M Designs Interior Decorating

M Designs Interior Decorating Specializing in Traditional and Modern Design ~ New Construction & Renovations �

09/01/2026

Most primary bathrooms do not need more space, they need better decisions about the space they already have.

After twenty years, this one was still built around a soaker tub nobody used ~ and an unused tub is one of the fastest ways to lose real square footage in a primary bathroom.

I extended the shower into that old tub footprint and moved the toilet into the space the tub left behind, so it is no longer the first thing you see when the door opens.

A new vanity added the storage this room never had, and new paint and tile lightened the whole space from top to bottom.

If your tub collects dust more than water, or your toilet greets you the second you walk in, both are signs your layout is working against you. Save this for inspo, or follow along if you want to see more before and afters like this one.


📷 CATHERINE RANDALL - PHOTOGRAPHER & STYLIST

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08/31/2026

Most homeowners think a small kitchen renovation needs more square footage to actually work. This one proves that assumption wrong.

The layout could not change ~ so every decision in this kitchen renovation went toward what could: storage that holds what a family actually uses, lighting that does more work than one mismatched fixture ever did, and timeless kitchen design choices meant to outlast the current trend instead of chasing it.

Dark cabinetry, a single undersized pendant, exposed appliances, and dated fixtures were the real problems here, not the size of the room.

I replaced all of it: light cabinetry that will not date the way the espresso stain eventually did, a fridge panelled to disappear into the cabinetry, and a range hood built into the millwork instead of sitting on top of it.

Same footprint. Completely different kitchen.

As an interior designer specializing in kitchen renovations, I believe good design solves the actual problem, not the symptom.

Save for inspo if you think your small kitchen needs more space, not a new layout.


📷 CATHERINE RANDALL - PHOTOGRAPHER & STYLIST
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08/19/2026

Every client who reaches out to me is feeling overwhelmed at the thought of designing their own space.

Paint chips, tile samples, a hundred open browser tabs of inspiration photos that all start to blur together.

My process narrows every decision down to three curated selections, so you are choosing what you love, not researching what exists.

Follow along if you want to see more of how I make design decisions simple.


Interior Design Process | Kitchen Renovation | Vancouver Interior Designer | Design Selections | Custom Home Design

A powder room is usually a small space, which means every decision inside it gets noticed. Here is what I think through ...
08/14/2026

A powder room is usually a small space, which means every decision inside it gets noticed. Here is what I think through on every project, reno or new build.

Wall treatment: I do not default to wallpaper in every powder room. Sometimes the room calls for paint, sometimes wainscoting alone, sometimes wallpaper paired with panelling like this room. The choice comes down to ceiling height, how much pattern the space can hold, what suits the house, and what the client genuinely loves.

Small details: a powder room comes together through the little pieces, not just the big ones. A detailed towel ring against a clean quartz counter is the kind of moment guests notice even if they cannot name why.

Lighting: I never rely on one fixture. If the layout allows it, I add sconces flanking the mirror for even, flattering light at face height.

When there is not enough wall space, a vanity light paired with a ceiling fixture gives the same layered effect.

Either way, everything goes on a dimmer, so the room can shift from bright and functional to soft and moody.

The vanity: this room started with the vanity, not the wallpaper. Once I found this brass console, every other decision ~ the wallpaper colour, the lighting finish, the hardware ~ was chosen to complement it.

In a small room, letting one piece lead keeps everything else feeling intentional rather than assembled.

Save this for inspo if you are planning a powder room of your own. 🤍


📷 Paul Grdina

The last one is the one nobody sees coming.My first design was not this house. When I was eleven, I saved my babysitting...
07/31/2026

The last one is the one nobody sees coming.

My first design was not this house. When I was eleven, I saved my babysitting money to buy wallpaper and paint for my bedroom.

Years later, after a long career as a paralegal, I designed my first home, the one you are looking at now. The compliment I hear most on this one is not about the barn wood tabletop or the antique door, it is “Wait, is this a reno?” It is not.

Every piece in this house took time to find. It is the same thing I tell every client: slow down and wait for the pieces you actually want.

Reno or new build, choosing what you love is the real definition of chic.

Save this for inspo 🤍


renoornewbuild

reno or new build | heritage home design | vintage sourced interiors | colonial new build | interior design Vancouver | kinda chic trend

Every new build usually has one awkward space that gets wasted as dead storage or skipped entirely. On this project, the...
07/29/2026

Every new build usually has one awkward space that gets wasted as dead storage or skipped entirely. On this project, the area under the stairs was tall enough on one side to become something useful, so I designed it as a built in reading nook instead.

I kept the framing intact and lined the back wall in shiplap to soften the space and tie it into the main floor finishes. A bench style cushion fills the seat, and I added two drawers underneath so the nook still earns its keep as storage, which matters in a reno or new build where every square foot counts. A single sconce above the seat means someone can actually read here after dark without needing a lamp.

The result is a spot that would otherwise sit empty becoming one of the most used corners in the house.

Save this for inspo if you are working with an awkward stair or angled ceiling space of your own.




under stair reading nook | built in bench with storage | shiplap accent wall | new build interior design | stair nook ideas

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