Tucked behind a “kid-proof secret door,” this cozy eight-foot by 12-foot space serves as an office, a lounge and an escape from three busy teenagers for Kristen McKay. Working full time in the demanding energy industry in a role that involves a fair amount of travel, McKay needed a refuge. She reclaimed the space, and indulged her love for the feminine by instructing local interior designers Paul Lavoie and Kristy Kerr that the room must have a refined, ladylike look. Prior to the makeover, the space had doubled as a storage closet, and was a masculine mix of dark wood panelling and heavy desks.
“I call it the ladies’ lounge,” laughs McKay. “Its primary purpose may have been for my office, but I specifically wanted a welcoming spot to call my own at the end of the day — one where I could have a glass of wine, work or just curl up with a book.” Featuring warm, neutral fabrics, a palette of subtle pinks and rose-coloured accents, and a mural in muted heather tones, the room’s only hint that it’s also an office is a laptop on the table and a printer hidden in a credenza. Custom toss cushions in vibrant pinks and greens liven up the pale palette, while a cheeky painting by Cathy Daley adds to the girlie vibe.
A rose velvet-upholstered bench cohesively ties the room together, giving the room a decidedly loungey feel. It’s also the perfect spot for McKay’s Bernese Mountain dog to curl up on. A wall-mounted, flat-screen TV lets McKay indulge in the odd movie, whenever time permits.
“One might think this is just a lounge,” says Lavoie. “But it’s not. It’s an exercise in professional girl power.”
Table
In order to avoid the look of an office, McKay uses a white-ash, burl-veneer, pedestal table, punctuated with brass-ball details, as an alternative to a desk.
Credenza
A custom-made credenza provides a contemporary storage solution for McKay’s printer and files. Gold trim adds a touch of bling.
Eames chair and swivel table
An Eames chair upholstered in a cream-coloured, bouclé fabric, flanked by a pivot side table, creates a cozy niche for holding client Zoom meetings or kicking back with a glass of wine at the end of the day.
Bench
The custom-built bench with its multiple drawers not only indulges McKay’s love for a feminine touch, but also provides a functional storage space.