GOLDENHIGH

LUXEL I V I N G S P E C I A L

PERCHED ABOVE THE CITY STREETS, THIS GILDED NEST IS THE EPITOME OF SOPHISTICATION, WHERE LUXURIOUS FINISHES MEET CREATURE COMFORTS IN HIGH STYLE

WORDS SHELLEY TUSTIN PHOTOGRAPHY ALEX LUKEY

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LOOK UP The dimensions of the den were quite tight; combined with the high ceilings, it made the room feel like a tunnel, says Curtis. The solution? Bringing the ceiling down with coffered panels and bold charcoal beams. “Don’t underestimate the power of using a colour – especially a dark colour – on the ceiling,” he says. “What you paint it can push the ceiling up higher or lower it, depending on what your goal is. And it’s fun!” >

OPULENT OBJETSGilt accents run throughout – in the Arteriors light over the dining table (opposite), the Jonathan Adler chandelier in the den (this page) and the detail in the Cole & Son wallpaper. “We went with an antique brass, so it’s got a patina to it,” explains homeowner and designer Curtis. “It’s very warm.”

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Dripping with gorgeous gold accents, and with stunning wallpaper and luscious fabrics on every surface, the apartment home of interior designers Trevor and Curtis of Atmosphere Interior Design in Canada is the very definition of glamour, as well as a pictorial synopsis of both their personal style and their professional portfolio. “This is definitely Trevor’s and my taste, though for our clients, we’d maybe do a more understated version of this – gold especially is one of those finishes that not everyone can feel comfortable with,” says Curtis.

Designing for themselves, as distinct from designing for a client, gave this creative couple the true freedom to play – and discovering

the development where they planned to make their home was actually called ‘Luxe’ was like a licence to run wild with sumptuous finishes! They bought into the building when it was still just in the construction stage; a blank canvas alive with possibilities. Fortunately, the layout was sound, with

spaces flowing seamlessly into each other and enough room for Trevor and Curtis to comfortably stretch their legs and entertain a crowd, so the team could immediately get stuck into overlaying the space with their own choice of materials and finishes.

One of the apartment’s big assets is its tall, 3.6-metre ceilings, which also proved to be its greatest design challenge. “As luxurious as that is, we wanted to make it feel a bit cosier,” says Trevor. The warmth created by the finishes goes a long way towards rectifying this, but the most striking, effective addition was the ceiling detail in the den and the main bedroom; the den features coffered panels with beams painted charcoal – turning the room into a cosy cavern – while the bedroom received a diamond-shaped variation.

As well as the ceilings, Trevor and Curtis used every tool in their design quiver – from wallcoverings to rugs – to create distinct and intimate spaces, incorporating two living areas, the kitchen and the dining nook. “The challenge in open spaces is to create unique areas within the larger space without it being either too much of the same or just too much happening,” says Curtis. “That’s where it’s really important that you connect the dots somehow. In this space, it was the gold and the bits of black.” It makes for a tricky balancing act, but one the designers mastered, creating rooms that are both distinctive and cohesive.

ABOVE: The warmth of gold was needed to balance the deep greys in the apartment’s ‘masculine luxe’ palette. “People love grey, but they use it too much and then spaces become quite cold,” explains Trevor, pictured left, with Curtis. “You just need the warmth of the brass, those gold highlights, to offset it.”

DESIGN FROM THE KITCHENFor an entire home renovation, Curtis advises: “Start in the kitchen – it has all the elements that you’re going to see through your house. You’ve got different materials, colour, hardware, plumbing fixtures and furniture. It sets the tone.” Here, the grey cabinetry is repeated, at different levels of gloss, in the wardrobe joinery and interior doors; and the hardware appears again, in a different finish, in the wardrobe and guest bathroom.

