Designing dream home interiors

Panache Interiors in Invermere, B.C., is home base for its owner, Pamela Nairn, a sought-out interior designer

1 of 3Pamela Nairn of Panache Interiors designs multimillion-dollar homes from her base in a small community in southeastern B.C. — Photo courtesy Pamela Nairn

2 of 3This lovely room is part of the home of Pamela Nairn, owner of Panache Interiors in Invermere, B.C. — Photo courtesy Pamela Nairn

3 of 3This rustic and elegant room is in the home of Pamela Nairn, owner of Panache Interiors. — Photo courtesy Pamela Nairn

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Pamela Nairn, owner of Panache Interiors Inc. in Invermere, B.C., recently had a very special request—from a member of the board of directors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.

“I’ve been asked by a former client to participate in designing a museum for the Academy Awards,” Nairn said. “They have just bought a heritage building in Hollywood and have asked me to work on that—so I’m going to the Academy Awards in February! It’s very cool.”

Talent meets timing

Nairn began her career in design almost accidentally, about 30 years ago. A couture seamstress, she opened a fabric store in Invermere, and her merchandise shortly evolved into home furnishings. Her customers were impressed with what they saw in her store, and began to ask her to furnish and decorate their living spaces, first in Invermere and then in Calgary, Alberta.

“I’ve taken all the courses over the years,” said Nairn, “but I don’t have a degree in design. I sort of got in the back door—at the time I started, there weren’t a lot of people involved in this business, so that was possible.”

In short order, Nairn’s client list became a who’s-who of wealthy Calgarians with dwellings in various cities; Nairn has worked on homes in Phoenix (Arizona), Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, as well as Invermere and Calgary.

“I found myself doing these oversized, very luxurious places—which is quite nice,” Nairn said. “Once you get to that level, the clients just keep calling you back and back and back, whether they are upsizing, downsizing, buying another vacation home or whatever. Working with fabric for 30 years has given me a heightened sense of colour.”

In her own space

Nairn said that she does not live on the same scale as her clients—not even close.

“Our own home, which we built just recently, is 3,000 square feet on two levels,” she said, “with lots of glass and french doors. The house is quite secluded on three acres, but married to the surrounding land.

“My husband has been a builder and cabinetmaker all his life—I did the design and he did all the drawings for the house. We’ve always worked together.”

Nairn has two grown children, a son and a daughter, who are both married with children. She describes her home as “user friendly”; the house is surrounded by lots of green space for badminton, croquet and volleyball as well as a mountain bike track, swings and a horseshoe area. It’s an environment that encourages frequent visits from her children and grandchildren.

“We are a computer-free zone,” she said, “so the kids are always outside running around.”

It's not quite a wrap

Nairn is enjoying the rewards of a wildly successful career.

“I don’t ever want to retire,” she said, “but I’m very happy to now be working on just one project at a time—and only working with people I love.”

For an example of Nairn’s stunning work, see page 7 of the October 2012 Calgary Herald Luxe Homes.