For many city dwellers, leaving the bright lights behind for a suburban lifestyle is a pretty tall order. But when you have children and a cramped lifestyle, sometimes it’s the only option. At least that was the case for Deb and Dan on the season finale of the Property Brothers. Thankfully despite their big move, Jonathan was able to create the illusion of big city living in the good old suburbs and put these picky homeowners at ease. Heres how. By Amber Dowling
Built-In Technology
You don’t often see flatscreen televisions as part of a redesign (they’re usually added later), but having that sleek, built-in look was a huge must-have for these buyers. Jonathan worked with the unique shape of the ceiling to create a focal point that included the TV and a brilliant, modern fireplace.
Funky Furniture
Unique pieces with modern edges, like these armchairs, add a contemporary vibe to the decor, while the deep blues give the space a touch of colour.
Simple Shelves
A few sturdy but sleek shelves built into the sides of the fireplace and television lighten the look and create that bold black-and-white contrast while also giving the homeowners plenty of storage options.
Throw Pillows
In order to pull the room together, Jonathan created texture with several throw pillows that compliment the darker sofa and lighter area rug. The result is a calming but modern room for the whole family that could easily be situated in the heart of the city.
Play Area
Even the couple’s daughter got her own area with this quaint little play table. This piece adds a modern touch thanks to its sleek legs and ghost chairs, and as an added bonus? Little pockets for storage are built into the side.
LED Living
These homeowners were huge on lighting and no wonder — it helps add that modern vibe. Here in the kitchen, LED lights help bring out the pretty blue in the backsplash and really make those white acrylic cabinets pop.
Bold and Blue
Because the rest of the kitchen is so white and shiny, Jonathan complimented the space with this blue backsplash. It’s a big city, bold colour that easily works with the rest of the design.
Gleaming Hardwood
Hardwood is a must-have in most homes these days, however when creating a big city feel it’s essential to stick to a lighter shade in order to bring in as much light as possible.
High-End Appliances
Any modern, big city kitchen must be fully equipped with the best of the best… appliances, that is. These homeowners were adamant about that one, even making sure that Jonathan installed several fridges throughout the main floor.
Breakfast Bar
The always essential kitchen island helps give an open concept finish to the space but also maxes out the storage potential. Behind these bar stools are hidden cabinets where the homeowners can store loads of extra things.
The Kitchen Sink
Small details, like this futuristic looking faucet, add another level of detail to the overall look and really help to compliment the space.
Indoor Gardens
Any city dweller knows that greenspace is hard to come by — that’s why this custom herb wall behind the dining room area is a brilliant addition to the space. Now that’s functional art at its finest.
A Better Bar
The same pretty blue backsplash and oversized white shelving are applied to this bar area, which has all the essentials (including a working sink and two fridges) for the couple to entertain for the evening… no need to head out to the city bars when you’ve got one at your fingertips, now is there?
Laundry Room
One of the best suburban upgrades is always the laundry room. Jonathan decked this one out with a stacked, high-end set in order to save space and money.
Functional Living
He also added in lots of extra storage space in order to make the room as functional and as organized as possible — something that’s not always attainable in a city condo. Thanks to the accent colours and a few key pieces of decor, however, this certainly feels like a big city finish.
Beautiful Blues
Last but not least is this built-in bench that once again maximizes space while incorporating those beautiful blue hues. Add in one more fridge and suddenly this becomes a multi-purpose room with all the bells and whistles. How could you ever choose actual big city living over this?
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