Lucie Pitt, Author at Versa Style Design

Apr 12 2023

Industrial Style Design for 2023

More than a passing trend

Industrial-style design for interiors is definitely here to stay, particularly in Metropolitan areas. The visual appeal and charm of industrial style lies in its ability to showcase utilitarian surfaces, stripped back architecture and salvaged objects. If you’re looking to live with raw and second-hand furnishings, then you will love the options available to you!

One of the fabulous benefits of an industrial space is that the materials used can be as affordable as you like! Usually, industrial-style design is pared down to the essentials so it doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are a few industrial design ideas to help you keep things cozy, casual and stylish!

Reclaimed objects and flea-market finds

Furnishings in an industrial home are minimal and no-nonsense. They embrace strong, clean lines without excess. A great way to embrace industrial style is to mix and match new pieces with reclaimed ones. Repurpose materials such as wood crates, old ladders or cinder blocks and turn these things into shelving units, side tables or stand-alone pieces.

Industrial Colours and tones

If you are considering an industrial colour scheme, monochromatic is honoured, though colours with a cool undertone are also favoured. For background and wall colours, think neutral grays or blues, but for accents, you could go as far as tangerine or fuchsia, or their dark and moody cousins plum and burnt orange. If you are sticking to neutrals, we would suggest choosing a variety of shades to keep the space from appearing one-dimensional.

Since this style is so focused on industrial textures such as concrete and metals, there is generally enough variation present that homeowners can work with a monochromatic palette. If you paint and are finding rooms feeling flat, consider adding a statement piece or something tactile to incorporate depth.

Use texture instead of colour

Sophisticated and classy design elements should not appear in the industrial setup, and comfortable decor should come in solid, neutral colours as well as natural textures. If you’re using throw pillows or rugs, keep colours muted and neutral; consider woven wool with lots of texture. Furniture should be of minimal design, wrought iron bed frames or super-casual seating.

Keep it Edgy

Industrial style means erasing the line between trash and treasure. Remember, a little bit of wear adds character to this concept. If you find something that would feel odd in a traditional home, then it would likely fit right into an industrial one! As we’ve mentioned, metals are a key feature of industrial style, so consider adding tin, steel, iron or aluminum in some way into the space.

Metal, iron and wood

Metal will create a cool and sleek functionality, so think about exposed ductwork, aluminum countertops or steel stairwells. However, stay away from warm metals such as gold or brass, and choose cold metals with a matte finish. Stone is another beautiful way to break up any monotony and add some character and depth to those industrial spaces!

Space and lots of it

As industrial style originated in warehouses and factories, it privileges big and open spaces. An open floor plan is one of the trademarks of this style. High ceilings are another factor but are obviously home-dependant. If you are working with an open concept, make sure to break up long or large expanses of space with well-thought-out furniture placement. Create unification to avoid a jarring effect. Make sure to use area rugs to define each zone.

Back to the essentials

In an industrial room, the infrastructure should be on full display instead of covered up and hidden. Mechanical materials should be exposed. Unfinished walls, bare windows as well as exposed beams are all key ways to channel industrial style, as we’re looking for any means to create the idea of a space being rough around the edges.

Wood beams

Wood is another way to help warm up a space (visually, not literally). If those steel ceiling beams just aren’t cutting it for you, consider covering them in wood to give your space an aged look. If you are considering a home renovation project, think of ways to renovate in order to bring industrial details into focus!

Industrial-style floors

Embrace all the raw features in your home. If you already have concrete floors, you’re one step ahead of the game. Don’t cover those babies up! Consider getting your concrete floor honed or polished to give them a modern feel. Consider defining the different areas with fabulous and inviting area rugs.

You would like to adopt some of these ideas in your own space but you don’t know where to start?

Contact us to transform your home or office according to your style, your budget and your specific needs. By discussing your project we can provide you with relevant information concerning our services, the process and our design fee.

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Feb 01 2023

Top Kitchen Design Trends for 2023 and 2024

Where does everyone want to hang out? In the kitchen of course! And which room do we end up using the most? That’s right… the kitchen. Kids are snacking or doing their homework, parents are cooking, friends are part of the food prep before a celebration, families are gathering and creating memories, enjoying the only times everyone seems to be together and engaged.

Kitchens are also an investment… not an expense… an investment! They are directly linked to the value of the home, and when they are well designed, they actually sell the home.

It seems like every year there are new innovations, design elements and fabulous ideas that get us dreaming of our ideal kitchen.

2023-Kitchen-Design-Trends — photo credit: Gaggenau

Eventually there comes the day when the dreams need to take form and become reality. To help you along, here are a few very important kitchen trends and styles for 2023 and 2024 along with some of the valuable tips I share with my clients.

