Atmosphere Randoms

The Mystery Revealed

From "Half of What I Say Is Meaningless"

by Tina B.

Whenever something new graces my doorstep (or my closet), said object instantly becomes my new favourite piece, forsaking all others. History again repeated itself on Friday upon receipt of a lovely new chaise for the master bedroom. Remember the gold upholstery options I was mulling over, here is the final choice. A vintage gold velvet by Kravat, the darkest of the samples, yet with more variation depending upon the light. The chaise with its high sides is finished with gold nailhead trim in two parallel columns, right over the arms to the other side, and along the base. I am smitten. 

Read on...via tinabarriscale.typepad.com

 Tina's "Atmosphere" Chaise

Call It What You Will (The Powder Room)

Dear Design Enthusiasts,

We encourage you to visit the fabulous blog (Half of What I Say is Meaningless) written by our fabulous friend and client, Tina B.  She has three young children, a possible design addiction and a way with words that is completely captivating.   

We will continue to re-post snippets and links to some of Tina's pieces, but we know you'll be going back for more all on your own, you won't be able to resist.  

Enjoy!

The Atmosphere Team

Call It What You Will (The Powder Room)

When we first moved into the house, I would hold my breath when I heard the click of the powder room door. I had warned the children that they would be better served by one of the other three bathrooms (translation, don’t wreck the most glamorous space in the house with your sticky fingers). Alas, they seem to be drawn to this room like a magnet, and my irrational stance has mellowed over time. I think the dramatic pattern of the wallpaper serves to mask all the inadvertent splashes, marks and spills.

via tinabarriscale.typepad.com

 

TINA'S HOUSE...a Client Diary Continued

Since moving into our home seven months ago, I’ve realized that building a house is only half the battle. The process of furnishing and decorating is possibly an even more daunting and time consuming task. Thus, project Tina’s House continues (likely in perpetuity) and again I plan to chronicle the process. I’ve recently resumed writing in my own blog Half of What I Say Is Meaningless, and there I will document both the decorating process along with other inspirations and goings-on in my life. Trevor and Curtis will be cross posting the some of the decorating and design entries here on Atmosphere Randoms, particularly those with aspects in which they are involved (I seem to have endless requests and questions for them). I appreciate all the enthusiasm people have expressed for Tina’s House and I look forward to continuing the process. 

Not A Nursery

Three children later, and still I lament the fact that I never had the opportunity to decorate a nursery. Space, funds, and finally circumstance dictated that my babies made do with a serviceable change table/dresser combo from IKEA and a dropside crib from Walmart. Three children survived the perils of said crib, which was promptly converted to a toddler bed when the legions of recalls emerged. And they thrived, despite the sparse surroundings, because they were loved. Also, the fact that babies can barely focus eight inches and then can only render an image in black and white, probably helped too.  Read more...

 

TINA'S HOUSE...a Client Diary Continued

Kitchen Confidential

One might imagine that Tina’s House was complete, that we had moved in ages ago and were living a blissful existence in our new home. In fact, my complete failure to update the blog would lead one to a similar conclusion. Unfortunately, one would be wrong. The long drawn out saga of home building continues, yet the end, dare I say it, is virtually in sight. I will not bore you with the litany of delays and obstacles we faced, and for the most part overcame. As we now address the final touches, I will only express my amazement at the near finished product. The house we envisioned, and angsted about is indeed stunning.

 

henrybuilt Kitchen 

I met with Atmosphere at the house this morning finalize some details, and for the first time I stood in my new kitchen with all the cabinetry revealed. Directly following the installation many months ago, the cabinets were securely covered with cardboard to prevent damage and inconsistent light exposure. From the beginning, the cabinetry has served as the design cornerstone of the entire project. The cabinet fronts are quarter-sawn walnut veneer with the grain running in a horizontal orientation. Years ago, I stumbled across an American cabinet/furniture maker henrybuilt building cabinets that matched my design aesthetic. With Trevor and Curtis, I shared this inspiration and my obsession with walnut, and they masterfully designed a custom kitchen beyond any of my expectations. Redl Kitchens phenomenally translated Atmosphere’s vision into an actual kitchen. I cannot wait to begin cooking in there.

