Designers Cathryn Royer and Laura Collins of Studio Bonnie are redefining home interiors with their fearless use of color, creating spaces that are layered, expressive, and deeply personal. Their shared studio and retail space in Calgary's Kingsland neighborhood serves as a design laboratory and a manifesto for vibrant living.
Color Confidence in Calgary
There's a pink house in Calgary—not just accents, but walls, ceilings, doors, and trim all in pink. This bold choice reflects the design philosophy of Royer and Collins, who believe color celebrates individual lifestyles. For years, Calgary's real estate market favored neutral tones like greige and white trim to appeal to buyers, but the pandemic shifted perspectives. Homeowners began reclaiming their spaces as extensions of their personalities.
From Neutral to Expressive
Collins notes that during the pandemic, people spent more time at home and started to see it as a self-portrait rather than just an asset. This led to a desire for color, starting often with wallpaper. The designers source wallpapers globally, favoring English suppliers with trompe-l'oeil effects and lush botanicals. But they emphasize that wallpaper is just the beginning; the real transformation comes with paint and trim.
Royer advises against the feature wall trend, which can leave a room flat. Instead, she recommends immersing the entire room in color—walls, ceiling, and trim—to create a complete environment. For the color-shy, starting in small spaces like powder rooms or dining rooms offers low-stakes commitment with high impact.
Small rooms often benefit from going darker. Royer calls this "dunking it"—using a deep hue on all surfaces, including the ceiling, to erase visual edges and make the room feel larger.
Design Philosophy
The duo's approach is rooted in joy and authenticity. Collins asks, "Why should we lose that as we age? With all of life's pressures, why wouldn't we want to walk into a home that feels welcoming and happy?" Their work encourages clients to push past conventional design rules and embrace color as a tool for personal expression.
Studio Bonnie's retail space offers curated items that reflect their aesthetic, providing inspiration for those ready to transform their homes. Whether through bold wallpaper or immersive paint, Royer and Collins are leading a colorful revolution in Calgary interiors.
