I’m in the midst of planning a gorgeous tablescape for Dining by Design, a great event hosted by Replacements that will be held at the upcoming High Point Market. I’m sifting through thousands of inspiration photos and ideas, but I know that there are 5 things my table setting will definitely have! Let’s take a look!!

Modern Geometrics

Bright, colourful patterns that combine fluid and geometric designs are fashion-forward in tabletop right now! I am SO inspired by designer and potter Jill Rosenwald from Boston - her pattern play is like no other!! And look at those colours! She definitely speaks my language.

Layering Old and New

It’s all in the mix when it comes to table settings today. Replacements is the perfect partner for this trend-forward look because they offer an incredible selection of new and vintage pieces - 11 million to be precise!!

Textural Designs

Texture is nothing new on a table, but usually it’s found in the linens and flatware. Textural plates are a fresh look for tables today, adding a lot of interest and dimension.

Dressed-Up Casual

Overly formal looks are a thing of the past - today it’s all about a relaxed look that’s still a bit dressy! I love a mix-and-match approach that gives you that laid-back look, while still setting a proper place at the table!

Fresh Flowers

I cannot even imagine a table without fresh flowers and greenery!! It can be a central bouquet, a collection of tiny vases that each hold one bud, or a centerpiece of vines and branches - but definitely be sure to set your table with blooms and stems!

I can’t wait to show you more of my inspiration for the table I’m designing at High Point Market - stay tuned!!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

tabletop, colour, things I loveCheminne Taylor-SmithMarch 15, 2019interior design, trends, ideas, tips, decor, decorating, home, house, design, rooms, space, living, color, pattern, Toronto, interior designer, canada, colour, tabletop, tables, tablescapes, table setting, setting the table, plates, bowls, cloth, fabric, inspirationComment

In the Pink

I don’t know if it’s the fact that Valentine’s Day is around the corner, or if I’m just having a bit of spring fever, but I’m definitely feeling “in the pink!” The colour has always been a favourite of mine, but lately it’s really inspiring me.

My most recent obsession with pink was fired up during last fall’s High Point Market - it’s the Fashion Week for home furnishings. All shades of pink were found on furniture, accessories, and walls! I love the almost mauve-looking rose colour in the photo above from Highland House!

And the deep pink in the sofa and ottoman above were swoon-worthy! They look fabulous with the floral wallpaper and paler pink pillows in the Pearson showroom.

I had already settled on pink for my space at Rooms with a View in Connecticut before High Point Market, but I knew I’d made the right decision when I saw it all put together with this gorgeous fabric from Kravet and the sweet plates from Replacements!

The colour inspiration continued with gorgeous pinks turning up in my beach finds from my recent island vacation!

Choosing pink obviously isn’t a new thing for me - I’ve always loved the colour, as you can see in one of my kitchen projects above! Pink represents optimism and caring, and maybe that’s what I’ve been feeling over the last few months.

So here’s to feeling “in the pink” for 2019! And if you’d like to keep up with my latest inspirations, be sure to follow me on Instagram here!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

colour, interior design, things I loveCheminne Taylor-SmithJanuary 18, 2019interior design, trends, ideas, tips, decor, decorating, home, house, design, rooms, space, living, color, pattern, Toronto, interior designer, canada, colour, pink, rose, colors, mauve, hot pink, hues, in the pink, inspiration, obsessionComment

Design Inspiration: Water Colours

The holidays are such an incredible time to recharge and relax - especially if you can get away! One of my favourite destinations is a series of remote islands in the Caribbean. The calm, the gorgeous views - it’s the best place to spend the holidays! And who wouldn’t be inspired by these gorgeous sky and water colours?

The gorgeous blues and greens find their way into so many of the rooms I design! I’m not the only one who loves this palette - the colors are soothing and calming, perfect for a gorgeous interiors! They bring a little bit of your vacation home, even in the dark winter months!

Rolling waves are incredibly soothing on these isolated beaches. You can see why I keep returning with my family for every holiday!

I created that feeling of movement and water with a pattern of tiles in the backsplash of this kitchen I designed!

