Designer Gillian Segal reveals her trick for revamping a dated feature fireplace.

The Look: Grey on Grey

This Yaletown condo featured a dated ’90s black-slate-and-cherry-wood fireplace, but rather than tear it out “and open a whole can of worms,” says designer Gillian Segal, she decided “to paint the mantel the same colour as the walls.” It was an instant update: a coat of Benjamin Moore in Sweatshirt Gray on both the fireplace and the wall softens the ornate detailing and creates a modern feel. “It lets your eye go and focus on the art, because it’s so white against this grey background,” says Segal. From there, the soft pastels in the NG Collective painting inspired the rest of the decor picks: a grey sofa with powder-blue cushions from the Cross, a subtly striped blue-and-grey rug, and the blush-pink lip sculpture on the mantel that seals the look with a kiss.

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SOURCES
Benjamin Moore Trout Gray 2124-20, Pacific Paint and Wallpaper, Victoria, pacificpaint.benmoorepaints.com; Coast Decorating Center, Vancouver, coastpaint.com; West Hillhurst Paint and Design, Calgary, westhillhurstpaint.com; ColourSpec North Decorating Inc., Edmonton, paintedmonton.com. Original artwork, NG Collective Studio, ngcstudioart.com. Classic Big Kiss in Quartz Kelly Wearstler Sculpture, Brougham Interiors, Vancouver, broughaminteriors.com; Modern Duke Home Decór, Calgary, modernduke.com. Eclipse Agate sconce by Emporium Home, Designers Guild area rug, Peridot Decorative Homewear, Langley, peridotdecorativehomewear.ca. The Bleeker sofa, The Cross Décor and Design, Vancouver, thecrossdesign.com. Custom Throw Pillow made by Gillian Segal Design, Vancouver, gilliansegaldesign.com. Tassel Lamp by The Lauea Kirar Collection, Chintz and Co., Victoria, chintz.com; The Cross Décor and Design, Vancouver, thecrossdesign.com; Domaine Fine Furnishings and Design, Calgary, domainefurnishings.com. Marble-Topped Pedestal Coffee Table, West Elm, Vancouver and Calgary, westelm.ca. Alexandra Von Furstenberg Lucite Fearless Tray, Atkinson’s of Vancouver, Vancouver, atkinsonsofvancouver.com. Fireplace, throw blanket, silver birds, homeowner’s own. Mongolian lambswool ottoman, Da Vinci’s Home, Vancouver.