This Calgary Spec Home Is an Ode to Colour

Never underestimate what a little play with colour can bring to your mood. Interior designer Suzanne Tetrault of Studio Felix does exactly that this Calgary spec home (that’s a home built under the speculation that it will be bought—in other words, there isn’t a specific homeowner to cater the design to). She believes that spec homes don’t have to be neutral to appeal to more buyers. And she seems to be right: this home was sold before it even got listed.

The focal point of the home is definitely the colourful, summer-y kitchen, which inspired the rest of the house. The ​​Roma Imperial stone that Tetrault (and builders at Icon Developments) used on the island has a blend of dark maroon, blues, creams and peaches, and those colours are reflected in other elements of the house. 

“I think people are drawn to colour—I think they want colour,” says Tetrault. She adds that the key to avoid overwhelming the narrow space is to play with different textures and patterns, but use a consistent colour palette. Putting this theory to use, the team at Studio Felix designed the dining room banquette with a peachy velvet seat and tweed tufted backing, tying it in immaculately to the kitchen. Building a banquette also helped to maximize space in the 25-feet wide lot.

To make the home seem bigger, Tetrault made sure to incorporate large, tall windows with light-coloured walls. This way, the sunshine can flow through the entirety of the house from window to window, creating a more open and inviting space.

The ensuite bathroom and powder room use a different colour as the main agent—a dark maroon. Tetrault centres the two rooms around greys, browns, whites and blacks to make the maroon stand out. “We thought, ‘Let’s just bring in a crazy pop of colour in the shower,’” the Calgary designer explains. She added peachy textured tiles in the standing shower to tie in the tones in the bathroom with the main floor.

More photos from this spec home in Calgary, captured by Joel Klassen.