Even this gorgeous seating area in the middle of nowhere can be recreated in a formal dining room with the right colours and patterns.

I used breezy drapery in a cool turquoise colour to provide that idea of calm and serenity in this Toronto dining room. It’s like a tiny moment of the islands in the middle of a snowy, busy city!

I love bringing these inspirational moments and colours home with me - where do YOU find your inspiration?!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

colour, things I love, travelCheminne Taylor-SmithJanuary 4, 2019interior design, trends, ideas, tips, decor, decorating, home, house, design, rooms, space, living, color, pattern, Toronto, interior designer, canada, colour, beach, water, inspiration, island, oceanComment

Design Inspiration: The Art World

To stay creative and at the top of my game, I love to find inspiration in colour, shape, pattern, and textures. And the one place that fills up my creative tank fastest is an art gallery or museum! I’m fascinated by paintings, sculptures, drawings - every part of the art world inspires me!

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There is something incredible about art - the conversation it initiates, the emotion it generates, the memories it calls up....and then there is the discussion about the artist. What were they thinking and feeling when they first took brush to canvas. What were they trying to communicate? Am I experiencing their piece in the way that was intended?

I was absolutely obsessed with the art in a hotel I stayed at earlier this year, like the piece above! I drove the staff crazy as I appeared at their desk every day with a new inquiry about the piece I saw here and the piece I saw there and their sconces and their desk chair....it went on and on! Let’s just say I seemed to have had a taxi to the airport a lot faster than everyone else oddly.

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I loved the texture and pattern play on this magnificent wall! The art installation was so stunning that I had to remind myself to keep my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t touch it! But wouldn’t this be magnificent in a client’s home?!

I am inspired to get my paints out again after seeing this gorgeous piece! Look at these incredible stripes and colours!! This installation from Sean Scully can be enjoyed near Mexico City at Cuadra San Cristobal

Sometimes it just takes one piece of art to capture your interest in a space and make it sing! This artist Gordon Shadrach is from Toronto, and his paintings stop you in your tracks you as you walk into a room!

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Keep your eyes open, because you never know where you’ll spy amazing art! This incredible mural was painted in the parking lot of a restaurant and I was mesmerized! Look at all the patterns the artist incorporated!

Art is so personal. So individual. Remember to get out to your local gallery more often and start a conversation. Stir your emotions. Enjoy the experience!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

colour, out & about, things I loveCheminne Taylor-SmithNovember 30, 2018art, mural, painting, colour, color, pattern, design, texture, gold, eye, blue, drawing, street art, interior design, inspiration, toronto designer, canada, gallery, musuem, artist, conversation, inspiredComment

Design Inspiration: Checking Out Hotels

I have been traveling almost non-stop for weeks, and while I’m thrilled to be home this weekend, I also love staying in unique and gorgeous boutique hotels around the world! I get so much inspiration from the design of the lobby, the rooms, and even the outdoor areas!

An original installation in a hotel in the Bahamas

A colour combination like the purples and blues in the hotel above can spark a new idea for a client’s home, too!

Kit Kemp is a designer who knows her way around patterns and bold colour, so when a client sent me the photo above of the Kemp-designed Firmdale Hotel as an inspiration shot for her home, I knew we were going to get along famously!

This incredible historic hotel in Chicago had me looking up - WAY up - for a gorgeous classic design. The timeless details here are endlessly fascinating to me!

When I stayed at the Beverly Hills Hilton earlier this year, I was obsessed with the living garden wall in the Wilshire Garden! I want to create one like this for my clients - or maybe just for me!

And I am DYING to create outdoor cabanas for a client’s pool area! There’s nothing chicer than a hidden spot with fabrics blowing in the breeze!

Really, inspiration like this is one of the biggest reasons that I love to travel! What are some of your favorite destinations? Let me know!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

interior design, travel, colourCheminne Taylor-SmithNovember 2, 2018interior design, hotel, motel, inspiration, boutique hotel, beverly hills, chicago, colour, london, kit kemp, firmdale, pattern, decor, decorating, toronto designer, garden, rooms, design, interior decor, ideas, tipsComment

Creating a Showhouse Inside a Showroom

I was so excited to be asked to participate in a HUGE project at High Point Market this week! The Market is like Fashion Week for home furnishings – it’s the largest trade show in the world for furniture. Alden Parkes, one of the exhibitors, asked 7 design teams (including me!) to create an actual showhouse in their showroom at Market. Each of us was assigned several rooms and a theme – mine was Modern Glamour.

