Designer Emma Doucet started working in the field of design after winning a House & Home magazine award in 2009 for the main bathroom of her Hintonburg-area home. The bathroom looks the same today as it did when it won, and the small space continues to serve the family of four well with its quirky, stylish aesthetic that blends in beautifully with the detailing of the home built in 1897.
Emma has gone on to win numerous awards with her company Grassroots Design. She focuses on residential projects, favouring older homes with a leaning towards kitchen and bath design. “I love trying to infuse older homes with function while maintaining the character of the home,” states Emma. Her talent for this is evident throughout her own three-storey home that oozes with character.
EYE POPPING DETAILS
While the bathroom was the award winner, it shares the spotlight with many stunning features in Emma’s home. Strong architectural details come to life against colourful walls that combine the use of both of paint and wallpaper to make bold statements throughout. Accent walls pop around corners to draw the eye to details, and colourful carpets ground the space in every room.
Each room has a style of its own, yet there is a continuous flow of pattern and colour that work harmoniously from space to space to ensure that the overall aesthetic is pleasing. Emma’s home combines her passions. “I love using a mix of all things I love,” she says and adds, “I love old furniture, I love new furniture, I love colour and I love function.”
FUNCTION
The function of her home starts with the grand feeling of space with high ceilings and an open concept layout within traditional confines. A kitchen outfitted in modern amenities speaks to the roots of an era where home-cooked meals were enjoyed around the family table. A large dining room, leading off the kitchen, answers the call. The look is casual, but also has a hint of formal to honour the period of the home, while comfort plays a leading role.
As the mother of three children Emma understands the need for incorporating fabrics for heavy usage. “I don’t want kids, friends or guests to feel like they can’t sit down and put their feet up,” offers the welcoming designer. Sofas are dressed in sturdy fabrics and wood flooring covered in heavily patterned area carpets are forgiving of spills.
Contact Emma at emma@grassrootsdesign.ca or visit the new Hintonburg showroom at 84 Sherbrooke Ave.
Emma’s tips for adding colour & pattern:
- Experiment with throw pillows. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to change and add texture and warmth to any room.
- Choose one wall that is relatively boring and experiment with a bold colour. Hang a mirror and you have instant wall art.
- Dress windows with custom linen draperies that help to transform a room into a carefully curated space.
- Bring new life to old furniture by painting it with brightly-coloured chalk paint.
- Wallpaper is like artwork for an entire wall. Find a variety of patterns in a wide range of prices online.
Mary Taggart
