"Everyone in the neighbourhood tells us there used to be great grand parties in this house," says decorator Lynn Spence, "and I can feel that history when we're here. I love being a caretaker of that legacy."
That tradition is only one of the things that Spence and her partner, acclaimed photographer Andreas Trauttmansdorff, fell for when purchasing their Galt, Ontario, weekend home. Spence, a contributing design editor to Home & Country, can wax rhapsodic about the small-town home's happy character, its original yellow brick, winding staircase, hardwood floors, the two living rooms ("I just love the graciousness of that"), built-in bookcases, substantial garden, and more. But far from being just flattering words uttered in the midst of a fleeting infatuation, there is real feeling and passion here, a deep, abiding, almost predestined relationship among the right people, the right time, and the right place. "We'd looked at four other houses on this street, but every time we came, we'd stop in front of this one, wishing it was on the market. When it came up for sale, there was no question-it was going to be ours," Spence declares. After signing on the dotted line in April 2005, Spence and Trauttmansdorff spent a year bringing back to life this cordial, comfortable getaway.
See more pictures of Lynn and Andreas' home makeover.
Step one was to remove all the existing wallpaper and wall-to-wall carpet to give the rooms a sense of airiness. Spence followed by coating the walls of almost every room with one of her favourite colours, Benjamin Moore's Barely Beige. "It's fresh, it's calming, it's a wonderful unifying shade for disparate areas. A can of paint has become my best friend," she confides. Then the mismatched wood floors were sanded and varnished for a cohesive waxed look, and the backdrop was ready for Spence's signature decorating look.
The house has a classic poise, but Spence loves to mix styles, so contemporary objects pleasingly cohabit with traditional pieces and a more formal framework. "I've made sure to establish a modern moment in every room," Spence says, referring to things like the streamlined light fixtures in the kitchen and the bright green accent table in the library. "Those kinds of casual touches sustain a fresh, livable sensibility that's never dated. I like living in a real home, not a showpiece."
0 Comment