Last week, we heard from one of Toronto’s most celebrated interior designers, Sacha Nizami. We asked her about condo design and decorating; specifically her take on how to use design techniques and tricks to make a condo space more spacious. She shared some great design ideas with us. Her most important take away points to increasing the space in a condo; take the time to space plan and use multifunctional furniture pieces. In today’s post, I am sharing some of her home décor tips that will make your condo feel more spacious.
While it is of the utmost importance that the furniture chosen for a condo multi-functions well so as to make good use of every square inch of a condo space, Nizami points out that, “Furniture should not only be functional. It should suit the style and aesthetic of the homeowner as well.” Nizami shares that you can expertly plan a condo space, choose incredibly useful multifunctional furniture, but if the homeowner does not feel a connection to the style of the décor in the space, then there is no point to the entire process. Nizami states, “It is of the utmost importance that the style of the homeowner is expressed in the process of designing and decorating a home.” Nizami suggests keeping in mind some of her space saving suggestions from last week’s post, but ultimately, choosing furniture, window treatments, flooring, paint colors, artwork and design accents that you love.
Nizami shares that using furniture and décor pieces that are light and airy will greatly benefit a condo space and make it feel larger. She suggests looking for chairs made of clear plastic, vases made from glass or crystal and tables and other décor items made from materials like clear Lucite. “The use of see-through furniture items and accent pieces creates an open feeling which makes any condo, no matter the square footage, feel larger.” Nizami notes. To this end, Nizami shares that she is one half of a design studio called SachaGRACE which creates unique one-of-a-kind furniture and home accessories from pure Lucite that have objects such as gold and silver flake, raw copper specimens and industrial metal coils suspended and imbedded within them. I took a look at the website of SachaGRACE to see what she was talking about. Their products are not just functional pieces of furniture but, one of a kind, works of art and I am not surprised they have garnered international recognition. Most importantly for condo dwellers, they are incredibly airy and light in look and feel.
Photo From SachaGrace site
Nizami also notes that one should not shy away from personalized, dramatic design choices when decorating a condo space. She suggests that one can use personalized choices to draw attention to grand areas in a space and that this actually makes a space feel larger. For instance, “Condos often have high ceilings so wall treatments are an important way to create visual impact and express your personal sense of style. Floor to ceiling drapery in your favorite color will create a sense of larger than life luxury, as well as give you a sense of personal coziness.” Nizami offers. She goes on to suggest other high impact design choices for a condo space such as, “An entire wall of art or photography which can give a gallery-like feel to a condo or a large, over-scaled light fixture in a condo with high ceilings which can give the space big personality.”
Your condo space can be maximized to its most spacious size using space planning and multifunctional furniture. However, you can make your condo feel spacious to yourself and visitors by choosing furniture that is light and airy (see-through is best) and drawing attention to areas in your condo that are high impact, such as big windows, a nice long wall or high ceilings. It is by illuminating the grandiose aspects of your space that the entire space will be made to feel bigger. In these areas you can add all of the personal touches you want such as your favorite colors, preferred style of chandelier, special photos, and most loved pieces of art. By following these design tips and tricks your condo will not only function and feel larger, but it will be the personalized haven you long for and deserve.
Lara Brighton is a journalist and real estate aficionado living in Toronto.
