Q&A WITH REBECCA SIMON OF MAISON ELLIE INTERIORS
Photo by: Heidi Lau
I’m excited to share our interview with Ottowa-based interior designer Rebecca Simon, Principal Designer & Founder of Maison Ellie Interiors, a creative force transforming the ordinary into extraordinary wonderlands for little ones. If you don’t already follow her beautiful design work Maison Ellie and her Instagram @maisonellieinteriors, you must!
Rebecca’s designs are more than just spaces—they’re the backdrops for childhood memories in the making. So, grab a comfy seat (and maybe a teddy bear for good measure) as we dive into the whimsical world of Rebecca’s design philosophy, her passion for playful elegance, and how she makes each room a unique storybook chapter. Get ready to be inspired!
Stephanie: Tell us the story behind Maison Ellie Interiors?
Rebecca: From a very young age, I’ve had a natural talent and passion for interior design. I grew up watching design shows on TV and rearranging my bedroom furniture every few months! After spending the greater part of a 10 year advertising career focused on the home furnishing industry and helping friends and family decorate their kid’s rooms, I got a taste of a dream I just couldn’t kick.
After our second child was born in 2017, I realized that my creativity was best channeled by designing and styling spaces for little ones. I decided to dedicate myself to my passion and so came to life my interiors studio, Maison Ellie Interiors. My business name is representative of my French Canadian roots (‘maison’ meaning ‘home’ in French) and inspired by my daughter’s middle name, Ellie.
Stephanie: How would you describe your personal aesthetic? Do you have a signature style?
Rebecca: I definitely gravitate towards a natural aesthetic with subtle colour tones. Over the last few years, I’ve really fallen in love with layering similar colour tones and textures. Each of my room designs always includes my signature mix of contrasting patterns; there’s something so special about bringing a variety of patterns together to create something really thoughtful and interesting. I also like to design with function in mind, so that each of my spaces feel approachable, while equally stylish and beautiful for the whole family to enjoy.
Stephanie: Can you remember your first project? How has your style and perspective evolved since then?
Rebecca: I do remember my first project! When I initially launched my business in 2018, I signed up to be a vendor at a Baby Show in Toronto. I got my first two clients from that show and it’s unreal to think how far I’ve come in six short years. My style has evolved a bit since then and I’ve been able to push the boundaries lately with some of my most recent client project. It’s really amazing to see how a trusting client can really play such a big role in the success of a design! I think my perspective of the design process has evolved the most over the years. Each project teaches you new ways to streamline your process, which is particularly important when you run all aspects of your business solo!
Photo by: Heidi Lau
Stephanie: What is your philosophy for designing children’s spaces?
Rebecca: Children’s spaces tap into a level of creativity that no other rooms do, I think this is why I get so excited with each new project that I start. It truly is so special to get to create imaginative spaces that are so special for my mini clients. These are rooms that need to serve particular functions and ones that family members will hold near and dear for many years. And to get to be a part of creative unique and thoughtful design for families, is just the very best!
Stephanie: When beginning work with a new client, where do you begin?
Rebecca: I always begin with assessing the function of a space, so begin with the floorplan and room layout. I literally imagine myself in each space, navigating the room in the most efficient way and figuring out the best flow for furniture. It’s also so important to assess how the space can grow with my client for several years, with very minimal change and effort. Once this has been nailed down, then I get into conceptualizing the designs and sourcing products.
Photography credit from left to right: Rikki Snyder, Heidi Lau, Heidi Lau
“Children’s rooms take an immense amount of planning and strategic sourcing, so just stay organized, give yourself time to do one thing at a time and most importantly have fun creating a special space for your little one!”
Stephanie: How do you think functionality differs for children’s spaces?
Rebecca: Functionality is THE most important part of a child’s room. If it can’t function for their many needs, it just won’t work. A pretty room is great, but one that’s thoughtful, purposeful and functional is the cherry on top! In other rooms in your home you may just need to think about one purpose, i.e. setting up a dining room with a table and sideboard for hosting. But a child’s room needs to provide a space for sleep, for reading, playing, getting dressed, etc… there is just so much more to take in to consideration and that expertise can be priceless for most clients struggling to make a room work for their family.
