A Toronto resident's living room is getting a fresh start after a canine companion turned a small sofa rip into a major home decor disaster. Sandra from the city's Little Italy neighbourhood reached out to design expert Virginie Martocq after returning home to find her dog had torn their sofa to shreds.
Turning a Mishap into a Design Opportunity
While destructive pets are often a homeowner's nightmare, Martocq views the incident as a potential blessing in disguise. The expert suggests this is the perfect moment to revitalize the entire space. The room in question is a long, narrow living area currently divided into a TV-watching zone and a formal conversation area.
Martocq's primary recommendation involves enhancing the room's layout. She proposes adding a narrow sofa table or credenza behind the existing sectional. This simple addition would better delineate the two functional zones while serving a crucial dual purpose. It creates a surface for table lamps, bringing needed ambient lighting to the room's centre, and introduces much-needed height variation in a space where everything sits at a similar level.
Layering Light and Refining Furniture Choices
Lighting is a key focus for the refresh. Beyond the credenza lamps, Martocq advises placing a lamp on the antique table beside the sofa. For a dramatic touch, she suggests installing two matching chandeliers—one over each zone's central point. A painted silk Fortuny-style pendant is highlighted as an ideal, if investment-worthy, choice that complements the room's antique warmth.
Furniture needs a strategic update. The two armchairs should be replaced with simpler, squarer models that take up less width in the narrow room. With the new credenza, a table between them becomes unnecessary. A cohesive colour palette of warm greys and caramel tones is recommended, accented with pillows that pick up the jewel tones in the existing antique rug.
Selecting the Right Foundation: Sofa and Rug
The destroyed sofa necessitates a key replacement. Martocq recommends choosing a new sofa with smaller, narrower arms to maximize seating without making the space feel boxed in. She emphasizes that all furniture should sit squarely on an area rug for a pulled-together look.
While the homeowner's traditional rug is lovely, the expert suggests investing in a larger, simpler foundation—like a creamy jute or sisal rug cut to size—and then layering the original colourful rug on top. To balance the room's weight, a lighter coffee table is advised, potentially using round nesting tables for flexibility.
This Toronto living room's unexpected refresh, triggered by a pet's mischief, demonstrates how a disruptive event can lead to a beautifully redesigned and more functional home space.
