A Toronto Bedroom Gets A Stunning Makeover

When fashion + beauty editor, and HGTV Canada contributor Gabrielle Johnson and her husband bought their Toronto home they knew they wanted to make interior changes. Her first order of business would be “repainting each and every room; thanks to the previous owners, the house was aggressively beige and devoid of personality,” she said. Gabrielle, passionate about bringing her new space to life, started by repainting her master bedroom. For furniture + decorative accessories, Gabrielle consulted with west elm Home Stylist, Karyn McGhee, through our free design service program to help bring the space together. Read on to see the dramatic transformation!

“In an attempt to tone down the brightness and create a more soothing, sleep-friendly atmosphere, I replaced our old duvet cover with a new abstract Ikat-print version in soft shades of grey and white. It wasn’t perfect with the aqua walls, but the subtle pattern was pretty and the overall effect was enough to tide us over for a while.”

“Karyn wisely pointed out that the table lamps I’d originally had in mind, a pair of white marble Art Deco-inspired beauties, were way too short to function as serviceable reading lamps. Oops. We perused taller options — always aim for lamps that will reach shoulder height when you’re sitting up in bed — and the Abacus Table Lamp won for both its prettiness and its practicality.”

“I wanted to create a cozy reading nook that would help me take advantage of the bright afternoon sunlight that streams in through the window — and hopefully inspire me to keep the chair free of closet debris — so I chose a fashion-forward faux-fur patchwork pillow that picks up the pink and grey tones of the room, and finally had an excuse to snag the Moroccan-style pouf I’d been eying for ages. Now all I need is more time for reading.”

“I fell in love with west elm’s Morocco Bed. With its white lacquer headboard featuring a graphic, laser-cut motif inspired by Moroccan patterns, the bed is bold but simple and clean-lined, too — an ideal jumping-off point.”

Photos: Carole B. Eves Photography
Paint: Canadian Tire Premier Paint

Gabrielle Johnson is a freelance fashion and beauty editor who lives in Toronto with her husband, their two-year-old son and a giant, occasionally friendly cat. She shops for work, pleasure and therapy (not necessarily in that order). Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.