Curate your home ... Canadian style

With all of the recent talk about sovereignty, buying Canadian and getting elbows up, national pride is at a high across Canada.

From celebrating the things we’re known for, to embracing values of equality, respect and peace, to uniting against U.S. tariffs, we’re standing up for our distinct culture like never before.

Yet, it’s just not in us to be too showy. We prefer to exude a more thoughtful, quiet confidence, a trait that also characterizes Canadian style at home, says designer Curtis Elmy,

“What makes Canadian design unique is its inclusivity,” said Elmy, who owns and operates Saskatoon-based Atmosphere Interior Design with his life and work partner Trevor Ciona.

“We’re a mosaic. All of our designs reflect that there are layers of global influence interpreted through a distinctly Canadian lens.” added Elmy, who believes Canadian design holds a deep connection to nature, diversity and authenticity.

Though there are subtle differences between provinces, for the most part Canadians favour an earthy, neutral palette for their home interiors, incorporating greens, browns and blues that reflect the natural landscape.

We gravitate towards warm wood finishes, investing in quality pieces that stand the test of time and more often than not, tell a story.

Since launching their company, Elmy and Ciona have worked closely with Canadian businesses like Rusholme House, Silva Custom Furniture, Marcantonio Designs and Kirk Woodworking to craft creative furnishings for clients. As much as people seek durable, practical pieces, they also demonstrate a rich appreciation and respect for things handmade, said Elmy.

“I think it’s about creating spaces that feel grounded and honest,” said Elmy. “It’s about craftsmanship, and quality over quantity … Canadians want their homes to be like sanctuaries, to be surrounded by things they have a connection to versus being mass produced and shipped on a big sea can.”

Designers Natalie Owens and Victoria Armour, co-owners of Stil James design studio in Halifax, see a similar love for handcrafted materials in Atlantic Canada, with about one in every two clients now expressing a desire to buy Canadian.

Armour estimates nearly 90% of the tables sourced by the Stil James team are crafted by RedBeard Rustics Woodcraft, and they often scour the Conifer Shop in Lunenburg for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces as well.

“Designers regionally are layering it in different ways, but the base of that warm, homey feel that natural wood gives within a home is universal for Canada,” said Armour.

Whereas homeowners on the west coast generally gravitate towards a more rustic aesthetic, highlighted by a spicier earthy palette that may include red, interiors on the east coast are all about recreating a coastal vibe that puts the emphasis on lighter greens and blues.

“It’s not uncommon for us to walk into a space, and people will have collected sea glass or driftwood from the beach, and we’re running with that as a palette,” said Owens.

One characteristic that stands out as positively Canadian, according to Armour and Owens, is the need to design for four seasons.

Families are looking for homes that are built to perform, meaning they need to stand up to messy snow gear in winter, mud in spring, wet towels and bathing suits in summer and dried leaves and yard debris during fall.

Canadians tend to prioritize durability and adaptability, choosing fabrics and finishes that can take a beating. They also steer away from darker, moodier spaces, keeping décor light and bright.

“We run into that a lot when we’re designing,” said Owens. “How can we create these calm, bright spaces for people to get us through our long, harsh winters?”

It’s no coincidence that a country known for its casual Canadian tuxedo – the legendary denim on denim combination that has stuck around since the 1950s — also turns to casualness in home fashion. Our interiors are “unfussy and functional,” said Amour, and even high-end spaces focus on creating a “relaxed and lived in feel.”

When we do embrace colour, we do it with purpose, translating it into art, accessories or accent pieces. Elmy has worked with clients who felt compelled to choose bolder room colours to stay in step with global design trends, only to admit later on that they didn’t really know what they like.

His advice? Take a look through your closet. If your wardrobe is primarily black, grey brown and white, colour is going to be a hard transition.

“We are surrounded by beautiful lakes, forests and mountains so maybe that’s what comes naturally to us,” said Elmy. “Whereas other areas are more open to colour, I think that’s essentially who we are, we’re neutral.