When they first met in grade two, Style at Home’s style and food editor, Tara Ballantyne (née Bird), and homeowner Becky Finch thought they were siblings – or, at least, cousins – due to their ornithic roots. And though the pair may not be related in actuality, they’ve felt like sisters ever since. (You know what they say about birds of a feather....) So when Becky asked Tara to help decorate her first home, a one-and-a-half-storey wartime in Waterloo, Ont., Tara knew exactly what she meant by “a sophisticated beach look with just a touch of glam and sparkle.” With layers of pale colour, luxe texture and wellworn vintage finds, Tara created a finely feathered nest – a roost Becky’s proud to rule. We’d say it’s a soaring success.


Dreamy dining room
“Soft grey walls warm up the white room,” says Tara. “The space still feels light and neutral, but doesn’t read as stark.” The dining table and bench were built by Becky’s dad.
Relaxed elegance
In the living room, style and food editor Tara Ballantyne made a gallery of white frames to display homeowner Becky Finch’s old artwork (the piece on the bottom left is a kindergarten drawing) and favourite greeting cards. Empty white frames fill in the gaps.
Budding beauty
Egg-shaped ceramics in a subtle satin finish contribute to this home’s pretty, rustic beach style house. Well-curated cabinet
Belonging to Becky’s grandma, this cabinet was refinished with a dose of white paint (thanks to Becky’s dad) and is filled with sentimental trinkets, old and new: the owl, part of a collection that started with a gift from her grandma; the piano lamp, a tribute to her love of playing; and the black-handled milk jug, which is a family heirloom.
Textured bedroom
In the bedroom, Tara layered white, ivory and cream in tantalizing textures, from the knitted throw pillows and seersucker quilt to the cotton bedding and linen bedskirt. Sheer, subtly patterned drapery lets in the light for that warm midsummer feel all year long.
Rustic bedroom furniture
Becky’s dad built the chest of drawers in her bedroom (as he did with many rustic pieces throughout the house). Adding a wink of glamour, the chandelier matches the chest’s crystal knobs. They’re the same knobs used on the kitchen cabinets, visually linking the bedroom to the rest of the house.
Plush piles
Make functional room displays out of everyday items like throw blankets, table linens and pretty clothing. The layering of many different textures in the same shade achieves a plush, cozy look.
Sophisticated stairwell
In the stairwell by the back entrance, beige shag carpet was torn up to reveal wellworn wooden stairs. Their milky white wash is fitting alongside the old milk-delivery door (at right of the shoes). Because this back entry is a small space, a simple coat rack above the stairs stands in as a place to hang jackets, scarves and dog leashes.
Loft area
With spectacular views of the ocean and the diverse landscape, it only makes sense that tearing down walls and installing expanses of large windows would be at the top of this homeowner’s list. And decorated with a light hand and a soft palette, this East Coast family cottage enlightens the senses and cures the soul.

Hunter, the pug belonging to the son of homeowner and designer Laura Fisher, stands on the new quartz stairs, which lead up to the chic loft area where Laura’s studio is located. “Originally, the set of stairs encumbered the fireplace [previously a wood stove] on its backside, but we wanted to make the fireplace a central focus for the dining and living areas,” says architect Diana Carl. To that end, they moved the stairs against the wall, also freeing up room to create a larger dining space. The doorway leads to the master bedroom suite.