My moodboard for one of the spaces in the Showhouse in a Showroom

Using Alden Parkes’ furniture, we were tasked to create any look we wanted! We also were able to choose products from major sponsors like Replacements, Eastern Accents, and Capa Rugs. You can see my mood board above, and an initial sketch below!

I was also SOOO lucky to have sponsors in my own spaces, including Lee Jofa, Hot Skwash, Kravet, Kayce Hughes, Hot Skwash, and Circa Lighting.

The final result was a colorful and sophisticated space that was so much fun to put together! I think it says Modern Glamour, don’t you? And wait until I show you the rooms by the other interior designers!

Thank you SO much to Alden Parkes for giving me such an amazing opportunity – I had a blast!

Until next time,

-Cynthia

Colour Inspiration

*My client’s gorgeous white kitchen with that pop of pink!*

I love injecting colour into the spaces I design! That could be a full colour splash in a room, or a bright punch in a neutral space. In this all-white kitchen I designed, I wanted to add a dramatic spot of colour to give the design a kick. And that hot pick fabric on the chairs was the first thing that came to mind.

But how do designers like me find our colour inspirations? It can come from anywhere, but for me, fabrics and trims always spark my imagination.

The bright yarns above grabbed my attention as I was shopping one day – especially the pinks and purples.

Even this rainbow display of wraps drew my eye right to the bright pinks at the end of the row.

A display of dinner napkins, like these from Sferra, also made me feel in the pink!

What really clinched it was this bouquet of white and hot pink flowers – the perfect color combination.

I found the white Louis XVI side chairs at a local flea market (can you believe it?), and chose the solid fabric from Kravet and the lovely geometric pattern from Manuel Canovas. The result is a chic kitchen that serves up a bright punch!

PS – See more of my interiors and the colours I love on my portfolio.

-Cynthia

things I love, interior design, colourfranki emblemAugust 17, 2018colors, inspirationComment

Welcome to My Blog!

I’m excited to launch my design blog today! I cannot wait to have this chance to really get to know people! My love of homes and the fascinating people who live in them fueled my passion for design. Being intimately involved with the families and individuals I create with is just one of the many reasons I love my job!

I also want you to get to know me better – not just the polished brand, but the real me! The person who loves to sketch, to hang out with my boys, and to travel the world. The person who is known for a quirky sense of humour, who actually loves numbers, and who is more than slightly obsessed with table settings.

“My love of homes and the fascinating people who live in them fueled my passion for design. ”

With my dear friends and fellow designers at the 30th anniversary party for Veranda magazine.

My first love (other than my boys, of course) is and always has been design. You know how teachers often categorize learners? I’m definitely a visual learner! Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved colour and texture. I’ve always organized my agendas and calendars by colour-coding, from school right through to today. I need those bright hues to help me schedule and remember what’s on my never-ending to-do list!

I’ve also moved houses about every three years while growing up and found solace in redecorating each new space. I loved the ritual of wallpapering and painting our new walls with my mom, whether we were in England, the United States, or Canada. New beginnings always brought new opportunities to redecorate.

A view of one of my (many!) mood boards for an interior design project.

I still love the excitement of that fresh start – it’s what draws me to my passion of designing interiors. I’m thrilled each time by the idea of creating something beautiful out of a blank canvas. It never fails to give me chills when I present the right interiors to my clients!

I look forward to giving you an inside peek each week here on this design blog to both my professional life and my everyday life. Be prepared for a few laughs along the way!

And be sure to comment or send me your questions and thoughts. I want to get to know YOU, too!

Until next time,
Cynthia

PS – Follow along with my design business every day on Instagram! Just click here!

-Cynthia

out & aboutfranki emblemJuly 25, 2018events, fabrics, inspirationComment