Collections of books, artifacts and artwork make a strong presence in an older home where interior decorator John LeBlanc lives in Orleans. Working in one of Ottawa’s most esteemed furniture stores, Cadieux Interiors, the decorator has cleverly turned a rudimentary suburban home into a chic setting for iconic style.
His eye for adding just the right touch to each room has created an intriguing, welcoming space that includes pieces like a Barcelona-inspired chair in the living room and Hermes blanket in the bedroom. He refers to his style as “warm modern,” a term that truly sums up the look of the home he shares with his partner Colin Peppy and John’s daughters Sophie (17) and Emma (16).
COLOUR SCHEME
John has worked with a greige scheme throughout the main floor, incorporating grey, taupe and white into each room. The neutral palette is injected with some steel blues to add depth, with a luxurious infusion of rich velvet fabrics, and the clever use of tile for an added dimension of chic styling.
John painted the kitchen cabinets in Benjamin Moore Blue Gaspe and added Bianco Carrara marble wall tile for a touch of elegance in the kitchen. He incorporated the same element in the main floor powder room with a tiled feature wall behind a Euro-inspired pedestal sink.
Upstairs, black and white play a leading role and John’s daughters went along with the scheme in their tastefully decorated bedrooms. Each room shows artistic flair, and their individual creative touches suggest that talent is innate.
SHOP LOCAL
Much of John’s furnishings and artwork are local. He finds a never-ending supply of talent in Ottawa and says, “we support local as much as possible, and Ottawa has much to offer with talented workrooms, craftsman and artists.”
The creative decorator regularly pops in to visit Champagne dit Lambert Antiques in Old Ottawa South to pick up finds – like the miniature Japanese artist’s studio that sits on the dining room table. Artistic display introduces warmth to the modern décor throughout the home and adds personality to the space. A bar cart in the corner of the dining room offers Dillon’s Small Batch Gin, which artfully calls for high-style fun that suits John’s own earnest persona, and shows a playful side with tasteful flair to match his décor style.
Mary Taggart
