Interior Designer Amanda Aerin

By Tara MacIntosh

Designer Amanda Aerin transforms living spaces with her refined touch. She remarks, “You never have to sacrifice style – 500 square feet can be 500 square feet of fabulous!” When designing in a smaller living space, de-cluttering is the key to achieving a pristine look. Being deliberate in your choices adds purpose and value to each piece. Always discuss your priorities with your designer to ensure the furnishings, lighting, and decor complement your lifestyle. Incorporating your personality is what makes a house a home.

Amanda’s client requested a chic space to entertain up to six guests comfortably. The colour palette consisted of black, white, and gold with blush accents. Using textured wallpaper, patterned rugs, and bold furnishings, Amanda created a Chanel-inspired look with a clear separation between the bath, living, dining, and bedroom. Cabinets and shelving were used to cover wires, and decorative boxes were strategically placed to hold mail and magazines.

Varying the size of your furnishings will create visual interest. Amanda comments, “In this case, we used full-size furniture, drapery, and dramatic lighting. Larger pieces add height and function as an anchor. Lighting is so important for ambiance; chandeliers infuse elegance and grandeur – and to that, I say yes!” Adding a statement piece, like the blue velvet sofa, breaks up the colour scheme, and floating the sofa away from the wall creates the illusion of volume. This design technique provides the opportunity to insert a small table against the wall removing TV remotes, drinks, and other little goodies from the line of sight. Amanda’s sophisticated decor reminds us every home deserves to be celebrated – big or small.

Q&A with Amanda Aerin