Creating a space that looks good and feels good isn’t just a matter of style: it needs to reflect you. Elena Villalba, the owner of Uptown Living, says great design needs to balance two essential aspects: the vision of the client, and the reality of their lifestyle needs.
“My concept is ‘it is your home and your lifestyle, so it has to be your design, not your designer’s,’” says Elena. “You will be living there, not me. It’s important that you come home and experience that unique feeling that you have been expecting to feel. A designer should guide you through the process to achieve this.”
And that starts with the right furniture. It needs to be adapted to the room’s dimensions and functions, the client’s comfort, and matched with the right upholstery for its use.
Custom furnishings
In today’s market, there is an incredible range of price points for furniture, decor, linens, leathers and textiles, but Elena says cost does not necessarily indicate quality. “Throughout my years in the industry, I’ve learned that high-end pricing does not always equal high-quality, and vice versa.”
Elena points out that nowadays, people want more than the standard configurations and limited fabric choices offered by most stores.
It’s those limited options that led Elena to open her bijou design boutique in downtown Orillia, where she assists her clients outfit their homes with high-quality, customizable, Canadian-made furniture.
“I work with four Canadian, family-owned furniture dealers that have been in business for over 30 years,” says Elena. “They deliver high-quality and high-end products that provide my clients with the best results.”
Clients can choose from a range of high-performance fabrics, top grain and full grain Italian leathers, and can also customize the width, depth, arm style and height of each piece.
“If you like to entertain and would like extra seating space in a discreet way, a good tip is to widen the armrests on your sofa to eight or 10 inches. This creates extra seating space for your guests while mingling,” says Elena. “If your family is tall, you can increase the depth and height of the seat, to make it more comfortable to sit in.”
With Uptown Living, even the density can be customized, offering different levels of support and softness – from soft to firm, down-blend to feathers, or alternative vegan down.
Design expertise
If you aren’t sure which size, style, or furniture layout works for your space, Elena offers a range of design consultation services to help her clients buy with confidence.
“Whether you need a full-service interior design service or a one time in-home design consultation, I’m here to help,” says Elena. Call to book an appointment, and reserve a dedicated time for the best service.
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE | PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
