It can be challenging to design and decorate a small space. There are many factors to consider, all of which will affect the final product - from the overall look and feel (you don’t want it to ever feel cramped!), to ensuring your design aesthetic and personality shines through. At Once A Tree Furniture, we want to help you bring your vision to life no matter what the size of your home is. 

Recently, we worked alongside interior designer Diane Bissonnette of Design Connection on a stunning, small space transformation for Global News anchor, Robin Gill. Diane has a true eye for design, so naturally, we asked her to share some of her best tips and tricks for achieving a livable, yet luxurious design in a small space - and she definitely didn’t disappoint. Read on for Diane’s tips for interior designing a small(er) space and check out a stunning, behind-the-scenes look inside Robin’s west coast home!

When working with a smaller space, it is important to not feel like you have to let go of all your full-sized furniture pieces. The secret is in how you select them and their color. 

“Light”-en up your dining space

Pick pieces that are ‘light’ looking, instead of heavy or clunky. In Robin’s dining room, we went with a rounded, oval dining table with skinny legs, which helps give a softer look. Similarly, the dining chairs also feature skinny legs, as do the other accent chairs and even the sofa in this space! Elevating furniture on legs helps to create a lighter overall feel in any space.

Don’t be afraid to make a statement

Don't feel afraid of making a statement, even if you are in a smaller space. In Robin’s home, we’ve done this by utilizing bold contrast with black and white, but you can also do this by incorporating more saturated colors. Keep in mind, a splash of colour is all that’s needed, so be careful not to over do it. The black accents here not only help tie in the dining and living area, but also helps to create depth.

Combine function and style wherever possible

In a small space, it’s important to look for ways to incorporate pieces that are both functional and still speak to your style and personal aesthetic. This luxury Hemrik bedside table by Huppe was a great way for us to combine both a look of contrast in the space while also giving Robin some big, bedside drawers for added storage.

Use artwork to make a statement

Don't be afraid to use oversized artwork in a small space! Just because a space is smaller, doesn’t mean you only need to select smaller art. In fact, larger pieces are a fun and original way to add a touch of personality and luxury to any room in your home. Go bold! It makes a space more interesting with stronger statements, and acts as a conversation piece. Just check out the expressive black and white painting found in Robin’s Kitchen by local artist Michael Soltis and this stunning piece from Robin’s own collection centered over our Mix It Up console table by Trica!

Less is more when it comes to accessories

When adding touches of luxury accessories to a smaller space, keep in mind you want to dress it up without filling it up too much. Less is usually more when it comes to accessories to avoid a cluttered look, and one of my favourite tricks is to incorporate contrast to bring those items to life! By adding some neutral, luxury accessories that feature just a subtle pop of colour to Robin's studded black and white dresser above, we were able to warm up the space and add points of interest without creating a cluttered look.

We hope you found these small space design tips from Diane Bissonnette of Design Connection helpful to keep in mind when bringing a smaller space to life! Whether you’re looking for more design inspiration for a small space, just one room in your home, or even a larger custom home project, we’d love to help you create a unique space to enjoy for many years to come. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help and follow us on Instagram for more design inspiration!

 Photo credit: Roger Mahler

New year, new luxury house goals! At Once A Tree, one of our favourite offerings includes collaborating with local interior designers on design projects of every size and scale. Recently, we had the chance to work alongside one of our favourite award-winning interior designers, Victoria McKenney of Enviable Designs on a stunning, custom home situated in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood of Vancouver.

Our priority is to bring your vision to life whether you are visiting our showroom for the first time or you’ve worked with us many times before. So, that means working with the best in the business. Today, we’re excited to let Victoria take you on a ‘home tour’ of this beautiful Vancouver home that features everything from bespoke furniture with stunning, unique fabrics and luxurious fixtures which enhance and highlight the architectural details throughout the home.

Read on for all the details, design tips and home inspiration from Victoria herself below! 

After working on this home for the past 2 years, I am thrilled to be taking you on a tour of this stunning custom-built Vancouver home and to share with you my thought process and inspiration for the designs. It is always so rewarding to complete a custom home from start to finish, working with the architect and client to create a beautiful space the clients are able to enjoy for years to come.

Living Room

We were greatly inspired by the architecture of the home, in particular the over-height ceilings, beautiful windows and grand scale of the rooms. Every room in the house, including the living spaces, drew upon these classical elements of proportion, scale, and of course a thoughtful selection of materials and furnishings. From the Canadian-made Delano Nesting Tables to the bespoke armchair and original artwork by Vancouver-based artists Miriam Aroeste and Gabryel Harrison, each piece in these rooms was carefully curated for this space.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom of any home, I feel,  should always be a space that lends itself to a serene and relaxing sensibility. Starting by creating some visual interest with architectural mouldings throughout the room, we then  focused on using different textures with warm, inviting colours in the soft furnishings to create a soothing aesthetic. The custom headboard, built by Once A Tree Furniture, echoes the ceiling mouldings and features a beautiful fabric and contrasting piping. Each piece in this master suite was thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless and tailored approach to reflect a luxurious sentiment.

Stylish and Functional Home Office

With the changing relevance and importance of a home office in today’s environment, we knew it was of paramount importance to create an organized and serviceable space that also honoured the home’s design aesthetic. The natural light inspired us to design a room focusing on lighter colours and to create different seating areas for reflection. We curated a collection of furniture from Once a Tree Furniture, including the Solange Desk by Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams to allow our clients to feel comfortable and constructive in this home work area.

Luxury Kitchen

I always love designing a kitchen! Clients have such specific requirements that I find the challenge of meeting these needs while creating a beautiful space so rewarding. In this home, the custom cabinetry features a creamy white paint colour and is highlighted with marble countertops and backsplash. Details are always so important in perfecting any room so we included custom door panels, stunning hardware and furniture kicks. What I love most about this room though are the oversized Gustavian pendants finished in a polished nickel and linen shade. 

Open Concept Dining Room

The dining room in this home is completely open to the formal living room and foyer so we wanted to create a colour palette and scheme that tied in seamlessly with the other furniture which is visible throughout the main floor. The bespoke dining chairs featuring two contrasting fabrics is a wonderful detail to add pattern and visual interest without overpowering the room. We designed a large custom table in a richly lustrous finish which added a more modern element to the  room while creating a strong and dramatic moment.    

Quality Home Accessories

One of the most paramount aspects of completing a home is focusing on the attention to detail. For every home we design, we curate a collection of beautiful accessories which we style and arrange throughout to create a layered and truly luxurious feeling. In this home, we did so with a blend of beautiful custom pillows, accent mirrors, original artwork  and thoughtful objet d'art as our final approach to achieve a truly elegant home.

We hope you enjoyed this ‘home tour’ through Victoria’s latest luxury design project! Whether you’re about to start on a one room renovation or a newly built custom home, we’d love to work with you to bring your vision to life. Contact us today for more information on how we help you design a unique, livable, high-end space or follow us and Victoria on social media for more design inspiration!  

Photo credit: Tracey Ayton