Article by Barry Mathias, photography by www.nuttycake.com
I arrive at a large, well-appointed, light-reflective home and meet Edward, who built the house in 1996. We enter through the front door into an attractive, open hallway with a fine curved staircase that is a powerful focal point. The steps and handrail are maple, stained a deep brown with red undertones to pick up the hardwood floors.
It has contrasting wrought iron spindles of a deep bronze – a dominant detail of metal used throughout the house. “The original staircase was typical L-shaped 1990s,” Edward says.
I meet Paula Grypma of Outlooks Design, who has been responsible for this major project over the last 18 months. “My job was to provide an overall plan based on Edward’s ideas,” she says. Her role is two-fold: to interpret the ideas of the homeowner and to make them a reality – having access to trades and artisans. “The staircase was custom-made and erected by Chris Bradshaw.”
At the top of the stairs is an open-plan series of rooms that are, at this moment, the heart of the home. Ahead is a compact, modern kitchen with a black granite L-shaped breakfast bar with curved, slat-back walnut bar stools, custom-ordered from Outlooks Design. To the right is a useful seating area with built-in storage cupboards. “This was a small redundant bedroom, and by removing the wall it made the kitchen area come alive,” Paula explains.
The white wood cupboards and drawers, with bronze handles, embrace a modern double sink set in a snowdrift granite kitchen top. The two styles of granite blend together perfectly. There is a sophisticated backsplash of glass and gold leaf subway tile. The modern range, dishwasher and large refrigerator are in stainless steel and flush with the cupboards, producing a kitchen that is both relaxing and well designed.
To the left is the eating area with a long maple table and matching spindle-back chairs of Vilas maple. There are plenty of windows with discreet blinds, and both here and in the adjoining lounge are artistic skylights with metal filigree on acid wash glass. “A Huper Optic film has been applied to keep out the heat,” Edward says. “In the summer there used to be a 15-degree difference between this floor and downstairs.”
Completing the circle, we move into a welcoming, well-designed lounge, with picture windows on two walls, and the open staircase to the left. The focus of the room is a stylish fireplace: a black granite hearth with a multi-coloured stacked stone tile finish, surrounding an impressive gas log fire. There is a “Live Edge” maple mantle with built-ins above for memorabilia.
Paula specializes in drapery and soft furnishings. She completed this room with the stylish appearance of the loveseats, chair and ottoman facing the fireplace, and chose the modern glass coffee table and the imposing bronze Pharmacy lamp. This room is a delight, enhanced by soft curtains of a linen print of whimsical seagulls.
The wall colours are very important to the overall design. “Cotswold” was used on the upstairs walls and “Interlude” downstairs; these light grays and browns give a sense of space and coolness. Hardwood floors have been installed throughout except for the entrance and in the bathrooms, which have been replaced with heated tiled floors, and there is a forced-air heating system throughout the house. “Since installing the in-floor heating, I have saved 40% on the heating component of my Hydro bills,” says Edward enthusiastically.
To the right of the staircase is a corridor with two bedrooms and a completely refurbished washroom. It has been beautifully conceived with a large walk-in Schluter shower – a maintenance-free, watertight system – augmented with colourful slate tiles. Black granite on the custom free-standing vanity, and a large mirror with cleverly concealed backlighting, have converted a relatively small room into a bathing room experience.
Doubling back on the open staircase is the master bedroom: a spacious, multi-angled room with a large bed complete with traditional brass bedstead. A corridor leads to the en suite with a custom built-in wardrobe and storage cupboards on each side. The en suite has a deep triangular tub and designer fittings.
“Apart from the entrance area, the bottom of the house had remained undeveloped,” Edward says. Now, the downstairs boasts a further two bedrooms, a large room that will become a games room, and a spacious laundry room with another tiled, Schluter shower. “Useful, when you come in from the garden,” Edward smiles knowingly. The project is about 80% complete, with landscaping plans in the works.
“This is the nicest project to showcase,” Paula explains. “The improvements are beautiful and functional. Lots of positive, creative energy made it happen!”