Statement Lighting Over the Island

Kitchens need general ambient light, in the form of recessed pot lights or a ceiling fixture, and they also need directional functional lighting that adequately covers all the counters as well as the kitchen island. Most clients need a little encouragement when it comes to selecting the style and type of pendant light hanging over the island. They timidly lean towards safe and small lamp shades for their own kitchen, forgetting how impressed they were every time they saw a statement light over a friend’s kitchen island.

Have fun with this aspect of your design scheme, it is not a huge expense and will go a long way in adding a ‘wow-factor’ focal point to your kitchen.

Integrated and Innovative Appliances

Companies like Gaggenau offer a range of ovens, combi-steam ovens, and combi-microwaves. Components such as storage, warming and ‘sous-vide’ drawers are also available in a variety of sizes to add flexibility to any design. All their components can combine with this fully automatic coffee machine. You can prepare every variation of espresso, coffee and milk-based drinks, as well as hot water for other beverages, including tea.

You can program and save any configuration you like for each member of the family. This Gaggenau combi-microwave, coffee machine and combi-steam oven set-up is functional and completely built-in and flush to the cabinets.

Natural wood with black and white

The all-white kitchen is being replaced by a warmer version, incorporating natural wood tones accented with hits of black for graphic visual interest. White oak is very popular as well as high quality veneers from companies such as Uniboard and Egger.

In this kitchen there is an equal distribution between the white and the wood tone, but you may choose to increase the ratio of either one. You must also consider the type and tone of the floor when choosing which wood essence will be used in the cabinetry.

Matte and Minimalist Black

One of the things I love about the popularity of using black in interior design, regardless of how it is applied, is that every component really stands out. Black is still a neutral which means it doesn’t clash with anything. And, as a bonus, every type of metal hardware or plumbing fixture looks great with black.

When it comes to using black, it is very important to balance out the darker elements with plenty of light, incorporating lighter walls, counter, and floor…and…. plenty of natural and artificial light.

2023-Kitchen-Design-Trends-Matte and Minimalist Black

If your kitchen is lacking in daytime natural light, up the ante with a good light plan including recessed pot lights. Also consider a nice shade of medium to dark grey as an alternative to prevent the kitchen from being too dark.

Fluted wood panels

This is a trend I can really get my teeth into. Reminiscent of mid-century modern esthetic and design, fluted wood panels are a fabulous way of adding a unique and bold wow-factor to any room, including kitchen cabinetry and the kitchen island. A little goes a long way, and they don’t give this away so make sure you get the help of a designer to determine the best use of this graphic design element.

Fluted wood panels come in natural wood essence tones or can be painted any colour you like. In this case we see a beautiful combination of charcoal grey fluted wood on the upper cabinets and island paired with a light grey chevron floor tile and beautiful light natural wood.

The classic and always modern arch

In design school, we are trained to avoid too much of any one thing. And one of the design elements that is often overlooked is the over-use of straight-angular lines and right-angles. In our designs we are taught to balance out hard edges and corners with gentler curves and arches. You can see this design principle used in artists’ paintings through the ages as well as architecture going back to the Greeks and Romans (and caves, if you want to go that far back).

Arches can be introduced as a doorway, a window, a wall opening, a wall niche, a mirror or furniture.

Here is a great example of the archway integrated to a functional coffee station with added shelves. And I love the hexagon tile detail drawing the eye in.

When it comes to design trends, I recommend clients always think strategically, because kitchens are an expensive investment, and you want ROI and great lasting power design-wise. But when I look at the kitchen trends presented in this article, I feel confident that anyone of these ideas, if well executed and thought-out, WILL stand the test of time.

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You would like to adopt some of these ideas in your own space but you don’t know where to start?

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Apr 10 2022

Budget-Friendly Kitchen Make-Overs

You spend a tremendous amount of time in your kitchen. Because of this, it is vital that it be functional and inviting and that you feel great preparing meals as well as entertaining friends and family. If you are like most folks, you are most likely waiting for the finances to completely renovate and create the kitchen of your dreams.

The good news is that you can transform your kitchen without breaking the bank. There are strategies and ways of making specific changes that will have a high impact, even on a tight budget.

The first thing to consider when renovating on a budget is recycling what you already own because the factor that causes a kitchen improvement project to skyrocket in price is purchasing new cabinetry.

The second thing to consider is that re-configuring the floor plan will increase costs because of the plumbing and electrical work that follows. All this also requires a new floor because the old one no longer matches the new set-up, etc.

The third thing to consider is improving your kitchen in well planned phases…doing a little each year. Here are a few simple ideas to give your kitchen a face lift that will cost you far less than doing an entire kitchen renovation.

