February 22nd, 2012
I’m getting ready for a big furniture install today. Everything is lined up and ready to go, but no matter how carefully I plan, it always seems that something unexpected happens. A piece of furniture doesn’t make it on the truck or something arrives damaged. Or, which was the case at my last furniture install, the custom designed furniture doesn’t fit through the door. An interior designer’s worst nightmare!!
I believe this situation it’s a right of passage of sorts. It must happen at least once in every interior designer’s career and if they are intelligent types, then they won’t let it happen a second time. Sadly, this wasn’t the first time I’d experienced this situation, and I consider myself a pretty bright person! Several years ago we had an incident with a sectional not cooperating with a curved staircase into the basement where it was to reside. The stubborn thing wouldn’t fit, and after applying brut force and exploring alternate doors and windows for access we ended up having an upholsterer amputating the arm then reassembling the piece once it was in the room. A rather dramatic procedure especially since we had taken pains to have the staircase measured carefully before ordering the furniture. At any rate, the sectional recovered from surgery and is doing just fine now. Chalk it up as a learning experience.
That’s why when a gorgeous pink velvet pouf that I had custom designed for a client’s new dressing room wouldn’t fit through the door I didn’t sweat it. My young assistants however, were sweating bricks. While they were stressing, I was taking photos. Like I said, it’s a right of passage! You’ve gotta feel that sickly, heartbreaking feeling at least once in your career.
The pouf makes it up this curved staircase without incident. Aren’t my movers great? And by the way, I love seeing a gal on a moving crew. You go girl!!
After trying a few different angles of approach, exploring taking the door off the hinges and several worried looks on my assistants’ faces I suggest taking the piece apart. I’d been there done that! Now it was time to use the knowledge I had gained from my last tight squeeze situation.
The pouf goes back to together again perfectly. Luckily, it was a very simple piece to take apart and reassemble. No upholsterer-to-the-rescue required.
Image property of Corea Sotropa Interior Design.
Problem solved! Of course, we explained the situation to our clients, and told them if they ever wanted to move the pouf out of this room then they would need to do just as we had done. By the way, this room (and entire house) is stunning! I’ll be getting it professionally photographed and sharing more pictures with you later. In the meantime, you can check out my previous post that highlighted the concept for this dressing room in First Impressions…Girly, Glamorous Dressing Room.
If you are an interior designer reading this, you might be familiar with this story. If you’ve never experienced it, maybe I’ll be able to save you from making this same mistake. Or at least give you a solution to the problem. As I go into my install today with my team of professionals, a plan that has been meticulously reviewed and my tool box of tricks, I hope I don’t encounter any new “learning experiences”. Wish me luck!
Cheers!
Jacqueline
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa is known for our sophisticated and fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
February 17th, 2012
I’ll admit it. When one of my male clients suggests that they want to put sports paraphernalia or artwork featuring sports in their interiors, inwardly I groan. I’ll try to keep the hockey jerseys and signed footballs in his study, or entertainment room. But now there is a new option on the market that I am pretty excited about! Spirit of Sports is new resource for interior designer and sports fans that provides sports related art and accessories. Take a look at a few of these great pieces from Spirit of Sports.
 Rocking Ride by Michael Bryan via Spirit of Sports
 Le Rocket De St Chrystome by Terry Tomalty via Spirit of Sports
 Another Day at the Office by Ken Auster via Spirit of Sports
 Splash by Doug Lew via Spirit of Sports
 Skier by Steve Kuzma via Spirit of Sports
Take a look at the inspiration gallery on the Spirit of Sports site. It will give you ideas of how these pieces can fit into a variety of interiors. Here you’ll see one of our projects featured!
 Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design artwork over mantle via Spirit of Sports
Spirit of Sports has a great selection of sports related decor items that are easy to incorporate into your interiors and will keep the sports fans of the household (and designer!) happy.
Cheers!
Jacqueline
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa, is known for our sophisticated and fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
February 9th, 2012
What an absolutely incredible few days I’ve just had!
