One Room Challenge Spring 2020 ~ Week 1
image via Architectural Digest, courtesy of EyeSwoon
Hello everyone and welcome to Week 1 of One Room Challenge! For those of you who are new to my blog, my name is Tim Lam, an interior decorator based in Toronto, Canada. This is my 6th One Room Challenge and a BIG thank you to Linda, our incredible leader who works tirelessly to provide us all a platform to share ideas, be inspired, and support each other, and to Better Homes and Gardens, our official media partner, for having me as one of the 20 featured designers for ORC Spring 2020.
I LOVE streamlined contemporary spaces with a good mix of patterns plus pops of color as accents. There is always a sense of whimsy and an appreciation of natural elements in my projects. In case you are curious of my design aesthetic, check out my Instagram page + here are my previous One Room Challenge makeovers:
ORC Fall 2016
kitchen, photo courtesy of Stephani Buchman Photography
Spring 2017
dining room, photo courtesy of Stephani Buchman Photography
Fall 2017
Fall 2018
home office, photo courtesy of Stephani Buchman Photography
Fall 2019
guest suite, photo courtesy of Stephani Buchman Photography
For this upcoming One Room Challenge, Chris and I are tackling an open concept living room / dining room / kitchen in our brand new condo. The view from our new home is absolutely breathtaking. But like most small space living, it also comes with the big question: how to maximize functions + squeeze every square foot twice?
More to come on how to maximize both function and usage of an existing space without a major overhaul (we bought our condo at pre-construction and had made some customizations). For now, this is my blank canvas living room:
A little while later with wall painted and floor installed by builder:
I have big dreams for this space, and these full height windows had my heart skip a beat when I first walked into the space.
As for my inspirations, I LOVE Nate and Jeremiah’s new townhome in NY with the perfect balance of timeless classic + edgy contemporary moments. Calming neutral walls serve as a beautiful backdrop to accentuate stunning details such as the vintage french doors, the black iron lantern, and the mid-tone wood floor in herringbone. The geometric objects are unexpected and they add playfulness to the space. Something I will definitely try to incorporate in my room.
I am a fan of Brady Tolbert (his bedroom and kitchen are to die for) and his chic living room sums up the palette and sensibility I am aiming for: saturation of neutrals and layers of texture with rich camel and deep charcoal as accents.
image via Architectural Digest, courtesy of Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent
image courtesy of Brady Tolbert
image via Architectural Digest, courtesy of Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent
After much deliberation, here is my design game plan for the living room. As you can see, I am playing with many shades of neutrals plus a variety of textures to create a welcoming, cocoon-like retreat. Fingers crossed in 8 short weeks, this effortlessly elegant space will be filled with intricate details, treasures I collected over time, and new favorites thanks to the ORC sponsors.
I will walk you through my design concept (and the reason to my madness) over the next few weeks.
We all love open concept homes. It’s great for entertaining or perfect as a cozy family hangout. The fun part when designing an open concept space is really (1) how to divide up the space into different zones, and (2) give each zone its personality yet keeping the room feels cohesive in style without being too “matchy-matchy”.
One impeccable example I simply couldn’t get enough of is this sensational family hub designed by Athena Calderone. From kitchen to casual dining + outdoor oasis, this boundary-less room just goes on and on! Instead of being limited by the traditional concept of “space”, Athena has rewritten the rules and followed her heart to tailor and curate a home that’s truly one of a kind.
image via Architectural Digest, courtesy of Eye Swoon
It’s a tall order and I will show you how I customized this builder basic kitchen into a sleek, gourmet kitchen Chris gets to enjoy for years to come (guess now you know who's the cook in my household). Beaming with possibilities, I can’t wait to turn my vision into reality.
Again with a coat of paint and flooring in:
As for kitchen inspirations, I am drawn to simple contemporary cabinet profiles, practical yet stylish countertop / backsplash + floating shelf combination for a stunning moment (a stylist heaven really), mix of hardware / hardware-less cabinets, and statement lighting and faucet (they are the jewelries of any kitchen). Since I am also incorporating a dining zone between the living room and the kitchen, sexy seatings are in order and I will show you some tips on how to fall in love with your dining table all over again.
image via The Zoe Report, courtesy of Zara Home
image courtesy of Croma Design
image courtesy of EyeSwoon
Here is the moodboard for my kitchen transformation. The design echos the layering of neutrals and black accent in the living room, as well as the geometric motifs and the notion of maximizing the use of space (in this case: storage and counter space). I love having my favorite dishes on display and for everyday use, so a floating shelf with a pair of wall sconces are definitely on my wish list. To keep some other daily essentials out of sight (i.e. the microwave / toaster), I will show you one of my favorite tricks on how to conceal them in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, I will be sharing more ORC behind-the-scenes footage on my Instagram and IG Stories (ORC S20).
Thank you so much for stopping by today! One thing truly amazing about One Room Challenge is that your fellow designers are always here to support you, and I couldn’t be happier to be among these talented featured designers + all the guest participants. Head on over to see which room they are set to tackle over the next 8 weeks!
A Glass of Bovino | Beginning in the Middle | Beth Diana Smith | Clark + Aldine | Coco & Jack
Deeply Southern Home| Design Maze | Dwell by Cheryl | Erika Ward | Home Made by Carmona
House of Hipsters | Hunted Interior | Kandrac & Kole | Kate Pearce | Katrina Blair | Liz Kamarul
Veneer Designs| Rambling Renovators | Renovation Husbands | Studio Plumb | Media BH&G
Also a big thank you to the generous official sponsors of One Room Challenge Spring 2020! I look forward to working with many of you to transform my cookie cutter / builder basic condo living into sophisticated urban getaway.
Looking forward to meeting you on my IG and I will see you all back here next Wednesday!