Be Inspired!
W
hen designer Dahlia Mahmood was asked to design an entrance fit for a grand estate, she used a classic black and white theme creating a serene mood, rich textiles, a stunning chandelier and delicate archways - the result simplistic elegance. Dahlia, president of Dahlia Design a full service design firm design firm which specializes in transforming living space into a unique luxurious home, providing elegance and timeless design. Her philosophy is Simple, Elegant, Glamorous, “every client is different different expectations so as a company pride ourselves of always exceeding client’s expectations”.
and with we the
With this is mind Perfect Homes Magazine ask: What was the single-largest issue you wanted to address for the family of this beautiful home? Before the redesign of the pre-existing home, the walls were crowded with ornate moulding painted in gold. The client was in love with the exterior of the home but grew uneasy every time she stepped into the interior. Over-the-top ornaments clouded her vision of the space.
Our team, on the other hand, saw the great ceilings and the potential of the architectural elements. There definitely was beauty in this home, it just had to be rediscovered a nd refined. How does the end result match up with your original vision for the space? The client had noted that she wanted to keep the pre-existing double doors because they were hand-carved walnut pieces imported from Brazil. We stood by her request but found that the doors faded in contrast to the completed interior. The colour had diminished with age and had to be restored. With permission, our top-notch craftsman carefully sanded, stained and sealed the walnut, and the carvings turned out to look even richer than before. What was your biggest obstacle in this space? Designing this home, we decided to install large mirrors in the foyer to create the illusion of depth and reflect light from the grand chandelier throughout the open space. Mirrors at this scale, however, become very heavy, so we took extra precautions to secure them with steel brackets and a surrounding frame attached to the wall. A week after installation,
Virginia was hit with its first major earthquake in years. The East Coast was shaken up, but the mirrors remained in place. What surprised this project?
you
the
most
about
No matter the space or the size you are given to work with, there is beauty in any home, it is just a matter of finding it. Without a doubt, this home had the bones; it just needed a tremendous update. I learned to work through messy, outdated designs and bring out the best architectural qualities of a pre-existing structure. What are the hidden gems in your plan? Upon entering the home, the foyer table becomes the center-piece, your eye moving up to the baccarat vase of fresh flowers and to the custom, crystal rock chandelier. The client had a love of pearls and so this became the focal finish — from the Corinthian capitals to the moulding wrapped around the room, every finish in the entrance was given a lustrous touch of glamour. For more information about Dahlia designs visit: www.dahliadesign.net