Mitchell Freedland, Robert Bailey and Denise Ashmore share their tips for creating intimate moments despite big floorplans.

It was a full house at our second WL Design Talks event on January 17 at Trail Appliances, sponsored by the Interior Designers of Canada, but that’s no surprise: our guest speakers made for an all-star roster of Vancouver interior designers, and the topic certainly intrigued. Robert Bailey, Mitchell Freedland and Denise Ashmore joined our editorial director Anicka Quin in front of a crowd of interior designers to share their insights on creating intimate moments and a sense of home, even in wide open spaces.

1. Denise Ashmore

Details like the white brick and rift-cut walnut on the fireplace, along with the moulded plywood Eames chair, contribute to a mid-century feel in the space. (Photo: Martin Tessler.)Ashmore shared her process for renovating her own home. “Space isn’t defined by square footage,” she advised. Her living room offers a variety of options for use: seating is oriented between the fireplace and a big open window so the family can take in the view or a cozy fire (or turn on the TV that’s hidden in the panelling above).

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2. Robert Bailey

vancouver penthouseBailey’s no stranger to working on big, luxurious properties—penthouses, Whistler chalets and the like—and has learned some tricks to keep even the largest scale project from feeling cavernous. One example? Creating multiple seating areas within a larger space.

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3. Mitchell Freedland

(Photo: Ed White.)Freedland also has a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to big spaces. Lighting, for example, is key he says. “Hanging lights add levels and layers to a wide open space.”

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