Decorating Guides
Interview: Lessons From a Decor Mentor
Lisa Ferguson Teaches By Example On a Tour of Two Toronto Homes
When Toronto-based interior designer Lisa Ferguson designs a room, you can be sure each piece is selected with careful thought to both beauty and function. During her 23-plus years of designing interior spaces, she's gained a deep knowledge of her craft and cultivated the heart of a teacher. This year Ferguson created Decor Mentor, collaborative, educational online community for interior design pros and consumers. Here's an up-close and personal study of two Toronto homes full of this decor mentor's lessons in the details of design.
EW: What a lovely surprise to the homeowers that you could create not just one, but two distinct conversation areas in this room.
LF: The armless slipper chairs kept the scale of the chairs in balance with the rest of the furnishings. Upholstered in Barbara Barry's Herringbone fabric from Kravet, they have a subtle pattern and texture that makes way for the antique gold nailhead design. Because the chairs are identical, I wanted to have different decorative cushions for a more collected look. It all works well together.
LF: The armless slipper chairs kept the scale of the chairs in balance with the rest of the furnishings. Upholstered in Barbara Barry's Herringbone fabric from Kravet, they have a subtle pattern and texture that makes way for the antique gold nailhead design. Because the chairs are identical, I wanted to have different decorative cushions for a more collected look. It all works well together.
EW: This slim space beside the front door contains all the main ingredients for a function and beautiful entry. Help us dissect the anatomy of this entryway.
LF: The glass etching on the front door was a design inspired by one of Windsor Smith's rugs and was created for the perfect balance of privacy and light-filtering. Cut from "sandblasted" vinyl, the shadows reflect on the wall when light shines through create a stunning foyer focal point. I chose to place a mirror here to provide a beautiful reflection of the stairs. The mirror is a treasured heirloom of the client's and adds sparkle to the vignette.
Tabletop accessories are minimal, while the drawers and cupboard space offer a smart storage solution for non-decorative items.
LF: The glass etching on the front door was a design inspired by one of Windsor Smith's rugs and was created for the perfect balance of privacy and light-filtering. Cut from "sandblasted" vinyl, the shadows reflect on the wall when light shines through create a stunning foyer focal point. I chose to place a mirror here to provide a beautiful reflection of the stairs. The mirror is a treasured heirloom of the client's and adds sparkle to the vignette.
Tabletop accessories are minimal, while the drawers and cupboard space offer a smart storage solution for non-decorative items.
EW: You inserted a writing desk in a small nook adjacent to the entry. The scale and blend of colors is perfect and less obtrusive than I expected. Most people would have built a window seat.
LF: I purposely chose tall silk drapery panels in a color that blends with the wall color. The fabric itself brings incredible texture. A roman blind adds yet another layer to the window. When it is drawn, there is perfect combination of privacy and light. The desk boasts varied textures, objects, and a kick of color and whimsy.
LF: I purposely chose tall silk drapery panels in a color that blends with the wall color. The fabric itself brings incredible texture. A roman blind adds yet another layer to the window. When it is drawn, there is perfect combination of privacy and light. The desk boasts varied textures, objects, and a kick of color and whimsy.
EW: Mixed seating is all the rage these days, but this dining room is anything but trendy.
LF: The colour palette is probably the most trendy element of the room, next to the seating mix. I find the modern palette of lavender linen on the chairs and the deep marine velvet on the banquette quite irresistible. This seating combination accommodates dinner for nine with the help of the custom solid walnut table. Its pedestal legs allows for maximum seating and more legroom. The Murano glass chandelier has to be the icing on the cake. What epitomizes luxury more than sculptural glass and gold?
LF: The colour palette is probably the most trendy element of the room, next to the seating mix. I find the modern palette of lavender linen on the chairs and the deep marine velvet on the banquette quite irresistible. This seating combination accommodates dinner for nine with the help of the custom solid walnut table. Its pedestal legs allows for maximum seating and more legroom. The Murano glass chandelier has to be the icing on the cake. What epitomizes luxury more than sculptural glass and gold?
A plush chenille sectional adorned in nailhead trim provides an invitation for relaxation and long conversation. The toss pillows display another layer of texture while simultaneously borrowing colors from the hanging artwork. The chosen area rug creates a neutral backdrop that allows for other colors to take center stage. It's subtle pattern does contribute to the space with circle movements which contrasts with the square lines of furniture.
Drapery with banded silk exhibits a stunning combination of colors and gives the drapery an artistic quality. The wood chest alongside the drapery adds warmth to the ethereal color scheme. The modest vignette consisting of just a silver leaf vase and the black and white photograph gives the eye relief from the impact of the drapery.
EW: This entry has an effortless style, but I know you gave it careful thought. I also love the marriage of modern and traditional.
LF: The wainscotting and trim make for a grand entrance, while the border in the floor tile gives a strong graphic visual element that architecturally expands the space. Building upon that, the custom bench marries modern with traditional for interest. The velvet flocked fabric is a piece of art in itself — note the pattern matching. The legs of bench allow the stunning floor to show and makes room for guest to leave their shoes.
The silver leaf mirror's shape, period and style offers a gorgeous contrast to rectilinear lines of the bench. Last, a glass drop chandelier adds glam to this small space and casts beautiful shadows on the ceiling and walls. The final result is a foyer that is luxurious, yet unpretentious.
LF: The wainscotting and trim make for a grand entrance, while the border in the floor tile gives a strong graphic visual element that architecturally expands the space. Building upon that, the custom bench marries modern with traditional for interest. The velvet flocked fabric is a piece of art in itself — note the pattern matching. The legs of bench allow the stunning floor to show and makes room for guest to leave their shoes.
The silver leaf mirror's shape, period and style offers a gorgeous contrast to rectilinear lines of the bench. Last, a glass drop chandelier adds glam to this small space and casts beautiful shadows on the ceiling and walls. The final result is a foyer that is luxurious, yet unpretentious.
Opposite the mirror and bench, a streamlined armoire replaces the traditional coat closet.
EW: This monochromatic bath is visually delightful due to its modern aesthetic, but it also has a country cabin feel. My curiosity is getting the best of me — is that tile or wood?
LF: The feature wall is horizontally tiled in a wood-looking tile and uninterrupted with frameless glass shower door. We varied the size of all tiles for visual interest using 1x1 mosaic sheets on the shower floor to allow for the slope needed for draining, but the material is same as that of the main floor to create flow and make space appear larger. The glass door handle doubles as a towel bar so it is easily accessible, and it meant we didn't have to break up our feature wall with a towel bar and towel.
The custom vanity cabinet, made to look more like furniture, has legs and sides of stained ash. The artwork picks up the cabinet color and its height draws the eye up. The art adds texture to a smooth wall and was specifically chosen and customized because of clients love of cottage c
LF: The feature wall is horizontally tiled in a wood-looking tile and uninterrupted with frameless glass shower door. We varied the size of all tiles for visual interest using 1x1 mosaic sheets on the shower floor to allow for the slope needed for draining, but the material is same as that of the main floor to create flow and make space appear larger. The glass door handle doubles as a towel bar so it is easily accessible, and it meant we didn't have to break up our feature wall with a towel bar and towel.
The custom vanity cabinet, made to look more like furniture, has legs and sides of stained ash. The artwork picks up the cabinet color and its height draws the eye up. The art adds texture to a smooth wall and was specifically chosen and customized because of clients love of cottage c
Lisa Ferguson: The custom loveseat was designed with a very shallow depth in order to get maximum seating in a room for entertaining. Two square ottomans, opposed to just one, allows for great flexibility and were designed with a tight tufted top for easy placement of drinks on trays.