Innholdsfortegnelse for April-May 2023 - Vol.26 No.03 i Style At Home

Do you love before and after decorating stories as much as I do? I find it fascinating to see a space transformed into something completely new, customized and gorgeous. With so many of us opting, lately, to renovate instead of move – what with inflation and more time at home due to the pandemic – it seems an ideal time to share our makeover stories, in case you, too, have caught reno fever. We’ve got a whole home renovation (page 82), a “suite” makeover (page 54), and a before and after story (page 42) that showcases nine rooms transformed by different designers. Throughout, we offer insider advice. In the before and after story, I noticed a number of designers say their favourite feature of a project was custom built-ins because…

INGREDIENTS MAKES ABOUT 50 MERINGUES 4 large egg whites, at room temperature½ tsp cream of tartar1 cup granulated sugar1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips2 tsp vegetable oil1¼ cups rainbow sprinkles DIRECTIONS In cold large bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar using electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Preheat oven to 200°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon egg white mixture into piping bag fitted with 1/2-inch round tip; on prepared baking sheets, pipe five 3/4-inch round kisses in a cluster, 3 on bottom row and 2 on top row, ensuring they are touching each other. Place 1 sheet on rack in top third of oven and other in bottom third. Bake…

AFTER HOURS If the room is used primarily for entertaining, go for drama. Paint the walls matte black, splurge on dark velvet drapes, and opt for a black rug. Add character with a chandelier and statement artwork, then layer in black accents. Flowers and cushions in mid-tones will bridge the pink sofa with the darker side of your decor. PAINT, Black Satin 2131-10, Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com. Declan PENDANT, $517, Mikaza, mikazahome.ca. RUG, $174, Jysk, jysk.com. Black and white CUSHION, $60, HomeSense, homesense.ca. Burgundy linen PILLOW COVER, $18, H&M Home, hm.com. Glattis TRAY, $23; Fulltalig CANDLEHOLDERS, $17, set of 3; Dinera MUG, $3; IKEA, ikea.ca. Face PLANTER, $110, Véronneau, veronneau.com. WALL ART, $180, Linen Chest, linenchest.com. SOFT SIDE At the opposite end of the colour spectrum is a light and airy…

Old & New A new, custom-made glass fronted wine cupboard is a contemporary complement to the home’s original circa 1920 archway and transom window. “We wanted to display Melissa and Matt’s wine collection and this built-in feels like a piece of art as you enter the kitchen,” says designer Kerry Dalton. The island’s waterfall treatment furthers the visual appeal, and a 16-foot-long sliding glass door lets in lots of natural light. Island Dreams The expansive new kitchen fulfills Melissa’s desire for an island and an open-concept design (the old kitchen was tucked behind the smaller archway and is now a butler’s pantry). The 10-foot-long island has integrated storage on both sides and, like the counters and backsplash, is clad with veined quartzite, a stain- and heat-resistant material that’s easy to…

Scant storage and a serious lack of style were the down-fall of this condo in Toronto’s Distillery District neighbourhood. On the bright side, the couple who owned it were gaga over the views – the southwest facing corner unit captures spectacular sunsets over the city. To give the interior a style lift, they enlisted designers Nicci Harrison and Meagan Prot of Studio Cajole to renovate, alongside QGC Construction Company. “Buildergrade condos can be flat with their finishes,” says Nicci. “I wanted to lean into warmth by bringing in organic elements. Think light, bright and fun with tons of texture.” To achieve their goal, the designers gutted the two-bedroom unit over eight weeks, then installed a pale Scandi kitchen with an island, so the couple can cook side by side (impossible…

