7 minute read
BREATHING SPACE
A designer and a doctor turn their Calgary new-build into a serene abode where they can unwind and recharge.
TEXT CHRISTY WRIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHY EYMERIC WIDLING PHOTOGRAPHY “Iwanted to create a polished space that was virtually impossi to feel stress in, ” says ble designer Louis DuncanHe, who lives here with his husband, Donovan Duncan-He, a pediatric intensive care physician, and their mini goldendoodle, Archie. The couple had just purchased the 2,500-square-foot duplex, which appealed for many reasons: it was in the vibrant Marda Loop neighbourhood, it hadn ’t been lived in, and it was airy and bright. Louis was drawn to the white walls – a soothing backdrop – but wanted to soften them a bit. “I knew panelling would put a slight Parisian kiss on the space and make it more calming so it wouldn ’t read as too modern, ” he says.
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STATEMENT BAR STOOLS
Designer Louis Duncan-He loved the intricate pattern of the kitchen’s backsplash and furthered its liveliness with brass pendant lights. “With all the black hardware, black lights would have been a little too heavy and stark here, ” he says. The stools are the same style as the dining chairs but in pretty shades of blush and taupe velvet. “I wanted to tone down the masculine quality of the black leather dining chairs, so went for softer material and more feminine shades. I think the continuity in silhouette is a nice bridge between the two spaces.
DESIGN, Louis Duncan-He Designs. ELECTRICAL, Adam Electrics. CUSTOM DRAPERY (except office), Calgary Window Fashions. DRAPERY FABRIC, Maxwell Fabrics. PLANTS, Artiplanto. PENDANT LIGHTS, FLOOR LAMP, Carrington Lighting. BAR CHAIRS, Rove Concepts.
OPPOSITE Adding panelling to the dining area netted a more formal, Parisian feel, which Louis tempered with a rustic wooden table. The natural wood gives the elegant black leather chairs a more casual presence, while the globe chandelier bulbs play up its organic appeal. Louis says, “The light fixture was definitely a splurge, but I love its soft, almost pearllike finish mixed with the sleek brass. ”
CHANDELIER, Visual Comfort. TABLE, Transformer Table. CHAIRS, Rove Concepts. ARTWORK, Zoë Pawlak. RIGHT Louis (pictured here) purchased this new cabinet for its vintage-look charm. “It feels both natural and stylized, organic and chic, ” he says. The couple use it as a liquor cabinet and bar top when they entertain. The built-in cabinetry was originally open, so Louis added the doors to “clean it up” and provide storage for less pretty things – the wovenmesh doors on the bottom hide wiring and media equipment while providing ventilation for electronics. The painting here and the one in the dining room are by Vancouver-based artist Zoë Pawlak.
CABINET, CB2. ARTWORK, Zoë Pawlak. DECANTERS, Crate and Barrel. VASE, CANDLESTICKS, Labode Shoppe.
Layering in green accents reminded Duncan of growing up in British Columbia, and looked fresh on the white background. “Green brings in a quiet quality that references forests and nature, ” he says. “It also just felt serene to us and ended up working out well. ”
Another big draw for Louis was the top floor. “It was wide and open, and I knew I could transform it into a design studio that was large enough for my team, ” he says. The rest of the space required little, if any, change. In the kitchen, the island’ s original glossy black lacquered base, which Louis deemed “ a bit too luxe, ” was switched out in favour of a natural wood finish. Overall, a focus on finishes and a smart edit of furnishings made the blank-canvas rooms come alive. “I didn ’t want the design to be reliant on too many ‘things, ’” says Louis. “I paid a lot of attention to beautiful light fixtures and creating depth on the walls. Our home now has the polish that we both appreciate but, more importantly, it is very calming and restorative. ”
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BOUCLÉ SOFA
Dark-green velvet drapery (brought from the couple’s former place in Montreal) adds a bit of richness to Louis’s sunny, top-floor studio space. “Because this is a working space, I wanted to keep the furniture multi-functional. I can easily pull apart the tables in the sofa area to create three additional seats for my team or for a casual discussion with a client, ” he says. The work table can expand to seat up to 14 people, and the cabinetry contains the firm’s samples library. Hammered-gold pendant lights are a smart complement to the wood tones.
SOFA, Structube. SIDE TABLE, CF Interiors. WORK TABLE, Transformer Table. RUG, Loiloi. ARTWORK, Renwil. PENDANT LIGHT, Carrington Lighting.
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TROPICAL PLANTS
“This office was designed as a birthday present for Donovan, my husband, ” says Louis. “He didn’t want to play any part in it, so it was a nice surprise. ” Louis dubs the design direction as “transitional classic global. ” He chose rich green tones and textured wallpaper because they pair well with the leathers and walnut wood. “The space is meant to reflect his love of culture and travel, ” says Louis. “He used to do a lot of work overseas, and I wanted to reference that in his personal space. ”
Custom DESK, Louis Duncan-He Designs. CHAIR, Rove Concepts. RUG, Colin Campbell. WALLPAPER, Walls Alive; INSTALLATION, Modern Wall Design. PENDANT, Carrington Lighting. DRAPERY, Pottery Barn. PLANT, Artiplanto.
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GREEN ACCENTS
The living room’s panelling was added for more than just Parisian flair. “The column here isn’t centred and there’s a weird lack of balance, ” says Louis. “The panelling creates balance by giving the eye something beautiful to look at, while the dreamy white sheer drapery softens the space. ” A large-scale sectional anchors the airy room, while the coffee table imparts an earthy, sculptural richness. The interesting artwork is a DIY of mosses glued onto a mirror, and the rug is actually carpet tiles.
SOFA, EQ3. ARMCHAIR, SIDE TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, CF Interiors. POUFS, CB2. Custom ROUND ARTWORK, Louis Duncan-He Designs. CARPET TILES, Flor Tile.
ABOVE Louis kept the original wall tile in the powder room and decided to play up its rippled texture. “I thought this bold wallpaper had so much movement and interest along with lines that echoed the tile, ” he says, explaining that it can be a fun challenge to design around existing elements.
RIGHT The bathroom was practically move-in ready – Louis loved the slightly polished sheen of the existing tiles – but for one addition. “I added the shelves in the shower, ” he says. “As much as we want things to look great, they have to be functional, and we just aren’t neat enough to keep all of our shower accessories looking perfect on the floor!” The tiny pedestal table and fresh flowers are a pretty foil to the black hardware.
“My husband and I were completely in agreement in wanting a bedroom that was both very chic but also super easy to maintain and keep up, ” says Louis. To achieve that, he limited the furniture and used the walls to create interest. “The mural has a fluid watercolour effect, and it reminds me of the West Coast, ” he says. “I wanted to balance and create the tension that I love by adding in an oversized grey velvet headboard. And because we wanted the focus to be on the wall, instead of any artwork, I opted for two wall sconces in a really elegant silver.
BED FRAME, HEADBOARD, Vant Panels. MURAL, Murals Wallpaper. MURAL INSTALLATION, Modern Wall Design. END TABLES, CF Interiors. DRAPERY, Calgary Window Fashions. FABRIC, Maxwell Fabrics. WALL SCONCES, RH. FLORALS, Chintz & Company.
