With the season turning to fall, homeowners are shifting their attention from summer getaways and time spent outdoors to their personal spaces, considering the potential for updates, upgrades and renovation projects galore.
A great place to find inspiration is the annual Interior Design Show Vancouver (formerly IDSwest), celebrating its 12th year in 2016, and described by organizers as “the Pacific platform for all things design.”
Running Thursday through Sunday (Sept. 22-25), at Vancouver Convention Centre’s west building, the residential design fair, which annually attracts more than 36,000 designers, architects and design enthusiasts, is set to feature more than 250 exhibitors along with a variety of exhibits and events.
Among the industry professionals being showcased this year is Reisa Pollard, founder and lead designer of North Vancouver’s Beyond Beige Interior Design. Pollard will be participating in feature event Open Studio, which this year is based on the theme of colour.
Beyond Beige is among the participating design firms tasked with transforming a 10- by 10-foot blank space into their interpretation of the theme.
The North Shore News recently caught up with Pollard to find out more about her involvement in this year’s IDS Vancouver as well as where her personal inspiration is derived.
North Shore News: Have you participated in IDS Vancouver in the past?:
Pollard: Yes, about five years ago we did our first booth with an industrial theme.
North Shore News: What sort of an opportunity does it offer people in your industry as well as members of the public at large?
Pollard: We are able to have fun and showcase our talents with ideas that may be less practical but show a broader range of our expertise. For the public, they get to see a wide range of products and ideas under one roof.
North Shore News: You’ve been chosen to participate in this year’s Open Studio feature, which this year is based on the theme of colour. Where did your inspiration come from and what are your plans for the installation?
Pollard: Being Beyond Beige, it is natural that we love colour. However I really love using colour to evoke a feeling.
We used mid-century Palm Springs as our inspiration. We wanted to create a room that was distinctly different from what you would see today.
North Shore News: What advice would you offer homeowners when approaching their own “blank canvases” so to speak, or spaces in their homes that they’re looking to transform, similarly keeping in mind the singular theme of colour?
Pollard: In today’s designs, any colour is workable. First, find a neutral that you know you can live with for a long time. Not everyone loves grey and that’s OK! Then, pick an accent colour that speaks to you, not what you believe is the current trend.
It will never overwhelm the room if you use it for accents. If you love colour, don’t hold back, pick a few colours and use them together. This may not be for everyone, but you are the one living there.
North Shore News: What led you to becoming an interior designer?
Pollard: My early love affair with creating change. I painted and wallpapered my bedroom and I was amazed at how much impact it had on how I felt in the space. I connected with it and felt that it accurately represented me, which was a wonderful feeling. Now I passionately try to create the same connection for clients.
North Shore News: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Pollard: I love the diversity. I am always seeking out a new challenge, a different style so that we get to push ourselves in a variety of directions. It’s never the same twice and that’s just fine with us.
For more information on this year’s IDS Vancouver, visit idswest.com.
