2. SPRING 2016 ottawaathome.ca 13
Typically, the redesign of a home built in the
1960s involves a contemporary makeover
to lighten, brighten and open up the space.
But a family house in Ottawa’s McKellar
Park that had been modernized into a sleek,
white box, has now undergone a luxurious
transformation into a warm, richly-decorated
masterpiece with a distinctive bespoke style.
It represents the inspirational vision
of world-travelling homeowners Simon
and Dawn Melanson, who wanted an
upscale eclectic decor to showcase their
amazing collection of worldwide treasures.
In collaboration with Susan Bryson, an
interior designer well known for her skill at
mixing global elements, they worked on a
room-by-room plan to create a wow factor
in each one.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Valuing quality over quantity in all things
is the Melanson mantra, explains Simon, a
director with the Canadian Coast Guard who
travels extensively and has lived overseas.
“We have cultivated a unique collection of
antiquities, art and furniture from over forty
countries during the last two decades. Almost
every piece in our house is a touchstone
to a special time and place in our lives, as
individuals and as a family.”
Having worked on three previous homes,
DRAMATIC
RESULTS
THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE: GUSTAV
METAL SIDE CHAIRS IN THE DINING
ROOM, FROM CADIEUX INTERIORS;
ONE OF TWO CONCRETE ART
PIECES FROM THE BERLIN WALL;
MASTER BEDROOM WALLPAPER,
DAVID HICKS GROUNDWORKS, “LA
FIORENTINA, AERIN LAUDER WALL
SCONCE; LIBRARY CHAIR, CADIEUX
INTERIORS.
FACING PAGE: DESIGNER SUSAN
BRYSON (IN WHITE) WITH CLIENTS
DAWN AND SIMON.
BY JANE WHITING
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK HOLLERON
Simon and Dawn understand that mixing
and matching different eras and influences
can be tricky.“If it’s not done right, it can look
like a flea market,” says Simon, who credits
Susan for helping them find the perfect
balance of contrast without crossing the line
into chaos.
The designer describes the project as
injecting the Melanson’s style to completely
transform each room into a curated work of
art with warm colours, custom cabinetry and
trim, textiles and wallpaper. Her first focus
was to create a library and lounge area with a
3. 14 ottawaathome.ca WINTER 2016
Hemingwayesque reading room.
“We went with a beautiful textured-velvet
fabric on the club chairs to team them up
with a South African zebra ottoman,” says
Susan.“Dark, rustic wood shelving displays
their unique artifacts, and Lucy lights by
Robert Abbey were added to complement the
bordeaux-coloured walls.”
While the library may fit perfectly with
a smoking jacket and cigars, the room is
PRETTY IN PINK
THIS PAGE: OLIVIA READS ON HER BED, DRESSED
IN POTTERY BARN LINENS; KRAVET WALLPAPER AND
JONATHAN ADLER WALL SCONCE; HEADBOARD, BED SKIRT,
DUVET COVER, CUSTOM DESIGNED BY SUSAN, WORK
DONE AT C&M TEXTILES; BERGÈRE CHAIR, RESTORATION
HARDWARE, SIDE TABLE CADIEUX INTERIORS;
GRACE AT HER MAKE-UP TABLE FROM IKEA
also the favourite hangout for the couple’s
two young daughters, seven-year-old Olivia
and Grace, who is four.The girls have their
own reading area and chairs, with quite a
collection of Harry Potter books – proving
them to be little collectors in the making!
WORLDLY TREASURES
The dining room reno began with moving
the space into the former living room to
best utilize its size and make a grand impact
upon entry. It is anchored by a ten-foot
harvest table in the centre, crafted by Ontario
Mennonites with reclaimed hemlock from a
century-old barn.“If you look closely, you can
see the hoof marks, gauges and nail holes,”
notes Simon, who used the same wood for
the custom floating shelves in the library.
Yet the most fascinating jewels in this
room are two 400-pound concrete pieces
of the BerlinWall positioned on either
side of the fireplace.They were taken from
Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie
shortly after the fall of the wall in 1989,
and painted by Jay One Ramier (one of the
pioneers of graffiti art in Europe). However,
Simon emphasises that they are more than
just beautiful pieces of art to him.
“They are a connection to my heritage; a
reminder of how my grandparents escaped
from East Germany and started over again in
Canada. I can feel the history, heartache and
sounds of ColdWar Berlin emanating from
the concrete. One day, our daughters will
each get one these unique pieces.”
For now, the girls get to enjoy their new
bedrooms.“We had a lot of fun designing
their rooms in a Pottery Barn style with
Indian-inspired colours,” says Susan.“The
headboards are upholstered in fuchsia and
pink velvet, walls covered with David Hicks
wallpaper and windows draped in silk by
C&MTextiles who supplied all the fabric in
the home.”
The main jewel in the redesigned master
bedroom is a hand-knotted red rug from
Afghanistan. It serves not only to deliver a
warm and welcoming splash of colour, but
Simon adds,“It’s a small nod to some of the
difficult places that we have travelled to and
survived to tell the stories.”
With the living room, kitchen and
bathrooms still to be renovated, Simon is
enthusiastic about continuing to work with
Susan.“She has helped us create a home
that reflects our authentic selves; our love of
life and adventure, family and travel. She is
a master at creating incredible, functional
spaces that make you want to stay and linger.”
