Decor & Renovation
A family home splashed with vibrant green and blue hues
Image: Barry Calhoun
Decor & Renovation
A family home splashed with vibrant green and blue hues
Designer Maria Killam takes inspiration from B.C.'s landscape to imbue a home with bold, bright, beautiful hues.
Maria Killam is not afraid to decorate with colour. In fact, her whole design philosophy hinges on hues. Clients Crystal and Rob Hasell appreciate the designer's generous servings of colour so much that they came back for seconds. "They'd hired me five years ago to decorate their summer house," says Killam. "They loved the look and feel of what I did there so much, they came to enjoy being in that space more than their main home." So, in 2016, the couple re-enlisted Killam to help them with the renovation of their family home in Chilliwack, B.C., where they live with their two young children. The circa-2007 build offered a great location with breathtaking views of the Chilliwack River Valley, but the homeowners had fallen out of love with some tonal elements they'd selected 10 years prior, namely the espresso-brown finishes.
Aiming to give the family a fun and cozy look that would stand the test of time, Killam embarked on an esthetic freshening-up. The designer started with classic finishes, including pale hardwood floors and clean white cabinetry, to create a blank canvas for statement colours. And what a statement she made. "It was such a fun project," says Killam, who let loose with hits of vivacious green and fresh blue, which playfully call to the home's surrounding trees and river. She also incorporated touches of bold pattern, contributing to the interior's unique character.
Should the homeowners yearn for something new or their tastes evolve, the bright elements can easily be switched out, but we're betting that won't be any time soon.
LIME LIGHT
Glam lime-and-gold stools stand out in this otherwise neutral kitchen, defined by a white subway tile backsplash and Shaker-style cabinetry. Killam created this chef-worthy space with the help of kitchen specialist Janet Romanuk.
Tequila Lime 2028-30 exterior door paint, benjaminmoore.ca.
COLOUR CODE
This house is no stranger to hues, and guests know it before they've even stepped inside. Painted an attention-grabbing lime, the front door picks up on various green tones found throughout the home's surrounding vistas.
Agreeable Grey SW 7029 wall paint (throughout), sherwin-williams.com. Console, wisteria.com. Stools, overstock.com. Rug, jossandmain.com. Artwork, homesense.ca.
BLUE BALM
Bright tones don't have to give off an energizing effect. In the spacious entryway, for instance, a calming and tranquil blue scene greets guests.
Dining table and buffet, rh.com. Chandelier, westelm.com. Rug, rugsusa.com. Table lamps, onekingslane.com. Green shell wall hangings, wayfair.ca.
AZURE ALLURE
Just off the kitchen, the splashy open-concept dining room is the perfect gathering spot for this busy family. The striped fabric on the backs of the dining chairs is the showpiece here, while the seat material echoes the homeowners' collection of cornflower blue Le Creuset cookware.
Stripes, geometrics and florals—the bright and youthful family room is alive with assertive prints. Even the sofa sports a large-scale triangle pattern; its tone-on-tone colouring makes it just bold enough.
Stair runner, bannercarpets.ca. Bird artwork, wisteria.com. Mirrors, homesense.ca.
HUES FOR HAPPY
"It's important to purchase some of your large furnishings in colour, rather than the safe neutral of the moment," says Killam, citing the family-room sofa as an example. "You'll be much happier with them in the long run."
TREE HOUSE
A whimsical collection of bird-motif artwork on the vibrant green-trimmed stairwell is a deliberate design detail. "It gives the feeling of living in the treetops," says Killam.
Beauti-Tone Envy C29-5-0777-0 paint, homehardware.ca. Color Journeys Petit Point 123D paint, para.com. Tequila Lime 2028-30 paint, benjaminmoore.ca. Green Knoll 0760 paint, cloverdalepaint.com.
GREEN SCALE
How green will you go? Inspired by this veritably verdant home, find your fit in this range of the hue, from subtle to saturated.
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