A Aaron Smith aaronsmithart.com Absolutely Inc. absolutelyinc.com Ace of Space Interiors aceofspaceinteriors.com Advice from a Caterpillar advicefromacaterpillar.ca Álafoss alafoss.is Ames Tile amestile.com Anna Church annachurchart.com Annie Selke annieselke.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com Antiquités Curiosités @curiositemidcenturymtl Aquabrass aquabrass.com Arren Williams arrenwilliams.com Arteriors arteriorshome.com Article article.com B Babbingtons Mould & Trim babbingtons.com Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.ca Boo Boo and Lefty Fine Living boobooandlefty.com Bordignon Stone bordignonstone.com Bosch bosch.ca Bradbury & Bradbury bradbury.com Bungalow bungalow.to C Caesarstone caesarstone.ca Casa Cubista casacubista.com Casa di Luce casadiluce.ca Cava Surfaces cavasurfaces.ca CB2 cb2.ca Cedar & Moss cedarandmoss.com Ceratec ceratec.com Chad Wys chadwys.com Christian Roy Atelier christianroy-atelier.com Christopher Rouleau christopherrouleau.com Ciot ciot.com Crate and Barrel crateandbarrel.ca Cuisines Multi-design cuisinesmultidesign.com D Dacor dacor.com Dan Hobday Art etsy.com/ca/shop/danhobdayart Design Within Reach dwr.com Designer Wallcoverings designerwallcoverings.com DoloresRetro etsy.com/ca/shop/doloresretro Drop It Modern dropitmodern.ca Dupont…

If it’s a summer day in Toronto’s Etobicoke area, the backyard of Kate Davidson’s custom home will be the site of all sorts of fun and frolic. Her husband might be crisping up a margherita in the wood-burning pizza oven, their three daughters Marco Polo-ing in the pool, and Kate lounging with a good book. And that’s exactly how the designer likes it. “It was important for me to create different zones,” says Kate. “Ones that are ideal for bringing us comfort as a family of five, as well as for hosting guests.” Her design vision, which combines understated elegance with comfort and durability, achieves just that, and swimmingly so. Splash Out Designer Kate Davidson opted for a shal-low entertainment pool that is just five feet at its deepest and…

get the look outdoor inspiration FOR SOURCES, SEE OUR WORKBOOK…

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HIGH $5,259 LOW $1,679 Light Accents Wall sconces are key to the look of your bathroom. This is your chance to have fun and make a statement. Just remember that for all their good looks, sconces serve a crucial function – to illuminate the mirror area. When choosing, make sure the fixtures won’t cast shadows. This is one spot where you want a clear view. Oh, Vanity! Want to add a splash of colour in the bathroom without committing to coloured tiles or walls? The vanity is the perfect spot. We like this one because it combines open and closed storage. Display rolled towels on the shelf for easy access, and hide the hair dryer and cleaning supplies behind the doors. The gold handles and faucet elevate the style quotient and…

Paint is the quickest way to change the look of a room, but painting the walls is just one way to transform a space. Depending on your tolerance for colour, paint can work its magic in big applications, small gestures and everything in between. Just remember, however you use paint, the colour will impact every element in the room. Follow along for tips on different ways to use paint and how to make sure the new hue works in your decor. Colour with Confidence If you’re painting a room an eye-catching new colour, any furnishing in a soft neutral will work with it. Think: a sand-toned linen sofa, wooden case goods and natural stone. Sometimes, layering in pillows, throws and accessories in tones similar to the new hue is enough…

VIBRANT VIBE The magic of before and after shots is the night and day transformation they portray. The lure is that they make renos look instantaneous. They aren’t! And when the dust settles, the results better be worth the work. We asked the designers of these nine amazing renos for their best tips and favourite features. Get ready to be inspired! THE DESIGNERS Tamara Robbins Griffith and Jessica Dybenko, Kerr & Field Interiors. THE BRIEF This family bathroom needed updating and more storage. The owners weren’t sure whether to go for a neutral scheme for resale value or something more unique. In the end, something personal, and beautiful, won out! FAVOURITE FEATURES A new 60-inch vanity offers tons of storage and cleans up the previous visual and actual clutter created…

