How to decorate an open space with elegant accents

Go big

Sometimes you have to go big. That was the homeowner’s feeling when she called upon designer René Desjardins to open up her 1929 house in Outremont, Que. Instead of small dark rooms throughout the home, she craved open space and a sunlit kitchen. They knocked down interior walls and replaced the brick wall at the back of the house with an expanse of doors and windows. Light floors, walls and cabinetry and stunning moldings complete the look of this now breezy family home.

Hang a fancy light above the island

The understated kitchen gets a feminine boost from a delicate chandelier. Paired with recessed halogen lights, it creates an intimate ambience in the pale kitchen.

Get the look: Similar chandelier, Chatelethome.com. Stools, Cabdeco.ca. Appliances, Signaturebachand.com. Custom windows, Pella.com. Cutting board, Lestouilleurs.com. Accessories, Arthurquentin.com.

Try two tables instead of one

Consider matching ottomans instead of a coffee table, and everyone gets a footrest. Plus they double as extra seating when the family gathers in the open concept kitchen and family room. Built-in shelving surrounding the TV provides ample storage and allows the chef to watch television while preparing meals.

Get the look: Silver vases, Moutardedecor.com. Television and surround sound system, Kebecson.com. Chairs and ottomans, Latitudenord.com. Custom built-ins, Rdesjardins.com.

Swap your living and dining rooms

In the new, open-concept design, the formal living room is replaced by an elegant dining room. By the mantel, new moldings and a bevelled mirror are designed to look as if they are part of the home’s original details.

Get the look: Similar chandelier, Chatelethome.com. Table, chairs, Triede.com. Accessories on table, Arthurquentin.com. Custom mantel design, Rdesjardins.com. Mantel design, Rdesjardins.com. Wall colour throughout, White down, Benjaminmoore.com. Trim colour throughout, Cloud white, Benjaminmoore.com.

Rethink dated details

Instead of replacing the wrought-iron banister, the homeowner decided to play up its decorative charm. The femininity of its scroll work is echoed in the graceful arches that now separate the hall and the dining room. A simple metal bench adds an unexpected modern touch.

Layer drapes over Roman shades

Radiators can make floor-length curtains difficult to open and close. The solution is to place a fitted blind (like this woven one) in the window and use it to control the light. The drapes then flank the window and add an elegant touch to the room. Plus the golden tones of a simple cherry bed warm up this white, modern bedroom.

Get the look: Similar blinds, Hunterdouglas.com. Similar drapes, Invudraperyco.com. Side table, Ikea.ca. Wall-mounted lamp by Flos, Gabrielross.com. Custom bed and dresser designed by Rdesjardins.com. Wall colour, Old prairie, Benjaminmoore.com.

Turn a tiny bedroom into a luxurious dressing room

What was once a small child’s room is now a spacious walk-in closet. Bonus: The vanity camouflages the awkward radiator and a shallow column of shelves creates a place to keep makeup and jewellery organized.

Get the look: Chandelier, Grange.fr. Ghost chair, Gabrielross.com. Similar rug, Ikea.ca.

Tile everything

Floor-to-ceiling white subway tiles cover every wall in the new, larger bathroom. A chunky white marble counter floats above the floor and across the bath, creating a place for toiletries. Multiple mirrors double the light in the room and hide storage.

Get the look: Bath and fixtures, Batimat.net. Similar subway tiles, Saltillo-tiles.com.