By Stacey Lee Kong
Ask interior designer and fine artist Andrea McMullen about her most memorable projects and you’ll notice she starts with the client, not the home. There’s the couple in their eighties who own a condo at Friday Harbour Resort on Lake Simcoe and brought McMullen and her team at ADM Design on to do a full renovation of the space. “We ended up doing a really playful home that’s super on-trend with contemporary fea- tures. They trusted me and I was just thrilled,” she says. “They loved the result. It’s their family’s favourite home now.” Then there’s the client who loves colour, and who often develops a love of art after working with McMullen. “I have one client who I’ve been working with for more than 25 years; we’ve done three houses together. Her style has really grown. Over time, she’s gone from a traditional look to a more contem- porary feel. Her last build was gorgeous,” she says. “It’s also a wonderful feeling when I get to work with people who don’t have any original art. They really start to become more interested and educated in all kinds of art and unique pieces. For example, I just finished a client’s 8,000-square-foot home in King City, Ont., and it’s like a gallery now. She has such a great appreciation for art, and it’s changed her whole outlook on design.”
Art always plays an important role in what she does now, which makes sense considering McMullen’s history. Her family has always owned art galleries, and she got her start painting murals. From there, she branched into decor, pursuing training in everything from interior design to gas-fitting and elec- trical as her company evolved.
Today, ADM Design is an exceptional turn-key firm — McMullen says she and her team offer start-to- finish design. “We offer the full design experience, from construction and renovations to custom cabinetry and window coverings, to final accents and accessories that finish off the home. We take our clients’ dreams and make them a reality,” McMullen says proudly. Her team includes in- house trades, including electricians, contractors and painters, as well as interior design professionals who specialize in a diverse array of styles, from traditional to more modern approaches. It’s crystal clear that McMullen’s true love is giving clients a space that reflects their personal styles — and, more importantly, how they live.
Not only does the company boast an impressive list of services, but ADM Design has a lovely design centre where clients can visit and experience a plethora of fabrics, tiles and other samples. Plus, McMullen has two boutique-style retail stores — the perfect locations for shoppers to meet and select furniture, light- ing and accessories that beautifully pull their spaces together. (There’s an exquisite collection of themed holiday gifts and decor at the stores, too.) “We really do it all; we’re a one-stop shop,” she says. “I have a full design team, construction team and retail team. I’ve grown this business to service all the divisions of what I do, and I really love who I work with — my team and my clients.”