The owners of this home fell for its prime midtown location and the 4,000 square feet of space it offered them and their two young children, but its aesthetic under whelmed. “My clients had previously lived in Hong Kong and London, England, so the blank-slate home didn’t meet their global, eclectic style,” says designer Natasha Penzo, co-founder of Homekin and Urban Blueprint Design. She knew the owners were open to taking risks and that informed a design plan replete with bold furniture, flashes of mixed metallics, and refreshing hues, from Tpastels to primary colours. Says Natasha, “It’s now a comfortable family home that’s also cool and colourful.” Tip #1 STONE WORKS An unexpected palette shifts the once-neutral living room into wow-factor overdrive. “For the fireplace, we collectively decided on a…

Elbow room – a serious lack of it – instigated a move that led to the revamp of this now-gorgeous abode. Georgina Terzis and her husband, Scott Thistleton, parents to Oliver, 9, and Penelope, 6, wanted more space than their Toronto-area home could offer, so they left the city behind for a 4,300-square-foot house near Uxbridge, Ont. It had the space they craved and a full-throttle leafy view, but the 30-year-old home felt somber and heavy. To lift it from ho-hum to “Hello!” the couple hired Arren Williams. “The house was terribly old-fashioned and not suitable for this stylish young family,” says Arren. He channelled their love of open-concept looks, bold patterns and sun-washed colours to mastermind a renovation that gave the space a bright, contemporary countenance. “I worked hard…

Two outdoor spaces. Two tiny footprints. One fabulous mandate from the clients: lower the maintenance and turn up the fun! For designer Erin Hannon-Watkinson, these were challenges that played to her strengths. After all, she’s an enthusiastic proponent of using built-ins and convertible furnishings. “They’re a great way to double the function and dial down the clutter in small spaces,” she explains. And they proved a genius way to fulfill her clients’ desire for a restful backyard haven and hip urban rooftop lounge. BUILT-IN BLISS Designer Erin Hannon-Watkinson (shown) created a serene sitting area a few steps down from the kitchen-level decking; in a space-saving move, the wide steps double as bench seating. The barefoot-friendly concrete pavers and artificial turf add a fun graphic element, while four sides of slim-slatted…

Can a vegetable garden feel Zen? In Leigh Gravenor’s hands it can. The Toronto-based landscape designer created a unique backyard for a pair of empty nesters. At its centre sit six carefully composed vegetable beds. “I thought it was bold of them to give up the largest portion of their yard to a walk-in vegetable garden,” says Leigh. “People tend to think you need a big property to do that.” There’s also a flower garden that’s lovely for table arrangements indoors and out, as well as a dining area. And recently, the homeowners added a Japanese hot tub to the back of the garden. “The garden has a bucolic feel. It’s super informal – the epitome of a naturalized space – mixing together perennials, vegetables, cut flowers and herbs,” says…

A Alexanian Carpet & Flooring alexanian.com Aluminum Pergola aluminumpergola.ca Amazon amazon.ca Article article.com Avenue Road avenue-road.com B Beachcomber Home Leisure bhleisure.com Blu Dot bludot.com Bosquet bosquet.ca C Canada Outdoor Kitchens canadaoutdoorkitchens.com Casualife casualife.ca CB2 cb2.ca Ciot ciot.com Cosentino cosentino.com D Dekko dekko.ca Dekton dekton.com Design Within Reach dwr.com F Ferm Living fermliving.com Fibercraft Door Company fibercraftdoor.ca Flux Developments fluxdevelopments.ca Frankie Flowers frankieflowers.com Fresh Home & Garden fresh.ca G Garden Living gardenliving.com Gib-San gibsanpools.com H Hogtown Metal Fabrication hogtownsheetmetal.com HomeSense homesense.ca I Isabey Interiors isabeyinteriors.com J Jardin de Ville jardindeville.com Joel Loblaw Inc. joelloblaw.com K Kate + Co Design kateandcodesign.com Kichler kichler.com Kingsman Fireplaces kingsmanind.com L Leigh Gravenor Landscape Design leighgravenor.com Lisa Lev Design lisalevdesign.com Luxal luxalcanada.ca M Menu menuspace.com Moe’s Home Collection moeshomecollection.com N Nuewal nuewal.com O Outdoor Lighting Perspectives…

