From the new floors that were installed more than a year ago to the gallery wall that took hours of planning (and a few years of curation), it's a relief to finally have one of the most-used rooms in our home complete: The family room.
Shortly after we moved in, the first thing we realized was that we needed a bigger and more comfortable sofa. A sofa is a huge investment piece, and I didn't want to get it wrong.
Obsessed with the Mario Bellini Camaleonda sofa, made popular by the design-forward Athena Calderone of Eye Swoon, I stumbled upon Eternity Modern, a Vancouverbased furniture retailer which sells custom replicas (including the Camaleonda) of some of the most wellknown designs on the market – from Finn Juhl's curvy Pelican Chair to Norman Cherner's sculptural counter stool – at a fraction of the price you'd pay for an authentic piece.
Initially, I had my eyes set on the Camaleonda, but after measuring (and measuring again), I realized the piece was going to overwhelm our space. Luckily for me, they had a gorgeous replica of Restoration Hardware's Cloud Sofa, called the EM Sky Sofa. I immediately ordered a handful of free swatches (you pay $5 shipping) to see what the fabrics looked like in person. I loved the warmth of the Textured Linen Weave in Flax, so we measured again, this time for the Sky Sofa and it fit perfectly.
In the end, what sold me on Eternity Modern was the quality. The sofa frame is made of pure wood (no MDF here), the cushion covers are removable, and all of their materials are flame retardant-free and non-toxic (aka kid friendly). The company also offers a guarantee on all of its products, which gave me peace of mind. We ordered four pieces to create a sectional: Two ends, a middle and an ottoman. Because everything is made to order, it takes anywhere from eight to 12 weeks to be delivered, so keep that in mind before tossing your old sofa.
When the couch finally arrived, it was like Christmas morning. Now our family of three has more than enough space to sit together, watch TV or hang out, and it's deep enough to curl up your legs. We complemented the couch with a media storage unit from EQ3, updated our old light fixture with a modern chandelier and replaced our blinds with roman shades.
From a design-perspective, the detail we didn't plan at first, but absolutely love, is the addition of the applied moulding, which we've installed throughout the living and family area. With our almost 10-ft. ceilings, the blank wall behind the couch created a void in the room. My sister-in-law (the Interior Designer who's been helping me from the start) suggested the moulding, and I was instantly sold. She helped me select what style of moulding and designed the layout for us. One adjustment we had to make that added an unexpected cost, was hiring an electrician to move five electrical outlets that were in line with the moulding.
After painting the room in three coats of a muted pink called Whitewater Bay by Benjamin Moore, my husband and I painted the moulding (two coats of primer and one coat of paint) before it went on the wall. Using a laser level, and measuring a few times, we worked together to put the moulding up. Once it was secured, we used caulking to fill in the gaps between the wall and the moulding (the joys of old, wavy walls), then we applied wood filler over the nails, which needed to be lightly sanded, and finished with two more coats of paint.
The final touch to the room, which was the most fun to plan, but also the most time-consuming to research, was the gallery wall. We used almost all of the same prints from the gallery wall in our condo, but needed half a dozen more. From prints on Etsy to vintage finds from Montana Labelle (and one photo by yours truly), I picked pieces we loved, mixing photography with abstract, making sure to have a variety of textures and injecting just a touch of colour.
The room took time and effort but my family and I are so happy with the final results.
SOURCES: Benjamin Moore | benjaminmoore.com | Barrie Molding & Trim | barrietrim.com | | EM Sky Sofa, Eternity Modern | eternitymodern.com | Tambour 62" Credenza in Ash, EQ3 | eq3.com | Select Blinds | selectblindscanada.ca | Staggered Glass 6-Light Chandelier, West Elm | westelm.ca | Wayfair | wayfair.ca | | Montana Labelle | montanalabelle.com | Etsy | etsy.com | The Poster Club | theposterclub.com | Desenio | desenio.com | Conde Nast | condenaststore.com |
A writer and editor for more than a decade, Stephanie Gray has covered everything from luxury travel to modern parenting challenges. Her work has been featured in publications including Glamour, Elle Canada and Best Health. She recently bought a century-old home north of Toronto, in need of updates, which she's taking on with her husband (and toddler in tow).