Watch this segment in episode 133.

Interior Designer Michelle Mawby is known for her daring  and original approach to interiors. She regularly breaks a few rules when it comes to mixing and matching and shared some of her latest design projects with Steven and Chris. Today's show featured two of Michelle's Daring Design Pairings - things you wouldn't think you could or should put together that make a dramatic - and absolutely fabulous - impact!

One daring pairing uses colours: the unusual pairing of Navy and Black, and the other uses styles: classic clean contemporary with rustic country.

1. Black and navy has traditionally been a no-no when it comes to fashion and décor, but  Michelle has not only put these deep colours together in the same space, she's also filled this small living room with these deep dark shades. Her background in theater may have fueled this richly dramatic room!



Pairing two dark colours is difficult unless done very intentionally...

• Dark spaces can create a look of infinity to make a soace appear larger if they're done right.
• Use sheen/shine in dark spaces to open up the space.
• A navy and black Louis Vuitton piece was Michelle's inspiration for this room. Always look towards fashion for design inspiration and the brave combos.
• Colour can be an inexpensive, easy way to go bold and brave, espeically if you do it with paint.

For this room, Michelle...

• deliberately blended grey and silver to give the room lightness and sophistication.
• mixed colours together through the details - piping, ribbon, pillows.
• Most accessories used were light in colour to stand out against the backdro
• Accessories also added more texture to the room

Tips to do it yourself:

• Use fabrics that mix the 2 colours 
• Add detail such as trim
• Use other colours in the palette
• Reinforce colour palette by repeating colours
• Add texture though materials i.e. leather, velvet, silk, linen, glass
• Lighting is always important but especially in darker rooms
• Good lighting allows the true colurs to stand out and not blend to together (black & blue can look identical in low light).

2. Classic clean contemporary with rustic country
The mix of rustic and natural was kept fresh and contemporary by the use of clean architectural lines, a simple colour palette and intense attention to details. The antiques and the raw wood have room to breathe - there's negative space. This allows each piece to stand out. The wall is like a large mat within a frame that really showcases the antiques.
 






For these rooms, Michelle...

• kept the palette simple and understated
• kept architectural features masculine and grand in scale
• used classic, timeless materials, i.e.: black and white check floors, wood floors, white walls. Adding too saturated a colour, such as yellow or blue, would have changed the entire look to more country or rustic
• paired antique furniture with modern furniture

When showcasing antique objects...

• Use pieces in unusual ways -  like antique sleighs as art in the foyer
• Don't over clutter: edit, edit, edit!
• Buy what you love

Tips to do it yourself:

• Break the rules with some planning - think about it and try it out
• Find inspiration from other sources
• Less is always more
• Personalize it

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Michelle hails from Vancouver, and she has a background in live theater. She is a registered interior designer and has lived and worked in Toronto, London England and Amsterdam. She lives in downtown Toronto and has several clients including retail, medical, and residential. She is also a self confessed shoe-aholic.