No one would ever dare complain about a home with soaring ceilings—but the fact is that a voluminous entryway can create a bit of an interior design challenge. In this modern Calgary home by architect Ellergodt Design and builder West Ridge Fine Homes, the two-storey ceilings and large windows maximize the views and leave interior designers Breanne Lukacsy and Rehanna Hartung of Hella Design Studio with room to play: “We had a lot of blank walls,” laughs Lukacsy.

The two amped up the drama in the entryway, using architectural MDF slats from Sublime Finishing and concrete plaster to create texture, volume and visual interest. The layers of depth bring a warmth to the streamlined modern space, too. “It’s a bold first impression,” says Lukacsy.