TRY YOUR LUXE

Rich hues and textures set the scene for a luxurious dream home, designed by Ministry of Interiors and Brianna Hughes Interiors for a successful dentist in Calgary.

By Stacey McLachlan / Photos by Sharon Litchfield

High-Contrast

Cool Ministry of Interiors and Brianna Hughes Interiors brought in elegant, texture-rich pieces like these sumptuous Saba sofas in mink velvet, which pop against the crisp white backdrop—as does an arresting, angular light fixture from Luminaire Authentik.

EEdmonton-based interior designer Brianna Hughes knew exactly what she and her team were dealing with from the very first day she arrived at a new client’s condo for a consultation. The slippers gave it away: four designer pairs, sitting neatly by the front door.

“You could tell she loved being decadent,” laughs Hughes, warmly recalling early conversations with the successful pediatric dentist for whom she and her teams would eventually design a 2,583-square-foot home. (The project began when Hughes was with Ministry of Interiors; she added the finishing touches under her own shingle.) And with four bedrooms and five bathrooms to work with, the designers had ample opportunity to embrace that decadence.

The Calgary house is stunning and sumptuous—a home built for entertaining and delighting, with rich detail and layers galore. “She wasn’t afraid to play with colour, she loves materials, she loves to have fun and push the envelope,” says Hughes. “It’s wild, but every room balances each other.”

The green plaster finish in the powder room ties into the greenstriped tile in the guest bath. Maroons and creams and browns elsewhere complete a saturated, indulgent palette. Darker oak floors and cabinetry add to the richness, while white walls keep the space feeling open and bright.

In the living room, a marble fireplace is flanked by Saba sofas upholstered in mink velvet. The branch-like light fixture is from Luminaire Authentik. In the next room, a Bonaldo dining room table was retrofitted with bronze legs and flanked with maroon Panton chairs. Dark brown velvet upholstery on the bench nods to the oak cabinetry. “Everything is moody and dark and sexy,” says Hughes.

Even the humble powder room gets the star treatment: that same marble from the fireplace is repeated in the bathroom, complementing those forest-green walls. “Hollywood” lights illuminate the mirror. “We didn’t want it to be a super feminine house, but those lights do play into the feminine side of design,” says Hughes.

Colour on Colour

A monochrome look in the bedroom (complete with custom bedframe) creates a feeling that the space is enveloping you. The powder room (inset) is a gem of a space, finished with emeraldcoloured plaster.

Material Matters

In the kitchen, the countertop and backsplash are actually porcelain. A custom metal hood fan looks like it has a leather finish—beautiful against the Farrow and Ball Studio Green cabinetry. The island drops down to the eating area (a wood top on a reeded base). The Menu stools at the island countertop are reupholstered with House of Hackney velvet and a blue fringe.

In the ensuite, the gorgeous blush-nude hue of the concrete bathtub from Nood Co (see page 11) seems to glow against the Stone Tile porcelain slabs that line the floors and walls. The light fixtures come from Montreal’s Luminaire Authentik. Intense black veining in the tile adds drama but also serves a practical function: “We wanted a tile that would hide hair,” laughs Hughes.

In the homeowner’s bedroom, the custom blush velvet bedframe accommodates a cushy orthopedic mattress; a coat of Benjamin Moore’s Espresso on the wall creates a monochromatic effect. A tone-ontone cream room “feels like a womb,” says Hughes. A wood-clad ceiling adds even more warmth and depth.

The homeowner’s closet is something special too—no surprise for a woman with an eye for footwear. A custom marble vanity is built right in, alongside reeded cabinetry. “She has the biggest closet I’ve ever seen in my life,” laughs Hughes.

All in all, it’s a home designed to celebrate luxury—the perfect space for a homeowner with some serious style to slip on her slippers and dip into decadence in every room.