4 Design Lessons From Living Rooms We Love

Want to make over your living room? Take your cue from these gorgeous spaces from across Western Canada.

Mix and match design eras. 

A traditional sofa is piled with a selection of brightly patterned cushions; a cushy side chair channels industrial-cool with a pair of caster feet; an art deco fireplace mantel is layered with vintage frames; a mid-century Saarinen end table brings a modern touch. It’s an eclectic mix of styles, all anchored by a bold black-and-white chevron rug, and one that gives this new-build Calgary house a sense of history. “Incorporating elements from different eras makes it feel like it’s not just a home that’s popped up out of nowhere,” explains Calgary designer Natalie Fuglestveit.

Put the spotlight on the architecture with clean-lined furniture. 

The first step in this Vancouver loft renovation was to strip things back to bare bones to let a gorgeous brick wall and wood beams shine. “We wanted the existing architectural elements to have a chance to speak for themselves,” says designer Sophie Burke. In the open-concept living area, a wood-burning fireplace was swapped out for a modern corner gas unit. Now a cozy, grey-upholstered Bensen sofa and slouchy Coyuchi pillows make this the ideal place to curl up and get comfy.

Make it easy to hang art wherever you want.

By laying clean drywall overtop massive expanses of load-bearing plywood, designer Adam Becker eliminated the search for studs in this Vancouver condo—artwork can now be hung anywhere. “This space is the cleanest I’ve ever done. There are no baseboards anywhere. All walls float,” says Becker. And while the art in this space may be contemporary, much of the furniture is old-school, like the vintage blue leather Knole sofa and chairs, and the classic Saarinen side table.

Create privacy without losing light. 

While this home is at a relatively busy intersection, director Sean Pearson of Vancouver’s RUF Project was able to create a sense of privacy without shutting out the outside world—despite the fact that many of the (mostly glass) walls disappear altogether in the summer. A series of wooden louvres outside and that gorgeous floor-to-ceiling fireplace inside create a sense of intimacy without feeling closed in. And the fireplace pulls double duty: it also disguises a concrete column, which disappears behind the black mirrored glass at its midpoint.