6 Pretty Purple Spaces We Love

Purple isn’t always the first colour homeowners reach for, but these six rooms from the WL archives make a compelling case for it. With rich aubergines, soft lavenders and moody plums, these rooms have us seeing the colour in a whole new light.

Bigger Is Better

Beloved for his bold style, Paul Lavoie was not the obvious choice for homeowners Emi Adachi and Scott Matson (who work in insurance and the energy industry, respectively). But the designer ended up bringing out the best of their personal tastes in this Calgary residence.

He was, says Adachi, “so willing to listen and understand what we wanted in the most beautiful ways.” For instance, when Adachi chose a modest-sized coffee table, Lavoie convinced her to go with a five-by-five foot lavender ottoman—one that perfectly complements the purple accent chairs and drapes. Step inside this historic-yet-contemporary home.

Bar Star

We didn’t think a room could be any more purple than the living room described above, but Paul Lavoie outdid himself in this Alice In Wonderland-inspired home. The lounge area features a purple bar, a purple area rug and plenty of purple seating. Check out the rest of this dazzlingly colourful family home.

Pillow Talk

Shades of lilac, lavender and eggplant repeat throughout this 8,200-square-foot home’s mostly neutral rooms—part of a strategy to impart a feeling of formal luxury and to soften crisp lines. “Because the house is quite masculine, we tried to add some femininity,” says designer Robert Bailey. Tour this modern West Vancouver abode.

With Aplum

Edmonton-based architect Josh Kjenner had originally picked a sage green as the accent colour for this lakefront cabin, but owners Elaine and Mike Ringrose gravitated toward this deep purple instead.

“[They] had recently painted their daughter’s bedroom in a lighter shade of that burgundy colour,” explains Kjenner. “They had one of those Benjamin Moore [swatches] that has all the shade variations,” and the team ultimately landed on a plum shade three “notches” down on that same paint chip. See more of this bold, carefully crafted Moonlight Bay home.

Royal Seat

You don’t have to paint an entire wall in order to make an impact with colour. Take this Aly Velji-designed dining room, for example. While the art, light fixture and built-in sideboard add warmth and texture, the dark purple chairs ground the large, airy space. Explore this open-concept Calgary home.

Gateway Rug

This hand-knotted Jan Kath rug, with its purplish blue base and floral pattern, informed the living room’s lively and elegant palette—and the rest of the home, too. “We always begin with rug shopping,” says designer Reena Sotropa. “You learn a lot about people based on the rugs they’re attracted to.” Read more about this sophisticated Calgary home.