PAINT PALETTE of the month WE’RE INSPIRED BY… green. Our colour-hungry eyes are tired of shades of grey in the landscape. Maybe you’re tired of them in your rooms, too. Why not redecorate with this happy hue and bring a sense of the great outdoors indoors? We think lovely green is one shade that’s perennially in style. Green “The Perseverance wool rug hints at Brutalist design, with bold graphic forms that hark back to other designs in the collection.” Perseverance wool RUG, from $308, Renwil, renwil.com. INSPIRED DESIGN Kudos to designer and Style at Home columnist Arren Williams! His collection at trade-only retailer Renwil (a trusted one-stop shop for designers) is growing. “The collection expands on some of my favourite design moments, like Brutalism and Midcentury Modern, as well as a…

The classic Rey Chair by Bruno Rey is part of a collection that includes equally colourful stools and dining tables. We’re all for a bold design choice and a strong hit of colour, which is why we’re down with this latest dining chair trend. Truth be told, the idea of chairs in bold tints has been key in Scandi style for decades, brightening the scene in all styles of homes, from white-painted cottages to chic contemporary spaces. The recently reissued Rey Chair from the folks at cool Danish design firm Hay is definitely all in on this look. Known for their modern take on living stylishly, they’ve dipped into the ’70s and brought back Swiss designer Bruno Rey’s eponymously named beechwood chair. The Rey is ready to make a statement…

Spa Day CSP-635, Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.ca Designer Sarah St. Amand’s client wanted to wake up her breakfast room with bright colour. This happy aqua shade brings to mind cool, shimmering swimming pools on a hot summer day. It serves as a lighthearted backdrop for a colourful collection of fabrics and artwork. DESIGN, Sarah St. Amand, Sarah St. Amand Interior Design, stamanddesign.com. Newburg Green HC-158, Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.ca To elevate this mudroom from humdrum to home run, designer Lisa Kooistra chose a moody teal tone that complements the grey tiles and black window frame beautifully. Upholstery in grey and a bevy of blue cushions pull the palette together. DESIGN, Lisa Kooistra, Lisa Kooistra Designs, lkdesigns.ca. It’s a Girl P130-4, Behr, behr.ca We hear it all the time: dare to go big…

1 My 20-year-old burgundy-colour dining room needs an update. I’d like to create an intimate dining space. I am not afraid of colour but would like some new ones for a more cozy feeling. In the rest of my house, I’ve got light neutrals like taupe and warm toffee. Lise F., via email S@H I’m glad you’re not afraid to be dramatic in decorating the dining room. It’s one of the rooms in the house that can hold a bit of colour or pattern without needing to match other spaces. I suggest wallpaper. When choosing a pattern, link it to other colours in your home, but also choose one with an interesting accent colour so the dining room stands apart. A beautiful seagrass wallpaper with a silk texture could look very…

Jem Pellerin, the head of scenography at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., and a former exhibition designer, has a collector’s eye for unique art, furnishings and objets. They are particularly drawn to pieces from the mid-20th century – a peak time when style blended perfectly with function – but every era from the 1920s to the ’70s is represented in their delightfully eclectic collection. In fact, Jem recently opened an online store, DoloresRetro, where they can share their passion for, as they put it, these “found objects that hit the quintessential mark between granny chic and Midcentury Modern.” Before buying this circa ’50s house in Gatineau, Jem had bought and remodelled several 1920s houses. Unlike those older homes, this one had a more relaxed feeling – the…

SESAME HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD SERVES 4 2 tbsp pepitas2 tbsp raw, hulled sunflower seeds2 tbsp sesame seeds1 tsp tamari2 lb colourful heirloom tomatoes, sliced1 avocado, thinly sliced2 scallions, thinly sliced2 tsp fresh lime juice1 tsp toasted sesame oilFlaky sea saltMicrogreens, for garnish Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the pepitas, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds on the baking sheet, toss with the tamari, and spread evenly on the sheet. Bake until golden brown and toasty, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes to allow the seeds to crisp up. Arrange the tomatoes on a large platter in a single layer, overlapping only slightly. Top with the avocado slices and scallions and drizzle with the lime…