A year ago, while attending my son’s school fundraiser, I bid on a 3 day “Sex and the City” trip to NYC. It just sounded like so much fun that I couldn’t resist! Three of my besties who are all talented, and fabulous interior designers joined me for the fun. The trip included shopping, eating at great restaurants, a trip to the MOMA, more shopping, and a location tour from the “Sex and the City” shows which included a stop to a risque store specializing in all things “Samantha” (if you catch my drift). I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone once I stepped into that store, but that’s another story for another time! What can I say, I’m very “Charlotte”! We continued with more shopping, more eating and somehow we managed to get to the D & D Building. Whew! I’m exhausted just remembering it all! It was one of the most fun trips I’ve ever had, not only because of our exciting itinerary, but also because of my wonderful travel companions. We spent time chatting about the business of design, getting inspired by the architecture and culture that surrounded us and brainstormed about the exciting ways we could use the interior design treasures we spotted at the design centre. Not only was it fun, it was rejuvenating and invigorating. Forgive the quality of the photos from the iPhone…wouldn’t you know it, I left my camera at home!
We passed through Times Square on the way to dinner at Gramercy Tavern where I had a transcendent moment with peanut butter semifreddo.
We wandered around the charming shops and neighbourhoods of the East Village, where Sarah Jessica Parker lives in real life.
All of us swooned over this gorgeous millwork detail in a showroom near the D & D Building.
Ann Saks Tile displayed the Kalista Vir Still vanity which I blogged about a couple weeks ago in the most gorgeous antique brass finish. So handsome!
Hello Lover! Did I mention there was shopping?
My incredible travel pals included Nyla Free (check out her post about our trip), Marina Hildebrand and Reena Sotropa. This city never disappoints. There is always something new for me to take in each time I visit. This latest trip holds a special place in my heart because I was able to share it with my incredible gal pals, who are each in their own way a mixture of “Carrie”, “Miranda”, “Charlotte” & “Samantha”. Thanks ladies!!
Cheers!
Jacqueline
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa is known for our sophisticated and fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
February 7th, 2012
I have a particular fondness for wall sconces because of the soft, flattering light they cast. Sconces also provide decorative details, create interesting shadows, and highlight architectural features. For this edition of Tickled Pink my design team at Corea Sotropa has our favourite wall sconces to share with you. Try these lovelies placed on either side of a glittering bathroom mirror, along a stairwell or mounted on library shelving.
Tickled Pink Resources: Jacqueline’s pick by Porta Romana, Reena’s favourite via Global Views, Carolyn’s selection from Anthropologie, Patti’s pick by Currey & Co, Meghan’s choice is from Ochre.
Do you have a favourite from our Tickled Pink selections? Do you prefer the clean lines of Reena’s fortune teller sconce or the traditional glow of Patti’s pretty lantern? Which wall sconce has you tickled pink? We’d love to hear!
Cheers!
Jacqueline
Join us for Tickled Pink, a monthly roundup of our very favourites from the design team at Corea Sotropa Interior Design. We’re a Calgary-based interior design firm known for our fresh, sophisticated approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your project. Please get in touch!
February 2nd, 2012
Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of appearing on BT Calgary. I was giving viewers tips on how to decorate a stylish gender neutral nursery. I presented three different decor schemes on the show to help expectant parents prepare for their little bundle of joy.
Photo courtesy of Breakfast Television
This was a fun segment to prepare for! I kept thinking how many more options there are for children’s nurseries now than there were when my son was born. I think if I could do it over again, I might opt for crib #2. I love the modern style, mix of white and wood and pops of orange. If you would like to view the segment, Breakfast Television has the video on their site. Here’s the link:
http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1427755463001.000000/nursery-decor–february-1/
For moms and dads who have decided to keep the sex of the baby a mystery until the big day here are a few more of my tips on preparing a stylish nursery.
1) Go with a neutral colour scheme that can be accented with gender specific decor items at a later date.
2) Green, yellow, orange, red and turquoise are great for both boys and girls and add a burst of colour.
3) White furniture with wood accents has a more gender neutral feel than furniture that is solid white.
I’d also like to send a huge thank you and a special shout out to the wonderful shops who kindly lent me furniture and accessories for the segment. The first two adorable nursery options I featured on the show were both from E-Children, Calgary’s one shop destination for everything baby. The third crib and accessories I presented were from Cherry Four, a delightful shop in Kensington which specializes in affordable custom bedding for babies and kids. Thank you so much to both of you!
Cheers!
