E-Design Project In The Muskokas
/I’ve been working on a very special E-Design project in the Muskokas. I thought I’d share a bit about how it works and what we’ve been up to with this main floor refresh.
The E-Design Process
Here’s a partial bullet list of how this usually works:
Initial client request - in this case it was for the laundry room, knowing the appliances were soon needing to be replaced
Zoom Discovery Call - a quick 15 or 20 minutes to hear about the project, what the client expects and what I can deliver. It’s a way to feel each other out and see if we’re a good fit for working together
Pre-Consult Questionnaire and other important documents are sent by email to be completed and returned to me
My invoice for this prepaid service - any type of my consultation services are prepaid - is sent and receiving etransfer payment confirms your booking with me for a 1 1/2 hour session. Anything beyond that time frame is billed at my hourly rate
Zoom Decor/Design Consultation where we review the questionnaire responses, discuss budget, timeline, and lay out the process so my client clearly knows what to expect.
My client walks me through her space with her phone or ipad and we discuss each room, what stays, what should go, the over all look and feel desired, pain points that need solutions and what design style we’re going for
Creating a line of communication that includes lots of text messages, emails, sharing of pictures, room and furniture dimensions, product pictures and purchasing links, phone chats, Zoom calls and the Zoom design presentation meeting
Gathering as much information as possible, we always determine the function of the space first, then find or create a jumping off point - an existing art piece or area rug for instance, and then the fun stuff follows
Lots of support and gentle persuasion happens with discussions and decisions about what stays and what gets “edited” - my polite way of saying what needs to go
Interior Design Walkthrough
I usually shoot a video during my initial consultation for two reasons. It’s exciting to look back at where things were at before we made changes, and it’s a vital tool for me to refer to throughout my design creation.
This particular video is actually one that I shot during my first site visit to this Muskoka project. For e-design, I would not usually have a site visit option. Check out the video below, and you’ll find out how I managed to get this on-site weekend visit included on this project.
Creating The Design and Concept Drawings
I use Chief Architect Home Designer for my 3D drawings. This is where the initial design ideas are formed and presented to get things started. Concept only is made clear so that we understand my drawings are not for an architect or building contractor, but just for our purpose of visualizing the space. There are lots of tweaks as things develop in the design process.
concept drawing of the new laundry room
This great visual aid is where I can put in exact area rugs, paint colours, wallpaper, fabrics, and very similar furnishings that I can make to the exact size and scale we’re considering. It’s perfect for 2D viewing of the layout to show traffic flow, seating areas, dining spaces etc. The 3D concepts bring it all to life.
Interior Design Colour Palette
Putting together the initial colour palette is always fun. With e-design it’s crucial to get client pictures of the fixed elements such as flooring and countertops so I can start by determining the undertones that will direct which neutrals and colours will be put together. This is such an important element to get right, as it influences all of the design and decor choices for the entire space.
NOTE: I was very pleased that the undertones determined from my Muskoka client’s pictures used to create the paint colours best suited for the space worked perfectly. It was one of the first things I checked when I arrived for the site visit. It confirmed so many initial choices steering the entire project.
hard surfaces and colour palette
Understanding what natural light sources and what exposure that light comes from is another must-have element of information to include with the colour choices.
As already mentioned, this is also where a favourite piece of art or that gorgeous area rug being incorporated into the new design are often used to pull colours from if they suit the space. I noticed two beautiful prints in the living room during my time there. The colours worked so well with what we had and further inspired the blue tone we added. Sometimes just a little tweak can set things right and off we go.
the artwork influenced the focal wall colour in the laundry room
The colours chosen are also influenced by the design style a client wants. Are we going full out glam or maybe a little laid back rustic? Different styles express their own unique colours. I think it’s nice to combine styles as well.
Sourcing Design Elements
This is an ongoing part of the process as products and needed elements are found on-line or by a client in their local shopping vicinity. For this our list included furniture, lighting, replacement interior doors, hardware, window treatments, rugs, artwork, wallpaper, and accessories.
I always use as many items a client already has in my designs if they work in the space. I’ve been know to “steal” a little table or chair from another part of the house and move it in to a room I’m working on. Thinking outside of the box for function of a piece is also important. A pretty chest of drawers can hold table linens in a dining space or keys, glove and hats at the entry.
Anything I feel is not appropriate is where I jump in and suggest it’s not the best for the space or the style we’re aiming for. That’s me doing my job, not passing judgement.
Sometimes we need a minute to part with sentimental pieces that just don’t look that great but hold memories. No one can take away our memories and we can use the old trick of taking a photo of it before it’s removed. Just knowing we can look at it whenever we want helps with the letting go process.
Modern Cottage Interior Style
I’m excited to share that this e-design project is being done in the very popular Modern Cottage style. This design style is blowing up in the industry and I love it for a lot of reasons, the biggest being that it blends different aesthetics to create the end result.
Putting together a traditional cottage feel, mixed with rustic touches and contemporary elements makes for a truly beautiful space. For this style we want to have cozy, comfortable furniture pieces that include ottomans, upholstered armchairs and sofas.
You all know that I’m certified in Biophillic Design so I try hard to bring some of these elements to every space I create. This is right in tune with the rustic elements of Modern Cottage design that includes stone, natural fibres, reclaimed wood and any other natural materials like woven items, and linens. And of course there will be plants!
Blend in some vintage pieces and handcrafted items with the usual palette of neutral tones that include the really popular yet timeless creams, beiges, whites and grays and we’re set for a really beautiful space.
Modern Cottage and Modern Farmhouse sound similar. Both will have rustic and vintage pieces, however, Modern Cottage is definitely leaning to a more contemporary look, with lots of contrast, neutral textures and a bigger colour palette.
IKEA Shopping Fun
As you know by now, having looked at the walkthrough video, this project is for one of my sister-in-laws. We’re having so much fun working together and getting to know each other in a deeper way. I’m loving it!
One of the things we did on day two of my time there was a trip to IKEA for some sourcing. This is my third “IKEA virgin” client experience. It’s so much fun taking people to my favourite place to shop for their first time, spending hours and hours walking the showroom floor for inspiration and finding the best deals ever. We had quite a day.
E-Design & Decor Decisions
We’re at the point where the main decisions have been made, our colour palette is confirmed, the painter is booked to start at the end of month (we had to suffer a delayed start date), and most of the furnishings have been ordered or purchased.
I’m due for another site visit as soon as the painting is completed. That will be an exciting time to see the vision come to fruition and to start putting the rooms back together.
And to think, this all started with a request to help refresh the laundry room, knowing the washer/dryer were soon giving up the ghost. The washer just quit and flooded the room a few weeks ago. We’ve got this!
