Client Story: Amalia + George

Belcarra Home: styling and furnishing project

Amalia and George are busy medical professionals with two university-aged daughters. They moved into their Belcarra home with custom furnishings from their previous house, which no longer fit into either the space or their personal style. They also wanted to make some aesthetic changes to the kitchen, to give it more character.

Originally from South Africa, Amalia and George have a deep sense of culture, family history and nostalgia that we wanted to reflect in their current home, as well as improving the overall flow and look of the space.

Amalia and George own a beautifully curated collection of curios and art, reflecting both their upbringings in South Africa and the life they've built together in Canada.

Building on their sense of style, we created a space inspired by British Columbia, with natural finishes, oceanic colours and a sense of simplicity guiding our decisions.

This TV room coffee table was the jumping off point for the West Coast concept in the space. We added subtle elements to reflect this theme, like the custom mantlepiece and splashes of blue and green in the decor.

Amalia's mother was an accomplished artist, and it was very important to include her works in the space. These pieces are beloved by the whole family, and will be heirlooms for Amalia and George's two daughters.

In addition to the paintings in the TV room, we transformed a pair of teak and stained glass lanterns, also made by Amalia's mother, turning them into pendant lighting for the family room.

With the help of lighting designer Dan Emery, we transformed them into pendant lights for the family room, where their warm glow - and even warmer memories - can be enjoyed by all.

George is a wonderful storyteller, and I loved hearing his tales of life and culture in South Africa, the family's history, and their many adventures.

When it came time to shop for decor and finishing touches for the project, I remembered George mentioning that Amalia had once worked with Vincent Van Gogh's great-niece. It was important for me to capture the sense of connection and nostalgia that is a deep part of this family's dynamic, so I was thrilled to include a Van Gogh print on this toss cushion, as a thank you for sharing so much of themselves with me.

The previous owner of Amalia and George's home had done a beautiful kitchen renovation, but one item didn't jive: the backsplash. It was a simple white subway-style tile that didn't suit the family's aesthetic at all and made the room feel sterile. We substituted the subway with this elegant geometric mosaic, the perfect finishing touch to the feeling of the home.

It was an honour for me to facilitate this transformation for Amalia and George, to help truly turn their house into a home. The furnishings, decor and colours suit their personalities, and the simplicity in our choices allow the beloved heirloom pieces to become the focus throughout.

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