Jacqueline
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa is known for our sophisticated and fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
January 30th, 2012
I hope you are able to tune in to Breakfast Television Calgary early on Wednesday morning because I’ll be doing another design segment! Those who wait until baby’s arrival before finding out if they are the proud parents of a son or daughter want to know how to prepare a stylish nursery that is gender neutral. I’ll be there to give some suggestions on essentials and how to add personality to the room gradually. Until then, here are a few rooms that do just that for inspiration!
 via decorpad
 interior designer unknown via elements of style blog
 via Restoration Hardware
 via Serena and Lily
 via Dwell Studio
I hope you are able to join me for the show on Wednesday, February 1st at 7:45am!
Cheers!
Jacqueline
The Buzz keeps you in the know of what’s happening at my Calgary interior design firm, Corea Sotropa Interior Design. We’re always up to something exciting! And if you are in need of some interior design intervention, we’re here to help. Please get in touch!
January 27th, 2012
One of the major things that differentiates a designer from other professions is our ability to conceptualize and visualize how the interior details of a space will look long before any orders have been placed or construction begins. Immediately after I meet with new clients, chat with them about their lifestyle and aesthetic preferences, and walk through their rooms ideas start pouring into my head. I’m able to picture with perfect clarity the finished product. Now comes the tricky part – I’ve got to find a way to present those ideas so that my clients can perfectly picture their new rooms too. You see, this doesn’t always come easily to most people and just describing your thoughts with words can leave a lot to the imagination! Sometimes a few photographs, samples laid out on a table and some rough sketches are all that I need to portray my concept. For other clients, my team and I make a more in depth presentation and use perspective renderings and concept boards to get our ideas across. Personally, I get a lot of pleasure from creating these kind of drawings and mood boards. I thought I’d share with you some recent presentation materials that my team prepared as examples of how designers are able to communicate their design concepts to their clients.
Interior design concept of family room by Corea Sotropa Interior Design
There are all sorts of nifty computer programs that can generate perspectives and even walk you through a room. I guess I’m a little old fashioned, because I prefer hand drawn renditions. As wonderful as these computer programs are, there is something about an artists rendition like the one above that adds soul to the rendering that a computer just can’t compete with. The above drawing was completed for one of our clients who is redecorating their family room. This drawing enabled them to visualize the floor plan, furniture styles and colour scheme we were proposing.
Interior design furniture concept of family room by Corea Sotropa Interior Design
Having said that I don’t like computer renderings of interiors, there are lots of programs that I do like and use very regularly to convey our design concept to clients. The concept board above was created for the very same room. This board shows all the furniture pieces I proposed. My team and I used photoshop to alter the images so that the upholstered pieces are shown in the fabrics we suggested. Our clients loved seeing this concept board as it allowed them to view all the furniture together and see the details that the rendering couldn’t provide.
To be an interior designer you’ve got to be a good communicator. You have to be able to take the million ideas that are running around in your head and find a way to convey them to your clients. One of the best ways is to paint a picture for them (literally!) so that they can see what it is that you are proposing. You know what they say…a picture is worth a thousand words!
Cheers!
Jacqueline
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa is known for our sophisticated and fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
January 23rd, 2012
The other day, in record breaking freezing weather, wearing coats as bulky as sleeping bags, my assistant and I trudged out to a construction site to review the electrical layout of my client’s new home. Lighting is one of the most important elements of interior design, and it is imperative to walk through the site once the rough-ins are done to double check that everything is located perfectly, no matter what the weather! The electrical plan is typically done months before construction begins and before any fixtures are selected. Built-in cabinets and audio visual components often have not been decided upon when the blueprints are drawn up and these elements require specific electrical outlets and lights. The electrical walk through gives the client, builder and designer an opportunity to review all the electrical requirements before moving on to the drywall phase.
Example of Electrical plan by Corea Sotropa Interior Design
Most clients are surprised at the amount of thought and preparation that goes into an electrical plan. It’s not as simple as just selecting some pretty fixtures. That’s just the fun part near the end of the process! Another thing that often surprises clients is the number of light fixtures that are required for one home. It can be overwhelming for a client to try and select all the different pot lights, sconces, chandeliers, and surface mounted fixtures, let alone figure out if they all go together. It’s totally OK to mix finishes, and the styles can be different from each other but there still has to be harmony between them. The walk through I did the other day was for a delightful family who want their new home to be a cross between a New York City loft and industrial chic style. I guess you could describe it as rough and primitive crossed with elegant sophistication. These are the light fixtures we’ve chosen for them and I think these fixtures fit that description perfectly!