The cabinetry runs from the floor to the nine foot ceiling, creating an unfathomable amount of storage space. And there seems to be a veritable surprise in every drawer or cupboard, from the recycling centre, to the mixer lift, to the feat of engineering that is the magic corner. Functional and beautiful. In a hallway behind the kitchen and opening into the dining room, you will find a large floor to ceiling pantry and a butler’s pantry with a small bar, wine fridge, and plenty of room for glassware. Misty Carrera Ceasarstone countertops and an amazing black tile backsplash add to the drama throughout the kitchen.

 

Wolf 48" Dual Fuel Range

I love to cook and I am passionate about food. I am most excited to cook upon my new Wolf Duel Fuel Range.  I’m certain that I bored my husband senseless with the details about it, until he consented. It will provide a stunning focal point for the kitchen. Flanking the stove and rangehood are some stainless steel and glass cabinets that add to the slightly industrial feel we wanted to create in the space. Additional stainless elements include the island counter (yet to be installed), a stainless apron front sink, and these Phillipe Stark for Flos pendants (three) above the island. 

Phillipe Start for Flos Pendant Light 

Also, the gigantic Liebherr integrated refrigerator which I am sure will serve as a canvas for a million sticky fingerprints over the years.  The chrome faucets for the main sink and island sink, the Lady Chef and Baby Chef respectively, add another industrial touch.

     

  

Emco Hudson Stools

I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of three Emco Hudson Stools for the island counter. I’m imaging my children each perched upon their own stool debriefing me after school, scarfing down an afternoon snack. The kitchen is the first place I envisioned when I began to visualize our house several years ago. And now it is the space I imagine when I see the future story of our family unfolding. A place to gather, talk, celebrate, entertain, share, and how could I forget, to eat. I believe the kitchen is the true heart of the home.

*Visit our Twitter Page for some photos

take from the jobsite earlier in the week (below)

Tina's House...con't

Atmosphere Update

Tina's house continues construction at a snail's pace - like many custom projects do! We are anticipating some hectic and exciting coming months as the final details come together. In the last month we have seen the exterior take shape with stucco, natural stone and cedar shakes - hoping now for major action on the interior.

We started with the kitchen design, and as it is in most projects, the crucial piece to the overall design puzzle. The kitchen cabinets have been installed, awaiting some countertops, sinks and a backsplash. As seen from our twitter page, we are happy with how the kitchen is looking, almost identical to our concept sketch completed over a year ago.

 

All the tiles and light fixtures are ready to be installed, and we cannot wait to see the next stage in this transformation. We always prioritize lighting and backsplashes in kitchens, as we understand how they can take a kitchen to another level - this kitchen has huge WOW factor in the light fixtures & modern backsplash.

 
Soon the hardwood and tile work will begin and we will see if our months of trying to estimate at which rate the wood floors oxidize vs the rate of the cabinets pays off. Never in our experience have we had to take such a gamble on what the end result will be - but not all rewards come without punishment.

The basement has had its share of delays after a very desirable fireplace had to be scratched due to yet more annoying factory limitations. After some great searching from the supplier, a replacement was found that keeps the designers and home owners happy!

We are in love with the wallpapers going into the house, and are now beginning to layer paint colours, fabrics and furniture to create uniquely separate spaces under one roof. As anxious as we are to have this project completed, we see ourselves wondering what life be like without Tina's House.

Tina's House...con't

PAINT IT BLACK

House building, I reckon is not for the faint of heart.  Seems to be fraught with all sorts of situations, surprises, and obstacles to overcome.  And I haven’t even had a hand in the actual building process, which is probably for the best as I wouldn’t classify myself as the “get your hands dirty” type.  Even trudging through the dust seems to inflame my allergies, but I digress.  Thus I direct from afar, with brief input from my husband and extensive input from Trevor and Curtis.  Through it all though, I have learned that not all surprises are bad, most problems can be resolved, and that the budget is more often than not, quixotic.