Having two kid’s of my own has really helped me evolve the way I look at function in kid’s rooms and especially playrooms where organizational systems for various toy categories is key for a well thought out space.
Stephanie: What are some of your favorite shops/brands for décor and regular baby essentials?
Rebecca: I love shopping local whenever I can and supporting small Canadian business is very important to me. I often source speciality toys and decor pieces from Kol Kid, Milan Kids Boutique, minimono, Little Yoyo, Boutique Méchant Loup, Dreams Jumper and Maude Kids, to name a few! There are so many more that I am missing, but I really do love diversifying the products within a room so that it doesn’t end up looking like a sales catalogue from one store. Variety is key!
Many of my clients really adore the Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel aesthetic, so those pieces are often integrated into my designs. And I love approaching each project with a high/low mentality to keep things practical, so often will turn to IKEA for storage and organizational items.
Photo by: Heidi Lau
Stephanie: There are some very important considerations to address when designing children’s spaces. What would you say is something many first-time parents don’t think about, but you wish they knew?
Rebecca: I often see first-time parents just being so overwhelmed by selecting the big ticket items. Should we opt for a glider, a recliner, a rocking chair? What’s the difference? Do I need a dresser and a change table? Having someone narrow down all of these uncertainties and provide options that are specific to their budget and aesthetic is such a relief for most clients! I would say the stress of coordinating the decor pieces is also a big pain point for new parents; it’s that fine balance between it feeling too mature without any sign of a child living there (you don’t want your nursery to feel like a guest room with a crib in it) and it being too matchy matchy and thematic. That balance and vision is really what brings these spaces to life successfully.
There are also many safety considerations to take into account and I ensure these are discussed and addressed with my clients on all projects. Furniture should always be mounted and secured to walls, mirror and art prints always anchored and properly hung. Selecting natural materials and fabrics is also very important for many clients, more and more in the last few years.
Stephanie: You graciously donate a portion of the proceeds from each Maison Ellie project to the Toronto SickKids and CHEO foundations. Tell us more about your philanthropy and why it means so much to you.
Rebecca: From the onset of launching my business, I knew I wanted to give back, so supporting children’s hospitals felt like the natural fit. I launched my business when we lived in Toronto so started a yearly donation to the SickKids Foundation. Since then several clients and followers have shared how grateful they are for this initiative, having had their own children require long term care at SickKids.
Since moving to Ottawa in 2021 where we built our dream home, I’ve decided to add the CHEO Hospital to my list as well. It’s just one small step I can take to help the fight for children’s health.
Photo by: Heidi Lau
Stephanie: Being a mom of two, how do you balance work and home responsibilities?
Rebecca: It’s nearly impossible to find that perfect work/life balance each and every day. But I’ve learned that being easy on myself and giving myself grace in realizing that I may have days where I've prioritizing one thing over the other, is absolutely okay. I also have the best supportive husband and we’ve really developed a good groove in our professional and family lives.
Stephanie: What advice do you have for parents embarking on their own children’s room project?
Rebecca: Plan, plan and plan some more! Have a clear vision for your space and try to stay on track when sourcing items to ensure they’ll feel cohesive in the space. It’s also important to measure the space and have an idea of where things will go before buying them. A quick scaled floor plan drawn on a piece of paper can help you determine where the crib will be placed and how big your dresser can be before doing research. Children’s rooms take an immense amount of planning and strategic sourcing, so just stay organized, give yourself time to do one thing at a time and most importantly have fun creating a special space for your little one!
Thank you, Rebecca, for taking the time to chat with us. Your work is a constant source of inspiration, and watching your projects come to life is a joy for all of us at Rockabye Mommy. As a fellow new mom juggling the non-stop adventure of parenthood with the demands of work, I’m in awe of what you’ve achieved in just six years. To our readers, if you’re ever in need of a sprinkle of creativity for your little one’s space, be sure to follow Rebecca’s enchanting work on Instagram and her other social platforms. And for those lucky enough to be in the Ottawa area, don’t miss the chance to connect with Maison Ellie Interiors directly—your nursery dreams are just a consultation away.
Remember, whether you’re a parent planning your little one’s first room or just a fan of beautiful spaces, the magic lies in the details. So, take a leaf out of Rebecca’s design book and sprinkle a little bit of that Maison Ellie magic into your life.