Example of lighting selection by Corea Sotropa Interior Design
1) Master Bathroom Sconce by Restoration Hardware 2) Pottery Barn pendant for the powder room 3) For the laundry room this Restoration Hardware surface mounted fixutre 4) Chain link chandelier by Arteriors for the stairwell 5) A bit of funky bling for the living room via Chinz & Company 6) A Nuevo fixture for the master bedroom 7) A semiflush fixture from Cartwright Lighting for the daughter’s bedroom 8) For the little boy’s room a globe fixture by Rejuvenation Lighting 9) The kitchen table will be lit by this primitive chandelier available through Roost 10) Surface mount for the kid’s bathroom via Restoration Hardware 11) Sconces by Serena & Lily for above the kitchen pantry 12) Industrial looking pendants from Rejuvenation Lighting over the kitchen island.
As you can see, we’ve selected lights from many different companies and combined a number of finishes and styles to complete the lighting package for this home. Although each fixture is unique from each other, they all work with our industrial chic NYC loft aesthetic. Now that the electrical walk through is complete and the lights have been ordered, all that’s left to do is wait to see these beauties installed.
Cheers!
Jacqueline
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa, is known for our sophisticated and fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
January 18th, 2012
Many designers dream about designing their own line of products. Naturally, I am one of those designers! I have always fantasized about having my own collection of furniture, fabrics or other products for the interior design industry. I hope to one day (after a lot of patience, determination and hard work) have a line to call my own. It’s a huge goal that I want to accomplish. You gotta dream big! I have always found that designing customized, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture and other items for my clients has been one of the greatest joys of my job. It’s a creative outlet that completely inspires me and lets me flex my designer muscles! Plus, there is nothing that makes a client happier than having something unique that has been created especially for them. Having my own line of products would take the satisfaction of designing to a whole new level. Now, instead of creating a product entirely for one client, you are presenting something that many more people will be able to use and enjoy in their home.
Some of the most interesting things that I have custom designed were a tub and sink. My clients were looking for something spectacular and completely unique in this department. At their first meeting they told me of their desire for a Japanese soaker tub paired with modern plumbing fixtures that would suit their craftsman style home. Me and my team were up for the challenge! We located an incredible manufacturer who was willing to work with us and help create the plumbing fixtures of their dreams. Diamond Spas was able to take our drawings and specifications and manufacture the most beautiful double trough sink and copper round soaker tub specifically for the project. They were amazing!
Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design
Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design
I’ve recently learned that Diamond Spas is now selling both of these plumbing fixtures as a part of their product line. I am absolutely floored by this honour! I’m so excited that the design that we created is now available to the interior design and architectural industry through Modenus. (By the way, if you are an designer you’ve gotta check out the products Modenus represents!) Knowing that the products I designed are now available to the public is a dream come true!
Cheers!
Jacqueline
If you would like to see more images from my portfolio of this project take a look at my previous post “Craftsman Style Renovation”
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa, is known for our sophisticated and fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
January 16th, 2012
We’ve just finished a basement renovation project and are getting all the new furniture installed. It’s exciting to see a room come alive with furniture! Months ago when we were making all of our design decisions and selecting the new furniture our client made a special request. All the existing pieces could go, except for one very special item - her grandmother’s vintage telephone bench. It was a quirky little piece of furniture that our client had held on to since it reminded her of her childhood. Incorporating personal mementos, and things that hold special meaning are what give rooms soul. So I was excited to find a way to update this little cutie and find a way to work it into our new furniture scheme.
Photography property of Corea Sotropa Interior Design
Here’s what the telephone bench looked like before we got started. The finish was in rough shape, and the fabric was pretty shabby! I snapped these shots in my office just before we sent it out to be refinished and just before it got delivered after the makeover.
Photograph property of Corea Sotropa Interior Design
Here she is after a lick of paint and freshened up upholstery! We painted the bench in Benjamin Moore’s Iron Mountain and used an over sized hounds tooth by Kravet for the seat. Isn’t she sweet!? I was so pleased with the final result, as was my client who couldn’t believe the transformation. Now this little lovely fits right in with all the new furniture but maintains the original charm and special memories.
Cheers!
Jacqueline
My Calgary Interior Design firm, Corea Sotropa is known for our sophisticated but fresh approach to residential interiors. We’d love to help you with your projects – please get in touch!
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