#carriagelanedesigns

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I love a really good before-and-after photo. Something about seeing how far a project has come along, really helps you appreciate the hard work and long hours that are often poured into a project. As many of you know, home renovations very rarely go quick and easy. After weeks and months of dust and debris, challenges and triumphs, it can become difficult to remember just how much a space has been transformed from its original self. That is why I definitely recommend documenting the beginning of any project, if for nothing else than to give yourself a little pat on the back at the end of it all. 

Remember when you were a kid, and for a long time, sometimes even years, you were obsessed with a colour? For myself, it was cherry red. For these homeowners’ daughter, it’s raspberry pink!

This room was definitely a little girl’s bedroom: a pink accent wall, flower decals and a leafy barrel-shade light fixture. However, it didn't have any character! It felt small, dark and that carpet had to go immediately!

And here’s the reveal: A light and airy bedroom, fit for a little client with a love for pink! Using almost the same footprint as the original bedroom, we punched through the ceiling and enlarged the window to create a dreamy, loft-like space. The carpet and leafy light fixture are long gone and replaced with a lovely hand-scraped engineered hardwood and a delicate barrel-shade chandelier. Also, keeping in mind that personal tastes change and evolve over time, we used Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Pudding to add just the right amount of pop to this room, without making it feeling too heavy or being too “committed” to the colour. This room has found the perfect balance of expressing our little client’s current passion and giving lots of room for her style to mature and grow in the years to come. 

Check back soon to see more before-and-afters from the rest of this project. In the mean time, visit us on Pinterest and Houzz to see more of our finished projects! 

Design and Construction: Carriage Lane Design-Build

Photography: Stephani Buchman Photography

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This past January, we had the opportunity to collaborate with a few awesome companies and design a booth for the 2015 International Design Show. Teaming up with Century Architexture, UpCountry and Habitat for Humanity, we created an interactive booth to showcase these companies products and services. Working with so many cooks in the kitchen can definitely be a fun challenge, and we are so pleased with how this finished product turned out!

Here are a few of our favourite shots from the show:

Design: Carriage Lane Design-Build

Photography: Stephani Buchman Photography 

[carriagelanedesignbuild-blog]

Brrrr! This most recent blast of winter weather makes me want to curl up in bed and never look outside my window again! Since neither of those are options when you're working as a designer in Canada, we thought we would share one of our favourite bedroom projects, from warmer and sunnier day.

Your bedroom should be your oasis; a vacation from the rest of the world. Inspired by that thought, we brought together textures and finishes from the cottage and paired them with light and natural tones, to create a fresh and cozy master bedroom.  

Using pendants in lieu of table lamps is such a clever way to free up space on your bedside table and to prevent the sides of the bed from looking too "heavy". Here, we've used this classic cottage fixture in a brushed nickel to draw the eye upward and to frame the custom headboard. 

One of the best parts about reaching the finish line of a project, is that we often get to have the pleasure of working with Bluebird Event Design. As the co-owner and floral designer, Kat has such a talent for creating stunning and vibrant arrangements for any space we work on. Her ability to envision these one-of-a-kind pieces is mind-boggling! To see more of her gorgeous designs, check out Bluebird Event Design's website and Instagram. 

To see more of this project and to learn more about the products used, check us out on Houzz!

Design and Construction: Carriage Lane Design-Build

Floral Design: Bluebird Event Design

Photography: Stephani Buchman Photography

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Happy Friday! Here's a sneak peek of our latest and almost completed project!

As you can see, we're in the final stages: a light fixture here, a few paint touch ups there and this masculine master ensuite is ready for our homeowner to enjoy! We're so excited about the mix of materials and textures used in this space, especially that gorgeous floor tile. It was sourced with help from our friends at Ceragres.

This close up of the shower wall tile says it all. The rich blend of wood and concrete details is enough to make a designer swoon. Again, another great product from Ceragres!

Check back for the finished project in the near future. In the mean time, see more of our bathroom designs on Houzz!

Design and Construction: Carriage Lane Design-Build

[carriagelanedesignbuild-blog]

What happens when our clients are dreaming of the style of a NYC loft, but are needing the space of a GTA house? We create the best of both worlds and bring New York City to them!

Finding a harmonious balance between modern elements, industrial features and natural textures, the final result is a home our clients can grow into, with plenty of NYC charm!

And of course, no self-respecting Meatpacking District loft would be complete without that signature brick.

To see more of this project and to learn more about the products used, check us out on Houzz!

Design and Construction: Carriage Lane Design-Build

Floral Design: Bluebird Event Design

Photography: Stephani Buchman Photography