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Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, Orleans is one of Ottawa’s fastest-growing suburbs in the city. Being the closest part of the city to Gatineau than any other (besides Centretown), it’s no wonder that it is ever changing and evolving.
This is where our latest design story takes place. Joyce Perry, a happily retired neonatal ICU nurse and grandmother, was uncertain about what to do with her living.
But after finding a good selection of furniture at our La-Z-Boy Hunt Club location, and working with our interior designer, Michelle MacLellan, she decided to take a chance on our furniture, which did not disappoint.
So, what was the vision for Joyce’s living room, and how did Michelle convince her to go from purchasing a sofa to an entire room?
In This Article…
About the Project
For about a year, Joyce had been looking around the Orleans area for a sofa, to no avail. After so much looking around, she wasn’t sure where to go. But, because her cousin was close with the manager at La-Z-Boy’s Hunt Club location, she thought, “Why not give it a shot?”
Michelle first met Joyce in the showroom at the Hunt Club location. “She was roaming the showroom and found a couple of pieces that she loved, and once she found the sofa that caught her eye, she came to me and asked for my advice,” she said.
Going to Michelle with a small vision board and a sense of optimism, Joyce had one thing in mind when working with Michelle.
Joyce felt it was time for a change. “My living room felt really dark and gloomy, and I really wanted to lighten things up. I sat on a lot of uncomfortable sofas before landing on La-Z-Boy as my final choice,” she said.
In addition to wanting something more uplifting, Joyce also wanted to incorporate some of her favourite colours, such as pink. She also had some concerns about the size of the room since it’s narrower than other living rooms.
With Michelle’s help, however, she was able to find the right furniture pieces to fit in her room.
Before...
After!
The Interior Design Process
So, what was Michelle’s process behind the scenes?
Michelle notes that one of the main things that gave her inspiration was Joyce’s vision board. “She wanted something more soft and airy compared to what she had before, and that little piece of paper made me really get into her head and figure out what her result should be.”
After Joyce saw the seemingly endless fabric samples Michelle brought to her home, she realized her vision of a light and airy room was possible. In addition to selecting furniture and décor for Joyce’s new living room, Michelle recommended repainting the space to replace the outdated mossy green and bring her vision fully to life.
“It wasn’t until the third meeting with her with the 3D room planner that made me think my room could really change before the furniture arrives,” Joyce says.
While Joyce wanted a change, she also didn’t want to lose the number of seats she had, since she loves having family over. Before Joyce visited La-Z-Boy, she had two nice couches facing each other, with a dark blue recliner on the right side of the room facing opposite the dining room.
Because the room was large, long and narrow, Michelle had a lot to play around with in the space. And, with the addition of the large bay window, it really helped her create a light and airy room that Joyce wanted.
To keep the number of seats, Michelle added three accent chairs around the new sofa; two accent chairs by the bay window to create a focal point, and an additional accent chair to create symmetry.
Further, to give the room interest over the awkward narrow shape, Michelle decided to add more accent pieces that create visual appeal.
Furniture & Accessories Chosen
As the two couches left, one sofa and two accent chairs took their place. Michelle and Joyce both landed on the Colby Duo Reclining Sofa, since this frame looks like a stationary frame but has the same capabilities as a recliner.
Joyce loved this frame because it wasn’t too bulky like a typical recliner is, and she thought it was super comfortable. To complement this, she paired it up with the Colby Reclining Chair to replace the large blue recliner on the other side of the room.
And instead of a second couch, the two women decided on two Maeve Accent Chairs, which helped open up the space like Joyce wanted.
“Because of the bay window present, I didn’t want to block too much of the natural light coming in, so that’s why I decided to choose two accent chairs, rather than another sofa,” Michelle says.
And to add a little bit more airiness, Michelle decided to add a round glass coffee table from Hammary, which helped complement the reclining furniture well. “I went with a round coffee table because the configuration of the room worked with that shape and because the recliners won’t hit anything.”
Joyce had also expressed one of her favourite colours to be pink. However, she didn’t want her entire room to be pink. So, Michelle found a way to incorporate the right amount of pink so that the space wouldn’t be overpowered by it.
Using a piece of art she found in the showroom, Michelle chose colours that matched the colour palette in the painting throughout the room. This is apparent with the light rug and the blush pillows she chose.
End Result
After working with Michelle, Joyce feels as though her living room is a much happier space than before. “Before, the space looked tired and sad, and just not somewhere I wanted to go. But now I feel happy whenever I walk into my living room. It’s my happy place,” she says.
Joyce also notes that working with Michelle was a great experience. “She’s very matter-of-fact, and I was impressed with what she came up with while seeing her the second time,” she says.
Joyce also notes how tasteful her favourite colour appears in the room. She told Michelle she liked the colour pink, but didn’t want the space to be overwhelmed by the colour either. “I didn’t want my furniture to be pink, and before I could say anything, Michelle knew what I needed.”
As for anyone looking to work with La-Z-Boy’s interior design process, Joyce has nothing but praise. “It’s a service that cuts your brain capacity in two. You don’t have to do as much work or think too much about your room. The designers take really good care of you.”
She even says her grandchildren love the space, with them complimenting her living room every time they see it! All in all, Joyce can never look back after working with La-Z-Boy and is forever grateful.
What's Next?
After this project, Michelle hopes that Joyce enjoys her new living room for years to come. Now that you have seen what La-Z-Boy 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 Michelle at our Hunt Club location if you’re looking to furnish your living space (or entire home!)
Feel free to take advantage of these interior design services by coming into 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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