I was delighted to receive an email the other day from a friend and arguably the most talented designer here in Ottawa, Henrietta Southam, on a project she recently completed. This apartment is iconic in a few ways – it was previously owned by an iconic Canadian singer, and her love of Asian-style architecture and Hindu temples was and still is evident throughout and is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in this city. And lastly, the views of the Ottawa River and the Parliament buildings from its windows are unparalleled. I had seen photos of this home in its previous incarnation and what Henrietta has done to “de-wood” some of the structure and make it more contemporary and less temple-like is astonishing. (To note: the sale of the apartment included the contents but there was a caveat that nothing was to be sold. Henrietta helped the new homeowner decide on what should stay and what should be gifted away). Against all odds in a home with so much dark woods and global sensibilities, blue and silver were chosen as primary colour and metal (Henrietta’s creativity knows no bounds) and hence the name Cloud Nine was coined. Henrietta wrote a beautiful article on this home for Luxe Magazine which I would highly recommend having a read, and she shared with me some of the photos by photographer Marc Fowler (Metropolis Studio). I’ll share more on Thursday.