When we talk about having a dream client, often what we mean is a client who is decisive and open to the solutions offered by an interior designer, and who also has the budget to match their ambitions. Registered interior designer, Tracy Clipsham, recently worked with a couple who took the term “dream client” to the next level. One of the clients was a retired millwork shop owner who personally took on the role of contractor and millworker to bring Clipsham’s designs to life.
“Because of his skills, we were able to do everything in-house,” explains Clipsham. “The client completed the framing and built every custom component of the space, from the front door and crown moulding to the new exterior siding and even a custom kitchen table.”
The property, a 1,315-sq.-ft. bungalow in Niagara, had for years been used as a rental property. The retired couple were ready to downsize and transform it into a forever home that would support them in retirement. “We started with a tour of the home to see how they lived and sat down to hear about what they envisioned for the rental property’s new style. His desire was for clean lines, and her wishes were to incorporate existing furniture and add a touch of old Hollywood glamour.” Clipsham’s design incorporates her clients’ dreams, while opening the boxy floorplan and refreshing the exterior’s curb appeal.
“We gutted everything down to the studs, updated the space planning, and built a 63-sq.-ft. addition to the kitchen,” says Clipsham. “The only feature we kept was the brick chimney. I absolutely loved the vintage vibe the long-format bricks gave to the home.”
The tone is set from the get-go with the custom front door. Clipsham designed the eye-catching feature, which mixes textured glass with stacked horizontal mahogany pieces. The client built the entire door, cut each pane of glass and piece of wood by hand, and assembled it all beautifully to create a stunning entrance.
The previously cramped vestibule was eliminated, with a small bench and mirror added to the right. The walls of the living room were painted a cosy brown, while a new fireplace surround was built and can be enclosed by glass-paned double doors.
Clipsham covered the walls of the adjacent dining room with a delicate botanical-print wallpaper. Gold accents and simple Art Deco-inspired stepped moulding brought in that touch of Hollywood glam, blending the client’s existing furniture into the updated space.
Along the hallway to the kitchen is a large pantry covered in an understated olive colour with subtle gold hardware. The U-shaped kitchen has a mix of upper and lower cabinets, and two open shelves provide an airy transition to an eating nook with banquette seating. “The clients wanted a casual space to host family, in addition to the more formal dining room,” says Clipsham.
The combination of Clipsham’s expertise and her client’s skill as a millworker led to a seamless execution and made this forever home a dream come true.