 

One day this summer I was in the throes of some sort of dreadful flu, yet I still managed to hobble to my computer to check my email (note, definitely need a Blackberry).  There was an email from Atmosphere discussing the painting schedule for my black doors.  “Black doors?”, the only black doors I could fathom were exterior portion of the garden doors which have always been clad in black.  Perhaps I was delusional from the flu, so I quickly phoned and posed the question to Curtis.  Apparently at some point during the process we had discussed the painting of all interior doors in a glossy black.  “All of them, every door, are you sure?”  Obviously it did not register at the time, lost among the multitude of discussions and decisions involved in a build.  At that point I wondered how many elements I had agreed to unbeknownst to me, how many surprises await upon our eventual move? 

 

What gives me incredible peace of mind is that all the decisions are carefully documented and organized in the burgeoning files (I cringe to think that we might be up to three now) in Atmosphere’s office downtown.  They have a firm grasp on both the fine details and the big picture, eliminating my need for constant worry and panic.

 

I am now firmly in love with the idea of my black doors (still yet to be painted), which are three panel, shaker style. I think they will lend a sense of sophistication to the space and a juxtaposition to the white trim and wide baseboards.  And I can only imagine how lovely they will look when adorned with their chrome hardware, these amazing Baldwin levers.

 

Tina's House...a client diary con't

A Mid-Century Modern Obsession

   

One minute, thirty seconds ago comes a familiar tattle-taley voice from the basement, “Elizabeth is standing on the lights!”. I race downstairs knowing all too well the sight that awaits me. A devious toddler perched precariously upon a mountain of boxes (an ill devised storage plan for all our new lighting). As she had not the time to completely scale the pile, the only thing that was in imminent peril was my Foscarini Caboche light, eventually destined for the master bedroom. Hopefully it was securely packaged, those crystals look kind of delicate, unlike my daughter.

 

This perfectly summarizes the story of my summer thus far, and in part explains the delinquency of my blog/diary updates. Three children to contend with while school is not in session, house issues coming to a head now that finishing is finally underway. The drywall is up and painting is slated to begin. The entire process has left me slightly unnerved. Will the vision be realized?

 

Close, perhaps in a slightly evolved form, certainly for the better. From the beginning, Atmosphere convinced me to trust my instincts. I was concerned that a modern interior would not suit the suburban locale, nor my chaotic household, and piles of clutter. Nonetheless we forged ahead with a concept that is distinctly contemporary in feel. Not sure exactly how I would label it, perhaps Modern Eclectic, maybe Trevor or Curtis will chime in.

 

I know that my entire design aesthetic stems from my obsession with Mid-Century Modern furniture. I can trace the root of this somewhat pricey addiction to a moment in my youth. At nine years old, on vacation in Vancouver to visit old family friends of my father, it was there that I encountered it. A dining room set looking vaguely like something that dropped directly out of a space pod. The oval top in gleaming white melamine, the seat cushions on the chairs in a bright orange boucle. Little did I know then that it was indeed a vintage Knoll, Eero Saarinen Tulip table, but I was struck at that very moment. Few objects in life have ever captivated me like that table.

 

Fast forward nearly thirty years, I have a collection of mid-century modern furniture (though not nearly as extensive as I would like). Take a peek at this fabulous video by Herman Miller, particularly if you suffer from the same affliction. I look forward to adding pieces over time, next up hopefully being the Arne Jacobsen swan chair in white leather.  I know the house, particularly the furnishing will be forever a work in progress, as we continually add pieces we love to the mix.

Tina's Powder Room

Tina's House... Atmosphere Entry

Maybe the most exciting and custom room of the entire house...yes a bathroom! Bathrooms seem to be one of the most talked about rooms of home these days, and we wanted the powder room to be special.

We designed the vanity to be like nothing we have ever done before. A piece of furniture with a gorgeous square marble sink, supported by a curved chrome base. The walnut wood detail carries along the sides up to the ceiling with our wall sconces mounted through the wood. The white sconces with dark grey shades by Jonathan Adler will add a warm and intimate glow. Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis wallpaper will cover the walls and most likely be the star of this room.

