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BY JANE VAN DER VOORT
Colour is enough to make some homeowners cry. Yet that's exactly the
point at The Voice Of Colour, the year-old storefront studio of artist
lane
Hall and designer Ian Levack. "People get very, very emotional
when they come in and see large expanses of deep colour. We've had
three people actually cry" says Ms. Hall. "There's a resonance
to colour and that's what they experience."
The Toronto couple touch all of the senses in their successful "emotional
branding" approach of bringing interior design to the street. Lilting
world music, softly aromatic incense, chocolates, textured fabrics and
a visual rush of deep, glowing colour combine for a highly sensual experience
in their store on Pape Avenue, just south of the Danforth, in Toronto.
Ms. Hall and Mr. Levack offer their expertise at the Toronto Fall Home
Show, on now through Sunday at the Automotive Building, Exhibition
Place. They're among an all-star lineup of designers, and will host
12 seminars
while also making themselves available at their booth.
In the continuing trend of "cocooning," up to 45,000 visitors
are expected to come looking for ideas and advice at the show where they'll
spend an estimated $2.7 million on their homes. Before next April, visitors
with a top priority of redoing their kitchens and bathrooms will have
bought $49.2 million from the show's exhibitors.
"
A lot of people who move into new homes are told they shouldn't paint
for a year because of settling and popping nails. But I say paint anyway.
You can always make repairs," says Ms. Hall.
The economic allure is undeniable. "It's by far the cheapest way
to pull a room together, even if there's no furniture," Ms. Hall
says. A 2,000squarc-foot, three-bedroom home, can cost from $1,000 -
including consultation, top quality Pittsburgh Paint and your own elbow
grease - up to $5,500 to have it all done for you.
At The Voice Of Colour, clients are presented with six themes: Warmth
in earthy, natural tones: Simplicity in soft pastels: Playfulness in
vivid, clean colours; Elegance in natural neutrals; Power in deep,
courageous shades; and Tranquility in profound, healing purples and
blues.
"
What people need to understand is that there are certain principles
to colour, they line up in the same intensities and hues," says Ms.
I fall. "I don't mean various shades of green but the same values
of, say, red and green, or blue and orange for a Mexican flavour, or
blue and yellow - very French! - or green and purple."
Something else to remember: Small paint chips intensify a colour. "When
you choose something you like from a chip, go three shades darker to
get a wall that looks like the colour you chose," adds Ms. I tall.
Without that vital information, Kevin Beck and Sara Niles found themselves
repainting rooms in an attempt to get the right colours in their Riverdale
home. They were thrilled to find The Voice Of Colour literally around
the corner.
"
I saw this beautiful shop with great colours and fabrics and furniture
and it just felt so right - even just walking in the door!" says
Ms. Niles. "We spoke to Jane and my husband was, like, `You can
come and pick the right colours?!' Then lane came and from $300 worth
of consulting, we launched into redoing the whole house."
They loved the results of their decision to go all the way, with $40,000
of design and new furniture (including a finished basement) for "a
seamless, stunning marriage of all the elements." Then, job opportunities
in the U.S. convinced them to list their five-bedroom, detached Riverdale
home for $599,900 three weeks ago. After five days, 45 phone messages
and 10 offers (two over $700,000) they sold for a record $725,000.
"
We were astounded. The wonderful thing is the people who've bought
it love everything. It's like a personal victory" adds Ms. Niles.
The couple's experience is one of the many word-of-mouth referrals
that has resulted in 400 home consultations for Ms. Hall and Mr. Levack
in
their first year of business. They credit their instant success to
the personality of their shop, the creativity of their clientele -
and their
down-to-earth good humour.
"
We're very real. We're absolutely not hoity-toity designers." Ms.
Hall says, grinning at Mr. Levack.
With that attitude, you can bet the The Voice Of Colour also carries
a big, deep chuckle.
You can reach Jane Van Der Voort at jancjane@netrover.com
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