At home on its winding tree-lined street at the edge of a ravine in Toronto's west end, there's a house from a different era. Large, graciously detailed without appearing fussy, and full of both traditional touches and abundant light, it was exactly what the current owners were seeking when they went shopping for a new family home.
Indeed, unlike many of the older homes that flood the market these days, this one required little imagination to see the possibilities. Many of its handsome Georgian-style features were intact. No fit of modernization had seen walls removed or elegant proportions marred. Deeply enamoured of the well-preserved architectural detail – the deep crown mouldings, the gently arched doorways, the high ceilings – the new owners, a couple with two young children, sought to preserve the home's innate style, while adding comfort, warmth and additional space.
Enter designer Lori Morris, stage left, whose dramatic personal style belies her conversancy with a range of decorating ideals. Handed the mission to makeover this home with a “sophisticated French Country style,” and to oversee the addition of a new kitchen, dining area and family room downstairs and master bedroom upstairs, Morris had little trouble rising to the occasion. Besides, she notes, the building's great bones and the homeowner's sense of style suggested much of the design direction.
Throughout the new portion of the house, Morris replicated the home's original trim. The main entrance to the kitchen is a panelled archway, in step with the elegant door designs found elsewhere in the house. And to break up the largely open-concept kitchen and family room area, 12-foot-tall recessed panelled pocket doors allow the family to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the food prep area.
And so to the decorating. The owners wanted a home that was stylish but also relatively kid-friendly. “The owner had a very clear sense of what she wanted,” says Morris, citing the softness and prettiness of French Country. Morris's fresh take on the familiar vernacular is characterized by authentic French tones and textures, romantic Victorian flair, and some spectacularly personable pieces.
To add softness and accentuate the room's height, Morris hung softly romantic draperies. She kept the mood consistent with the rest of the house by using the same shirred and tied drapery panels and heavy dark-stained rod as elsewhere. The focal point in the room, the custom-made pedestal table with its charming carved skirt, sits beneath a whimsical chandelier.
0 Comment