Page 6 - Dockside Magazine Muskoka, Summer/Fall 2018

Lori Morris, Founder and Owner of House of LMD
PASTEL
A room in Muskoka might draw on a deeper colour palate, hinting at the greens of the forest or the deeper blues of the lake.
paradise
Mosaic often shows up in
Lori’s designs. “Mosaic allows so much originality, so much artistry,” says Lori. “It can be sophisticated, modern, rustic...”
Artistry and vision from Fone of world’s top designers
The Palm Beach home showcases an elaborate mosaic rose set into a hardwood
floor, conjuring the feeling of seashells and driftwood on the sand; in the master bathroom,
a mosaic reclining bed in the shower evokes the sensation
of being amid the waves. A dramatic feature in the Port Carling showroom is a pair of Chinoiserie mosaic birds, scenes that honour the wildlife living just outside the door.
Like the artwork, most of the furniture in Lori’s rooms is also custom – in the kitchen of the Port Carling showroom, even the range hood was custom- built to match the oven. It’s part of a complete-service approach to design that sees Lori’s team on-site through construction
to the final placement of furniture and artwork, and even beyond. LMD Concierge is offered to existing clients,
to assist with anything from party arrangements to seasonal planters. “We do anything that relates to the house,” says Lori. “It’s like a house maintenance program on steroids.”
After all, she says, by the time a design has been created
and implemented, client
and designer have a close
rom Palm Beach to Lake Review, a British award that is together since the beginning, Joseph, San Francisco to the design world’s equivalent and their talents complement Vancouver, superb design of the Academy Awards. Her each other as they decide each
reflects the tastes of the owner, the artistry of the creator,
and the environment that surrounds the property.
“The textures and the colours of nature are incredibly important,” says Lori Morris. “It’s very important to bring that indoors. You want to feel it, embrace it, be surrounded by it.”
Lori is the owner and founder of House of LMD, revered as one of the world’s top design firms. She has recently been named one of the top 100 designers in the world by Andrew Martin Interior Design
work has been featured in Architectural Digest, on the covers of Marie Claire Italia and The Robb Report, and in dozens of other prestigious publications.
For the past two summers, the Toronto-based designer has also had a presence in Muskoka, with a showroom in Port Carling where current and future clients can unwind in a space that feels like a luxurious condo beside the locks.
“It’s important to let people touch and feel and be surrounded by the work,”
Lori explains of the 97 Joseph Street showroom. “It lets you make an intimate connection to it.”
Is the showroom typical of the work done by the House of LMD? Lori laughs at the suggestion. “We never do the same room twice,” she says. “Any time we start a new project, it’s a new work of
art that we’re creating. The question is always ‘what can we do today?’”
The first step is often sitting down with creative director Julie Ballard. They have worked
project’s creative approach.
Over the past 30 years, Lori has developed her own style, a look she dubs “Sexy French.”
“It’s a harmonized balance of French and Modern, two of my favourite styles,” she says. “It’s a fusion, a synergy between those styles. The vibe is very creative, sexy, original and sophisticated.”
Of course, every creation is a collaboration between client and designer. “If somebody wants a more modern style with just a hint of classicism, we will absolutely do that,” Lori says. “As artists, we can achieve any look. Originality is very important.”
Whenever possible, Lori likes her work to be influenced by nature, particularly when it comes to selecting the palate of colours and textures. The Palm Beach beachhouse featured here, for example, reflects its oceanfront setting. “It draws on the turquoise and blues of the ocean, and pastel colours in the sunrise and the sunset,” Lori says. “You can see all those beautiful colours outside, and see them reflected in the room around you. It’s a pastel jewel box by the ocean.”
understanding of each other. “We tend to develop very long- lasting relationships with our clients,” she says.
The House of LMD truly needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated: the journey begins by visiting the showroom, located beside the locks in Port Carling. DS
BY ANDREW WAGNER-CHAZALON
97 Joseph Street, Port Carling
189 Dupont Street, Toronto 705-765-5656 • inquiries@lorimorris.com www.LoriMorris.com
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