Paint Out Your Old Kitchen Cupboards

This will require some effort on your part, but you are perfectly able to accomplish this. Every standard paint manufacturer has a line of products for prepping and painting kitchen cabinets and You Tube is abundant with friendly tutorials as support. Alternatively, you can hire this out and it will still cost less than purchasing new kitchen cabinets. In some cases, the painter can paint the cabinets on site, in other cases, the doors are dismantled and moved to a clean and dry shop for spray painting.

Cover Your Old Floor with a New Area Rug

Is your old floor tired and out-dated? Cover it with a nice area rug to hide the wear and tear. Choose a low maintenance indoor-outdoor carpet or one with synthetic fibres. There is also a wonderful selection of waterproof vinyl carpets on the market. My favourite line of vinyl rugs is from Adama Alma, which Versa Style Design imports from Barcelona. Make sure the carpet is dark and patterned to hide any stains. And if your kitchen is neutral-toned, go ahead and add colour!

Recycle an Old, Cherished Piece of Furniture

Integrating a unique piece of furniture can make a huge difference in the appearance of a kitchen. Give an old, cherished piece that you inherited or picked up at the flea market a whole new life and purpose.

Farmhouse tables can be repurposed as kitchen islands for food prep as well as provide seating for friends and family. Old armoires can be upcycled as food pantries.

Replace Your Counter

If your budget is too tight for a granite or marble counter (costing on average $100.00/sq. foot) then Quartz or Corian are great cost-effective alternatives ($50 – $80.00/sq. foot). If you want to save even more, consider the new generation of modern laminates such as Formica. They are as beautiful as they are durable and go for between $25 – $50/sq. foot. They are also easy to install.

Designer trick: To make a laminate counter look high end, invest in a great looking high-quality backsplash tile.

Install Backsplash Tiles with a Lot of Personality

An outstanding wall tile gives any kitchen a lot of style. I often recommend that clients change up their backsplash and add a coat of paint to the walls because if they do just that, the entire kitchen will feel like it was renovated. For high impact, choose textured relief tiles and add lighting so the surface comes to life. I believe that the kitchen backsplash is like completing an outfit with a great necklace or necktie. A new backsplash adds a wonderful finishing touch to a kitchen and stands out like a jewel.

Replace the Lighting

Suspended lighting is both functional and makes a big style statement. Adequate kitchen lighting is vital and should be positioned over your dining table and kitchen island as well as over your sink. Remember to properly light specific work zones so you can perform your tasks with comfortable lighting; the cooking area as well as clean up and food preparation areas.

Be bold when choosing the scale and style of a suspended light.

Change the Door and Drawer Handles

Sometimes just changing up the door handles will give such a face-lift to the doors and drawers that you won’t feel as rushed to renovate the whole kitchen. Choose handles that are harmonized with your general kitchen style. Also consider a different metal; if you kept it safe with brushed nickel, opt for a warmer tone like gold, champagne, bronze or copper. Perhaps a brass or pewter handle would be a nice match. Again, be bold and creative.

Inject Some Colour With New Decorative Accessories

Probably the easiest and fastest way to a new kitchen is simply changing all the decorative elements. Choose new chairs, vases, bowls, curtains, artwork, a tablecloth, and napkins in a whole new accent colour.

You can have a brand-new kitchen after a few hours of shopping. If you have open shelving (also a budget-friendly idea) make sure there is a common theme and colour palette to avoid a cluttered look.

Even just one of these budget-friendly ideas can transform your kitchen. As you can see, you don’t have to renovate your entire kitchen to have what feels like a new one that fits with your personal style.

You would like to adopt some of these ideas in your own space but you don’t know where to start?

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Feb 15 2022

Ingenious ideas to keep your home organized

I don’t believe in perfect houses. I do, however, believe in homes that are a perfect reflection of the people who inhabit them. Do you ever dream of a home where everything looks the way you want it to, works the way you need it to, and just generally makes you feel good – without costing a fortune?

That’s why I’ve filled this blog with valuable ideas and organizing tips as inspiration for getting your home organized once and for all….so that you’ll have all you need for creating a space that you will be proud to call ‘’home’’.

Main entrance

In this hallway we use all of the walls to maximise function. You have closed storage for things you want to hide and an easy to reach open unit for stuff you want to show off. How do you keep open storage looking tidy? Keep stuff you use every day where you can see it. Drawers and storage boxes provide flexibility and keep the hall looking ordered.

The living area

Store more, stress less. Dedicate a wall for maximum storage with modules and shelves custom-made or off the shelf. Organisation helps you find what you want—and you buy only what you need. A row of drawers keeps things neatly stored, keeps dust away and keeps a clean line. A soft spot with cushions and a custom-made mattress pad is good for reflection and reading, especially by a window or a lamp.

