THE KING EDDIE & THE AXMINSTER: A STUDY IN PROVENANCE

From the ruins of a 1904 landmark to the quiet galleries of the Ridge.
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"Architecture is a conversation between eras. In our home, that conversation is literal. The very bricks that form the exterior of the lodge were salvaged from the 1982 demolition of Edmonton’s iconic King Edward Hotel. Built in 1904, the 'King Eddie' was a cornerstone of Alberta’s history for nearly eighty years. When the original builders of this home gathered those bricks, they weren't just sourcing materials; they were preserving a soul. By the time this 'Boomerang' was completed in 1989, a piece of Edmonton’s Edwardian heart had been transplanted into the Jasper foothills.
The Era of the Grand Dame This historic lineage set a high bar for the interior, particularly in the bedroom wing. For years, the hallway was defined by a custom-commissioned Axminster carpet from the UK—a 'Grand Dame' of a floor covering that was bold, aristocratic, and unyielding.
I spent a decade in a delicate design dance with her. I pulled taupe, antique green, and ivory from her weave, using the historic foyers of the early 1900s as my guide. I added full-length silk drapes to match the weight of the King Edward bricks, creating a space that felt like a quiet nod to a bygone smoking room.

"For decades, the Axminster was the undisputed artwork of the wing. Knowing she would win any competition with other design elements- not because she was better-but because she was much, much louder. I chose to surrender the palette to her—allowing her British pedigree to dictate the silk and the stone until the house was ready for its next chapter."

Kings and starlets! 

The Shift to the Gallery But a home must eventually reflect the people who live within its walls. In 2020, we made the pivotal decision to 'retire' the Axminster. By replacing the bold patterns with the warmth of wide-plank hardwood, the hallway was transformed from a high-traffic transit zone into a sophisticated gallery.
The 'Blue Room' era of 2015 was a necessary bridge, but the final evolution—the dark wood and curated ivory trim—finally allowed the architecture of the wing to breathe.
A Living Archive Today, the long wall of the bedroom wing serves a deeper purpose. It has become our Memory Gallery. In a house of this scale, this hallway is now the most intimate space—a walk through our own family timeline, anchored by bricks that have stood for over 120 years.
We didn't just change a floor; we graduated the house into its next century."

The after picture (above) is the finished product .. For now ;)

GOING, GOING, GONE!

The change from the tired carpets to a beautiful hardwood floor & the wall colour to a rich grey.