MARRY FORM AND FUNCTION Generous bucket seats were teamed with a custom brass base to create a bar stool you can comfortably sit on all night. “The curve of the seat, with the metal and softness of the leather and the grey, it’s a match made in heaven,” says Curtis. “It’s always great when you can have something that looks amazing but is also very functionally comfortable. Because often, those things don’t go hand in hand!” >

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MATERIALS MIX Curtis admits the kitchen design was driven by aesthetics more than functionality, but the pair still kept practicality in mind with, for example, their choice of benchtop materials. The black zebra marble is luxurious, but surprisingly forgiving. “The movement in it is quite graphic, so it hides things well,” says Curtis. The counters either side of the stove are in hardy black quartz; for similar, try Essastone in Nero Assoluto. >

FABRIC CHOICE Drapes add an element of softness and romance to the living spaces. “They can be heavy and, depending on the material, they can eat up a lot of the light, but with the sheers, though it’s a moody colour, light still filters through,” says Trevor.

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QUICK CHANGE As seen here with the stainless-steel appliances and brass taps and hardware, Curtis and Trevor aren’t afraid to mix metals, which makes it easier to switch things up in the future. “It’s a timeless saviour, meaning you just have to change a few things when a new metal becomes popular. When you’re not inundated by the same finish, it’s easy to change directions without having to go through a whole renovation,” says Trevor.

“MARBLE IS NOT THE BEST material around cooking – IT’S GOOD FROM FAR, BUT FAR FROM GOOD! Know those things

going in AND USE THE MATERIAL IN PLACES THAT ARE GOING TO work for you”~ CURTISIDEA

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BLEND PATTERNS The guest room is decorated in a confident contrast of pattern, with Kelly Wearstler ‘Crescent’ wallpaper sitting pretty next to a Pierre Frey drapery fabric (try Milgate). “It works because of the contrast,” says Curtis. “The black and white of the fabric pops against the busier wallpaper; it’s more random, while the wallpaper repeats.”

CONSIDER CONTRAST The palette in the walk-in wardrobe, as in the main suite of the apartment, has a toned-down difference. “The master bedroom has the same colours, but without the high-gloss finishes. It’s a bit more understated,” says Trevor. The gold finishes take a hiatus in favour of Designers Guild Sussex wallpaper (try Radford Furnishings), chrome hardware and a chrome version of the Jonathan Adler light in the den. >

“WITH PATTERN PLAY, YOU JUST HAVE TO be patient. THERE’S A PROCESS – YOU BRING SAMPLES HOME AND THINGS WON’T WORK, BUT YOU HAVE TO

take your time AND ACCEPT THE LONGER EVOLUTION OF THE ROOM”~ CURTIS

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PRODUCT PICKS “I wanted the space to feel quite open and airy,” says Curtis, who persisted in searching for a freestanding tub, despite the room’s petite proportions, finally settling on this one from Wetstyle in Canada. “It doesn’t look very comfortable, but even though I’m tall and it’s not that big, it’s one of the most comfortable tubs I’ve ever had. I have TV in there, obviously, so it’s perfect for relaxing.”

CONSIDER PRACTICALITY The bathroom tiles create the luxurious look of marble in a practical porcelain tile. “In previous homes we’ve had real marble and we just don’t love the impractical nature of it, but the market has come out with such amazing replicas,” says Curtis. It’s a practical choice, but also an environmentally conscious one.”

POWDER-ROOM PUNCH The guest bathroom’s striking feature tiles were created with three plain tiles, cut into triangles and arranged by Curtis. “We wanted this room to have a wallpapered look, and using tiles to create the pattern gave us that wow moment while still being practical – the pattern runs through to the shower,” he says. Artworks from Art & Frame Source are an elegant addition, softening the look of the tiles.

“WE WANTED the light and the dark IN OUR PLACE. WE

LOVE A white bathroom, AND WHITE LINEN

FOR THAT sharp contrast” ~ CURTIS

“Go dramatic WITH DOOR COLOURS; it’s more elegant. WITH ALL THESE RICH COLOURS AROUND, WHITE DOORS WOULD

LOOK A BIT UNFINISHED” ~ CURTIS

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