When Valentina Girgulis met with interior designer Sally Healy about her home in Calgary’s southwest seven years ago, she and her husband, Jim, described a vision of open space with timeless decor where they could entertain friends and their large extended Greek families. Girgulis calls the result “Mediterranean Prairie”: a little bit Greek, a little Prairie, thoroughly unique.

Healy had worked with Girgulis before and knew the project would be fun. (In fact, the duo had a great time decorating the home for Christmas, with Val’s “Miami”-style tree taking centre stage—for more on that, page 42.) “I don’t have to pull back with her,” says Healy of Girgulis, now as much a friend as a client. “I can take her all the way and then I can push her.”

The duo worked with a neutral colour palette, using dark walnut wood floors and hues of green and brown throughout the home. Maintaining an open plan in the 4,200-square-foot house, Healy incorporated a two-way fireplace and furnishings such as a large mahogany piece near the entryway that doubles as storage space and TV unit. The nearby kitchen centres around a large granite island, with a banquette for casual dining. A more formal dining room is around the corner.

Much of the furniture was custom made and Healy used two of Girgulis’s favourite things throughout: mirrors and chandeliers. “You don’t want to overuse the mirrors and you don’t want to take away from the art,” cautions Healy. “We tried to place them where they would either reflect the view or where we could add drama, like over the fireplace.”

After four years in the home, the couple were expecting daughter Theodora (now three years old) and Valentina’s niece was planning an extended visit from Greece. The unfinished basement became a priority and the couple once again called upon Healy.

The initial concept for the basement was to include a luxury, club-style library to accommodate Jim’s large book and magazine collection. “Books are part of our decorating,” says Jim. “With two kids, there isn’t a lot of time for quiet reading, but now so much else happens down there.”

The downstairs space is divided into two main areas: a family room for watching TV and for the kids to play (their second child, Dimitri, was born 15 months after Theodora), and an extended office and reading room where stacks of old Vanity Fair, Gourmet and National Geographic magazines from as far back as the 1920s line the walls. Dark alder panelling was used throughout the room to achieve an old, masculine library feel and to provide an alternative to drywall, which is easily marked up by little hands. “We wanted to have that gentleman’s appeal down there but we also wanted low maintenance,” says Healy. Dark millwork is offset by large windows looking out to the backyard and a French door leading to the walk-out deck.

Because of the tight timeline, Tank Design Studios and designer Darren Dorey assisted with the design and execution of the basement. But Healy says the owner’s touch is still found in a hand-painted Fortuny light in the sitting room. “Only Val would put something so luxe in there,” says Healy. “But it really makes that space.”

For the last three years the built-in bar downstairs has been filled with kid-friendly milk, juices and snacks. But so flexible is their new basement playground, says Girgulis, it’s just a matter of moving the toys and bringing out grown-up sippers like gin and scotch to entertain as many as 60 guests at one of the extended family’s birthday galas

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