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Honouring Nature First: The Story Behind the Design
- Paige C Clarke
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 27
Dandelion chandeliers. Wisteria wallpaper. Competing hallway portraits of the tortoise and the hare. This and many other reasons why Fairview 1855 is densely rooted in nature and inspired by organic themes.
I had a very strong imprint within of how I wanted the home to impress upon people. I wanted it to feel like nature had taken over the home, as it is surrounded by the gorgeous fields and acres, forest, gardens, trails, and pond, the home seemed to be synergistic with the nature around it. In my heart, this meant a playful space where that childhood discovery of wonder could be echoed in every touch. However, I knew my imagination needed a partner in clarity, to bring a feeling into a reality with design savvy. So, I reached out to a then total stranger who I had a good feeling about, Korinne at Zero Fox Designs. She has since created a lovely shop in Fort Erie, the Fox Shop, and I love to reflect back on her mood boards.
What I came to delight in most is that Korinne not only supported my vision, but she saw who I was, and integrated it into the design. In a previous life I was a lead singer in a glam rock band, later a solo career in an orchestral Kate Bush-ey, Joni-esque collective that allowed for more introspection. Eventually leading to composing for film and television, and my bridge into the healing arts, composing what's known as "medicinal music", with meditative properties used in healing devices all over the world. All of this to say that every room also got a little dose of "rock and roll" and glam touches like painting a bedroom ceiling metallic gold. It all felt wild, and right, and that we were not curating for everyone, but for the ones who would say, "Hell yeah".
One of the finest examples of our often esoteric communication would be the Pine Warbler room, which we often refer to as the "Twin Room", with its mirror image symmetry and mattress size. Earlier that summer I had an interaction with a pine warbler bird. The colours of it's feathers anchored perfectly in neutrals was the perfect palette. I found an image of one perched on a soft green pine branch, and the thought was complete. From there, Korinne and I lamented over our love of Wes Anderson and his use of colour. I shared my dream of having a VCR television in the room with all the staples, much like my own 90s bedroom. Soon, this vision board was sent over and magic was made. From being the "dank to swank" room, it was transformed into a guest favourite where kids, and kids at heart love to stay.
It took a year and a half to complete the indoor design and renovation of Fairview 1855. Each room an adventure, an exciting challenge, and a lot of fun. Although I don't miss the wallpaper glue under my nails, it is swiftly forgotten by the faces of our guests as I tour them around the home. I am so grateful for my design collaboration with Korinne, as I feel like she helped bring out the true spirit of the vision.
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