A chic couple is spreading a distinct cool factor in Old Ottawa South with their stylish home just off Main Street. Designer Leonhard Vogt has created a dramatic interior throughout the one-and-a-half-storey house that beautifully balances colour and oversized artwork within a relatively small space.
He has definitely broken some rules! But when rules are broken with this much pizzazz, one might ask why the rule even existed in the first place. So go ahead and add strong dramatic colours to small spaces and bring in the oversized art, because we have proof that it can work perfectly!
Leonhard’s personal style is “eclectic modern” and when combined with his partner’s affinity for art – Jody Surette is an art dealer with Galerie St-Laurent + Hill – their home oozes with tasteful elegance. And while the drama is optimized from the entry through to the living/dining area, the central all-white kitchen balances the overall look to breathe in a clean, fresh feeling that maintains a spacious element within the main floor.
Hints of glamour, combined with contemporary and traditional furnishings, create a transitional look that shows off the finer aspects of design and décor. Luxurious velvet sofas flank an end wall in the living room, partnered with a contemporary metal coffee table and cool white leather chairs. Another touch of glamour pops up again in the dining room with a black crystal chandelier dangling above a high-gloss modern table that allows the chairs to stand out.
The couple’s entertaining style is effortless, with simple yet artfully displayed platters laid out on the dining table. Guests are always welcomed, and the home is the perfect backdrop for relaxed holiday entertaining with plenty of food, drink and laughter.
The stairway to the second floor continues to serve as a gallery for their astounding art collection, with airy pieces like the Amy-Claire Huestis pink watercolour adding an unexpected pop of colour and whimsy. The master bedroom stirs emotion with deep-red walls and theatrical artwork that is balanced beautifully with the simplicity of the furnishings and bed linens. It’s all a testament to Leonhard’s talents as a designer who knows how and when to intrigue, and where to tone down the style.
Leonhard’s tips for working with dark colour and large artwork:
- Use a simple wall colour as a foil to allow the art to be the focus.
- Use dark framing to anchor and emphasize the art.
- If the art is monochromatic, a dark neutral or strong wall colour can be effective.
- For art that is primarily neutral with a single dominant colour, pulling that dominant colour onto the wall can further focus the piece.
- Artwork should feel like a part of the space and interact with elements around it. There is nothing wrong with a piece of furniture cutting into the corner of a painting, or with a sculpture sitting under an artwork to protrude in front.
Contact Leonhard:
Leonhard@Vogtdesign.ca
Mary Taggart
