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Kanata is home to many community places. Far and wide, the west of Ottawa is home to many local attractions, such as Centrum Shopping Centre, Tanger Outlets, and the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the Ottawa Senators.
This part of Ottawa is also home to Cathy and Gene. Wanting to revamp their home after 30 years of it being untouched, Cathy felt she needed a change. So, she decided to work with Zeina Badawi, the Interior Designer at La-Z-Boy Kanata, to get the living room and dining room of her dreams.
But how did Zeina create a modern interior out of a mid-'90s-inspired living area? Let’s find out!
In This Article...
Cathy and Gene have been living in their Kanata home for well over 30 years. Having first moved there in the 1990s, they had furnished their home to what they thought was modern at the time.
However, as time passed, the living room began to feel undesirable, prompting them to relax elsewhere in the house. “There were a lot of things that weren’t working in the space. It was very dated, and we knew we needed to update it, but we just didn't know how to go about it,” she says.
Cathy and Gene were looking for a new, warm, and cozy space to relax in, one that would be comfortable.
After looking at other furniture stores, they headed to La-Z-Boy, one of the stores on their list. After speaking with Mitch Beaulieu, one of the sales consultants, they were directed to our interior design services and immediately jumped at the opportunity.
“It was kind of by accident that we landed with La-Z-Boy,” she says. “We didn’t know they offered interior design services, so that was a nice surprise.”
With Zeina’s help, they transformed their living room and dining room into a new, modern space once again.
Cathy felt that she and Gene didn't know what they wanted from their space. One of the biggest concerns during this process was whether her husband would like what she wanted to do with the living area.
Having different ideas for their rooms felt like they weren't making any progress. But, with their initial conversation with Zeina, the ideas became clearer about what they wanted.
Zeina believed that upon her initial visit to the house, the space felt a little dated and dark in colour. “I felt we needed to brighten it up and make it softer on the eye so that it would look interesting for them,” she said.
She also got the sense that the two of them were all over the place with their ideas. However, having their first conversation in-store, she made them feel reassured and less overwhelmed about the project.
Zeina also asked them questions about the space, which she felt were important for figuring out how to furnish it. She asked them questions like, “What will the space be used for? Will it be used frequently or when guests are over? How many seats do you need?” and other similar questions.
Eventually, Cathy and Gene settled on using this space for conversations with guests and themselves.
As Cathy looked through the vignettes in the showroom, one in particular screamed at her, and it made her think to herself, “That’s my home.” And, luckily, Gene felt the same way!
Having chosen the sofa, the anchor piece, Zeina then figured out what would go well with its light, airy fabric. This was where figuring out the room's colour palette came into play.
After talking to the hopeful couple, Zeina settled on creating a colour palette that felt more modern yet classic. Nothing that would reinvent the wheel, but a soft and comfortable feel that matched the class and modern vibe Zeina was going for in the space.
As they were furnishing the living room, however, Cathy realized the dining room didn’t flow, which Zeina picked up on as well. This also led to the incorporation of dining furniture into the overall project.
Zeina felt this was a good call considering the living room naturally leads into the dining area. “I knew how different the dining room felt to the overall space, so I was happy to help create a new space for them there, too,” she said.
Upon first glance at the Natalie Sofa, Cathy instantly fell in love with it. “I love how soft it is, I love the shape of it, and my husband liked it too,” she says. Once the Natalie Sofa was picked, Zeina made sure to match it with the matching Natalie Chair to stay on theme in the room.
To learn more about the Natalie Furniture Family, take a look at this article.
Because Cathy said she liked hosting, Zeina also added an accent chair and a swivel chair to provide more seating for her guests. This is where the Midtown Chair comes into play, as it complements the Natalie Sofa very well.
To learn more about the Midtown Swivel Accent Chair, take a look at this article.
And to close out the space, Zeina added lamps for additional lighting, an area rug to tie the whole room together, and a Leo Ottoman for extra versatility.
The chosen area rug also added more depth to the room, with a pop of gold. Zeina believes this rug doesn’t pull too much attention away from the other pieces and matches with the other chosen items in the space.
Zeina also said she incorporated some fun art pieces into the space. “There’s a narrow hallway that connects the living room to the rest of the house, and we discussed how we could add a big art piece in the hallway.”
Cathy and Gene were hesitant at first because it was something new, but they landed on a piece they loved, and Zeina feels the space looks complete with it in the inviting house.
Lastly, Zeina also furnished the dining room, which was not originally part of the project, but helped create consistency within the open space. Cathy landed on a lovely six-piece dining set from the Canadel Collection that helps reinforce the modern-classic vibe.
Since furnishing the space, Cathy believes that her and Gene’s living area has become a place they hang out more often. What was once a less-used space became an area the couple frequents, which is what Cathy wanted in the end.
“Now that we’ve got it updated and looking good, we’re here a lot,” she says. Even her husband, Gene, is surprised by the outcome. “He’s said to me on many occasions since furnishing that he can't believe this is our house,” she says.
As for the next lucky client that’ll work with Zeina, Cathy has this to say, “For anyone feeling stuck with a design choice, go to La-Z-Boy, take advantage of the interior designers and trust the process. It does work!”
After this project, Zeina hopes that Cathy enjoys her new space for years to come. Now that you have seen what La-Z-Boy Ottawa can come up with, how do you think they would do in your space?
If you enjoy the look of any of the furniture pieces showcased, take a look at our Design Program, so you can get a chance to become a design story today! You could work with Zeina at our Kanata location if you’re looking to furnish your living space (or entire home!)
Feel free to take advantage of these interior design services by visiting any of our furniture stores in Ottawa, Gatineau, or Kingston, or by booking an appointment online.
If you’re interested in seeing more design stories, take a look at some more by clicking this link. To learn more about La-Z-Boy as a whole, take a look at this comprehensive Furniture Guide.
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