Setting the trend in YYC

For more than a decade, Aly Velji has set the trend in Calgary’s interior design scene. His masterful use of mixing design styles, patterns and textures has captivated residential and commercial audiences alike, and the work by his team at Aly Velji Designs has graced various show homes, private residences, restaurants and even dance studios in Calgary and beyond.

His love for unexpected touches and his exacting eye for detail, has garnered not only industry-wide recognition and awards, but also the trust of his clients in coming up with a fresh, exciting look for their space. Case in point is his recent collaboration with Alloy Homes in creating a unique, contemporary inner city home that blends a midcentury look and a whole lot of wow.

Located in the northwest community of Mount Pleasant, this five-bedroom, five-bathroom home has a detached garage and a laneway suite over it.

“The inspiration for the design of the home was for it to have a luxe feel to it with a midcentury twist,” Aly says. Alloy Homes already had a definite modern bent in the structure of the home that Aly and his team took their cues from.

“The home already had a modern look, which we of course wanted to reflect in the interior selections and furniture but also give the space some warmth and character. The willingness of the homeowner to be open to some unique and daring finishes really attracted us to the project, and we of course love working with the team at Alloy.”

“The client loved the idea of having a black and white kitchen so we used this as a jumping off point,” says Katie Nelson, senior designer at the Aly Velji Designs. “We added warmth through wood tones to balance out the palette. We also carried this same mix of materials and palette through the entire house to ensure it felt cohesive.”

The home has so many great features that it is difficult to pick just one, Aly says, but the one-of-a-kind fireplace in the main living room is definitely one element that will stick to mind.

“The client had his eye on this fireplace for some time,” Aly says. “The dilemma was where to place it - the corner of the room or in the middle of the space. We chose for it to be in the middle of the living/dining room because it created some definition within the spaces. It also provided a stunning visual as you walked in the door. We love how it adds a midcentury vibe to the space.”

“This fireplace is actually bio-fuel, which means you are able to have an open flame without any obstructions or screens,” Katie adds. “This fireplace also has the ability to rotate so if you have a gathering in the dining room you can actually twist the fireplace to face that side of the room!”

Aly and Katie are also proud of how the three-tone kitchen turned out with honed granite tops on the island and quartz countertops elsewhere. “We find that the three-tone kitchen is becoming a trend,” Aly says. “We love mixing and matching different cabinetry in a large kitchen like this because it adds so much interest. Large kitchens need some differentiation and this is a great way of doing it. It also is a great way to highlight certain areas in a kitchen like the hood fan for example.”

Notice also the judicious use of brass throughout, which Aly says adds to the glam. “Brass is back and we couldn’t be happier. We love this addition to this interior because it helps to add some warmth and we have introduced it in subtle ways in some areas and then went really bold in others (like the bathroom). The brass is so rich and adds a sense of luxury to a space that I love.”