 

What was selected first in this room? We really don't know, it just seemed that everything was meant to be together.

TINA'S HOUSE...Atmosphere Entry

THE FIREPLACE

We love designing fireplaces! So many options and ways to incorporate design elements into such a focal point of a room. We love using different tiles and patterns to create something unique and one of a kind.

 

We have selected this sleek and modern gas fireplace to set off the design and to maintain the modern lines we are carrying through the entire house.

Last fall on a tile exploration trip to Alberta we fell in love with this natural stone, and knew it would be perfect for Tina's main floor fireplace. The graphic bamboo cut bianco carrara stone will compliment the long horizontal lines of the gas fireplace. We are installing the tile by but jointing them to eliminate any grout lines - the tile installers will not like us, but the look is worth every added effort

With the fireplace and stone selected, we needed to come up with a design that incorporated the space on either side of the fireplace build-out. Enevitable built-in cabinets were decided, but we wanted them to be simple & clean to compliment the kitchen but not be distracting to the fireplace. We framed the floating walnut cabinets with a drywall detail and added 2" shelves with chrome accent lights for display.

 It's simple, modern and timeless.

  

TINA'S HOUSE...a client diary con't

There Is A Place, Where I Can Go

Perhaps I’ve read one too many issues of Metropolitan Home magazine  completely skewing my concept of a dream home.  I lust over modern architectural marvels, ultra contemporary minimalist spaces, or over the top Hollywood Regency interiors (quite the juxtaposition).  These are my dream homes, jutting out from remote cliffs, overlooking oceans or ensconced within the forest, and that is where they shall stay, serving merely as visual inspiration.  What I long to create is an entirely different creature, a home for our family, practical, functional, yet beautiful.  Far better than a dream, because it is real.

A place to watch three little people grow into big people.  A backdrop for their happy childhood memories.  A home where our friends and family can feel comfortable to kick off their shoes and find a comfortable chair.  A place where a little clutter is embraced (hopefully dispersing it over a larger area is the key).  A house that will survive the introduction of a dog in a couple of years to scratch up the hardwood floors (sorry Curtis and Trevor!).  A place to gather, to celebrate, to learn, to grow.  To live.  I’m so very excited!

 

As I (we, actually) envisioned the space from the beginning, there were a few non-negotiables, and a few decisions made solely on the basis of my quirky nature.  We worked within the parameters of the neighbourhood, the lot size, our budget and the needs of our little family of five, to create our place to call home.  We wanted a building lot backing onto a park. The idea of glancing out the window to watch the boys playing soccer, or a quick hop skip and jump to take Elizabeth over to the playground.  I had to have French doors (of which I’ve managed to wrangle three sets) off the family room, extending into the eating area.  Don’t know exactly how I became so enamoured with this concept, again probably my magazine addiction.  A large kitchen that will do justice to my passion for cooking and baking.  The lengths I went to in order to accommodate an extra foot here, another couple inches there has to be considered nothing short of legendary.  I promise that a future blog entry will outline every last aspect of the kitchen in glorious detail.

 

Then there is my obsession with the mudroom.  In my current space, I’m so exhausted by the combination of muddy boots intermingling with piles of laundry (to say nothing of the laundry itself).  The future laundry room has been shuttled to the 2nd floor, out of sight.  The mudroom, though not quite an expansive as I would have hoped, will be replete with lockers, hooks, and hopefully some system that will organize shoes (which somehow seem to multiply).  And in diametric opposition to everything one seems to hear and read, I wanted to create a space that was not entirely open concept.  I stipulated my need for a formal living room and dining room.  And to my great relief no one will be able to peruse the pile of dirty dishes in my sink as they walk through the front door.  The house is open and airy, yet there are clearly defined spaces (meaning - I will be able to occasionally escape the barrage of noise produced by my children).

 

Somehow Curtis and Trevor intuitively “get it”, for lack of a better term.  They listen and then masterfully channel my ideas into a functional and beautiful design.  They talk me down and provide solutions when we run into the inevitable problems and glitches (which also seem to be multiplying).  They have been integral to the process thus far.

It’s finally beginning to feel real.