry.
“Colour is the conduit to creating happy interiors. Rooms are supposed to bring joy to people’s lives, not just be functional.”
Bertazzoni RANGE, Best Brand Appliance. CABINET PAINT, Blue Danube 2062-30, Benjamin Moore. CABINET KNOBS AND PULLS, MYOH. COUNTERS AND BACKSPLASH, Crystal Fabrication & Contracting. Perrin & Rowe FAUCET, Roman Bath Centre.
Cynthia’s client doesn’t cook but insisted on a showpiece stove. “She wanted this funky, amazing kitchen and, in particular, a yellow Bertazzoni oven,” says Cynthia. The colour is a classic pairing against the blast of blue, while the python quartzite backsplash and walnut hood vent bring even more whimsy to the party. The inspiration for the room is pure New York City, says Cynthia, explaining that the condo’s layout is typical of traditional NYC apartments. For flow and interest, she installed picture lights and more artwork by creating a gallery wall, so the homeowner always has an inspiring view.
“When using colour, consider the vantage point. Everything has to be fun and fascinating to look at, no matter where you are in the room.”
Custom BED, Cynthia Ferguson Designs. WALLPAPER, Phillip Jeffries.
Cloaked in rich blue grasscloth, the primary bedroom is sophisticated. The bed and drapes feature floral-patterned crewelwork that has a brightening effect against the dark walls. “She was apprehensive about going dark on the walls but it turned out so well,” says Cynthia. A red faux bamboo nightstand, a baby blue Portuguese ceramic lamp and a riveting portrait are quirky bedside complements.
“I love to use a bold hero fabric in a bedroom and repeat it throughout the space. It has such impact.”
WALLPAPER, Theo. BEDDING, Serena & Lily. NIGHTSTAND, Land & Ross. ACCENT PILLOW FABRIC, Y&Co.
“I have been dying to use this wallpaper – it’s so different and fun,” says Cynthia. “It looks like triangles doodled on a wall.” Naturally, the designer’s client embraced the idiosyncratic geometric print for her guest bedroom. Twin headboards double up on pattern. “For fun, we put tiny oil paintings that are so cute above each bed,” says Cynthia.
“The guest room is casual, with a beautiful old nova scotia pine end table and rattan lamp, but interesting at the same time.”
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