Something I loved about my university program was the projects we were given in studio classes. Essentially, you are given a fictional design client where you have to space plan, source materials and furnishings, and design a home or space for your client. Our instructors would give us incredibly in-depth client packages, which forced us to be creative and think outside the box, while paying close attention to our client’s needs.

I took great care in going over every material, piece of furniture and decor, and making sure the space fit to our clients specification. I enjoyed the entire process, and it was so satisfying to have your concept come together at the end of the semester. These courses led me to start my “passion projects”; basically coming up with fictional clients for myself to design their space and keep the skills I learned at school fresh in my mind. Plus, everybody knows how much fun it is to sit on Pinterest for hours, pinning and organizing your boards.

One of the passion projects I have on the go is one I call Rouge Residence. My theme for this project is, unsurprisingly, centered around the colour red, particularly a deep, rich shade. It’s funny because I’ve never really liked the colour red. I always thought of it as too bold and too bright, however over the past year or so, it’s grown on me.

What really piqued my interest in red was attending Casa Decor in Madrid this past spring. This event was four floors and over forty spaces designed and constructed by some of Spain and Italy’s finest and most talented designers and architects. One space in particular really took my breath away. The outdoor living area designed by Raquel Chamorro was glamorous, fresh and inviting. In her design, she used the most amazing wine-red dining table, with fresh floral arrangements and grand candles to compliment.

I also started to gravitate towards the glamorous, eccentric look of old Hollywood, saving countless inspiration images in the style of Art Deco. I’m drawn to the luxurious materials, sparkling chandeliers and the rich jewel-tones that make this design movement so marvelous. This was my inspiration for Rouge Residence.

For this project, I want to focus on designing with great attention to detail, adding opulence and glitz where I can without overwhelming the space. I want the design to feel fresh, and like there’s some new detail wherever you turn, but still inviting and accessible. For the mood board, I focused on my star colour; a deep, rich maroon. I have bits of emerald green to give a lush feel, and was sure to show some light pink and sparkles to give a Hollywood, feminine vibe.

Another element I’ve added quite a bit of in this project is black. I think it compliments red well, and adds definition and structure when used in small doses. And of course, you can’t go wrong with black and white. As I’ve just gotten into this theme, there is plenty more exploring needed, however I know I will lean more towards solid, natural pieces of marble and stone, as well as plush materials like velvet.

These passion projects are a great way to continue honing my design skills, documenting my process and having fun. I think making each project its own little part on my blog is going to be a great addition to my site. I plan to have a different post for each stage of the projects, so stay tuned!

Rouge Residence - Concept Exploration

New Space

What Am I Doing