A Family Home Designed With Flair

A family of five enlisted the help of Trevor Ciona and Curtis Elmy of Atmosphere Interior Design when they built their two-storey home in Saskatoon.
A Family Home Designed With Flair
Inspired by a painting, the foyer is a study of dramatic angles. (Conscious Studios)
6/22/2014
Updated:
12/9/2015

A family of five enlisted the help of Trevor Ciona and Curtis Elmy of Atmosphere Interior Design when they built their two-storey home in Saskatoon.

Tina Barriscale, a stay-at-home mom, and Tod Stryker, a physician, needed space. They wanted a home that would accommodate their three children and love of entertaining. Choosing a newly built home in a freshly developed Saskatoon neighbourhood allowed them to create functional family living with flair.

“We began working with a draftsman at an early stage so that all the interior design details could come through without a lot of changes during construction,” recalls Elmy. The homeowners knew what design issues needed “special attention and detail, and what areas needed to have the most function.”

Barriscale researched design magazines and online for ideas. She drew on her knowledge and collection of mid-century furniture as inspiration for the home’s aesthetic. Inspired by a painting, the foyer is a study of dramatic angles. Sourced online, the foyer’s “statement” chair was reupholstered in yellow to complement the painting.

“The credenza is a vintage piece. I love the pattern created by the wood veneer and the contrast of the stainless steel,” Barriscale said.

The foyer’s staircase required an investment of both patience and budget. “Local building codes and suppliers made this design difficult. There was a lot of cost incorporated to make this happen. Being smart about where to splurge allowed for huge impact,” Elmy said.

Repeating patterns, materials, and colours bring continuity to the home. The foyer’s wood and metal theme resonate in the adjoining hallway’s built-in cabinetry fashioned from quarter-cut walnut with horizontally matching grain.

“We chose very durable flooring. Brazilian walnut is very hard and hides footprints beautifully,” said Barriscale.

The wood’s practical beauty provides timeless elegance and endurance. Since it changes colour when exposed to air and UV light over time, Elmy advises researching natural wood to see how it will age.

The hallway leads to the kitchen nook—a tableau of Eames chairs and a Saarinen table. The clean lines of the nook’s furnishings (from the couple’s previous home) blend beautifully with the home’s motif. Blending old furnishings with new ones provide a historical foundation for the home’s design.

“The light fixture is one of my favourite pieces,” said Barriscale.

Drawing on a Scandinavian sensibility, the kitchen expresses themes established in the foyer, hallway, and kitchen nook. The kitchen emphasizes clean lines and a lack of ornamentation, while cool metallics grace the pendant lamps, cabinetry handles, appliances, and the island’s buffed stainless steel.

Overall, Barriscale is satisfied with the renovation, with only a few changes that might be considered, such as “a larger mudroom with built-in cabinetry to match the kitchen.” Family and friends, she said “really noticed the many small details and that the home flowed seamlessly. They say the home is ’very me.'”

“We have created a home that I can see being suitable for our family for the long term. The design is classic and timeless.”

Source guide

Range and range hood, Wolf, www.subzero-wolf.com
Fridge, Liebherr, www. liebherr.ca
Dishwasher, Miele, www.miele.ca
Wine fridge, Marvel, www.marvelrefrigeration.com
Espresso machine, Jura Capresso, www.jura.com
Island pendants, Flos, Ktribe S2 Suspension, www.flos.com
Kitchen nook pendant, Flos, Skygarden, www.flos.com
Island chairs, Emeco, Hudson Stools, www.emeco.net
Kitchen table, Knoll, Saarinen for Knoll, www.knoll.com
Kitchen chairs, Eames for Herman Miller, www.hermanmiller.com
Hardwood flooring, Natural Lapacho Hardwood (Solid)
Backsplash tile, Western Carpet One, www.CarpetOne.ca
Counter tops, Caesarstone, Colour Misty Carrera 4141, Pristine Countertops Saskatoon, www.caesarstone.ca
Faucets, Aquabrass, www.aquabrass.com
Blinds, Shade-O-Matic, www. shade-o-matic.com
Shutters and wood blinds, Atmosphere Interior Design, www.atmosphereid.ca
Cabinetry, Designed By Atmosphere Interior Design, www.atmosphereid.ca, Material Natural Walnut, Installed and Supplied RedI World Class Kitchens, ww.redlkitchens. com
“Silver” geometric artwork pieces, Natural Curiosities, www.naturalcuriosities.com
White vases on open shelves, Jonathan Adler, www.jonathanadler.com
Wall colour, Dulux Paints, Designer Grey, www.dulux.com
Photography, Conscious Studios, www.consciousstudios.ca
Space designed by Atmosphere Interior Design, www.atmosphereid.ca

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