The bathroom

Sure, small spaces are cozy, but they still need to match the practicality of any other size room, especially the bathroom.

Between all the toiletries, makeup, towels, toilet paper, and more, it needs clever storage solutions that cut the clutter and maximize space. When possible, I add retractable shelves to the end of the bath.

Wall space is precious, especially in an extra tiny bathroom. Shallow cabinets like these have adjustable shelving to make space for items of all sizes, like bottles of bathroom cleaner, toilet paper etc. This bathroom was fully customized to take advantage of every square inch.

Work zone

When your home is your office, it’s not easy to have work/life balance.

Create space to contain everything by surrounding your desk with shelves. Use solid-coloured, matching boxes to hide things away. Glass vases and jars can show off a few lovelies. Add in accessories, like a letter tray, to sort your papers.

Take charge of your family gadgets

Here’s an easy way to organize your electronics wherever works best in your home. An Ikea wall newspaper rack is a good size for tablets, and labels give everyone their own spot. You can put power strips in IKEA KVISSLE cable management boxes to hide cords and charge several things at once.

Optimize your stairs

Here is a clever way of making better use of the stairs to the basement or near the front entryway: Practical cubicles custom built around the steps to maximize every square inch. You can decide the shape and size of each module, as well as adding shelves and hooks according to your needs.

You would like to adopt some of these ideas in your own space but you don’t know where to start?

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Dec 14 2021

Decoration Ideas For The Holidays

When it comes to Christmas decorations, there’s something for everyone this year. Here are the main trends to provide you with some inspiration, along with some great Christmas decorating ideas! And, regardless of the decorating style you choose, make it a point to be consistent in every room of the house, from the door entrance to the Christmas table decorations in the dining room! And… enjoy yourself!

Farmhouse style Christmas

To replicate this setting, fir branches are used in every shape and size, whether it’s as a Christmas wreath, Christmas door decorations, a Christmas garland on the stair railings or on the fireplace mantel etc.! Then add in elements that evoke nature – wood, nuts and pine cones, or cotton flowers, then throw in some older vintage finds like a wooden sled or maybe some old buckets…

Blue and silver

Red and green aren’t the only colours that can be used at Christmas time. For a more wintry decor, blue is a great hue! Combined with white and natural elements (branches and vines), blue allows you to create a cozy Nordic decor; who would have thought? For lights, it might be interesting to blend warm white with cool white.

Metallic and black

If you’re into glamour, have sparkly lights and place an emphasis on the gold and/or silver look by playing with shapes, motifs and finishes. In terms of complementary or contrasting colours, go for black – a little or a lot, but passionately! And to hide the base of the artificial Christmas tree, use a faux fur sofa throw or black fabric.

An updated version of Traditional

To get this type of decor, choose a white or green Christmas tree – snow-flocked or not – set in a wooden box or jute basket so the foot of the tree is hidden. Choose warm-white Christmas lights to create a cozy ambiance and decorate the tree with wood, natural-coloured ornaments and red and/or green Christmas balls for a traditional touch. Decoration-wise, you can add a few plaid touches, a pretty lantern and red berries here and there.

An all-white Christmas (or almost)

For pure-decor enthusiasts a white or snow-flocked green Christmas tree or garland is a great choice. And you can also opt for ornaments in matching shades and adorn them by putting in some artificial flowers! Elegant white Christmas bulbs in a dull finish are currently very trendy. Decoratively speaking, people are choosing glass or transparent acrylic objects to brighten the room.

You would like to adopt some of these ideas in your own space but you don’t know where to start?

Click here to contact us.

More than a passing trend

Reclaimed objects and flea-market finds

Industrial Colours and tones

Use texture instead of colour

Keep it Edgy

Metal, iron and wood

Space and lots of it

Back to the essentials

Wood beams

Industrial-style floors

Statement Lighting Over the Island

Integrated and Innovative Appliances

Natural wood with black and white

Matte and Minimalist Black

Fluted wood panels

The classic and always modern arch

Montreal KitchenDesign Services

Paint Out Your Old Kitchen Cupboards

Cover Your Old Floor with a New Area Rug

Recycle an Old, Cherished Piece of Furniture

Replace Your Counter

Install Backsplash Tiles with a Lot of Personality

Replace the Lighting

Change the Door and Drawer Handles

Inject Some Colour With New Decorative Accessories

Main entrance

The living area

The bathroom

Work zone

Take charge of your family gadgets

Optimize your stairs

Farmhouse style Christmas

Blue and silver

Metallic and black

An updated version of Traditional

An all-white Christmas (or almost)

Versa Style Design Lucie Pitt

Interior Design & Renovations

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Montreal Kitchen
Design Services

Versa Style Design
Lucie Pitt