Wall-to-wall windows make this open-concept family room feel all the more expansive. Author: Michael Graydon
Maintaining order in a colourful open-concept home with four young kids might sound impossible, but decorator Jennifer Reid makes it look easy.
Can a home with four young kids feel clutter-free? Can open concept design also be cozy? Decorator Jennifer Reid says yes to all the above, and the new 3,000- square-foot house she and her husband, contractor Chad Kulchyski, built in midtown Toronto proves it.
“Chad wanted something modern,” says Jennifer. “I wanted light, bright and clean, yet built for family living – approachable, easy to maintain and durable.” With four children ranging from three to 11 years old, it’s no surprise that these were the priorities for this work-from-home mom. The main floor’s open-concept layout, itself a hallmark of modern design, was the starting point. Beyond the oversized foyer with tons of storage to keep the kids’ sports gear and backpacks organized, the entire rear of the house is a huge informal family room/kitchen/dining room, where furnishings and built-ins define various areas, making each one cozy but not claustrophobic. “We really live in that one space together – even if we’re doing different things – so it’s conducive to family living,” says Jennifer.
Photo Gallery
House tour: Colourful open-concept home
The entryway and the family
Homeowners Jennifer Reid and Chad Kulchyski’s four children – Ben, 9, Kate, 7, Allyson, 3, and Devon, 11 – sit on a bench that seems to float in the entryway. Artwork that was picked up at a consignment store announces the home’s colour palette.
House tour: Colourful open-concept home
The entryway and the family
Homeowners Jennifer Reid and Chad Kulchyski’s four children – Ben, 9, Kate, 7, Allyson, 3, and Devon, 11 – sit on a bench that seems to float in the entryway. Artwork that was picked up at a consignment store announces the home’s colour palette.
House tour: Colourful open-concept home
Open-concept family room
Ten-foot-high ceilings and wall-to-wall windows amplify the expansiveness of the open-concept family room. Bright colours draw the eye to the cozy grouping of a sofa and chairs, where there’s plenty of seating but still lots of room for movement.
House tour: Colourful open-concept home
Rustic fireplace
The same stone that’s used on the home’s exterior fronts a corner fireplace between the living and dining areas. “It feels rustic and carries in so well from the outside, matching the hardwood floors and the grey sofa,” says Jennifer. “Plus, the stone has such a warm feel.”
House tour: Colourful open-concept home
Kitchen island
The kitchen’s massive island divides the space into cooking and living zones, and its heated surface stays warm to the touch – a feature everyone loves.
House tour: Colourful open-concept home
The dining table
The heavy reclaimed-wood base of the dining table is lightened by its glass top, preserving the airy feel Jennifer loves. It’s fitting that the white pendant lights float like clouds above.
House tour: Colourful open-concept home
Artwork that sets the mood
“I just wanted it to feel easy,” says Jennifer of the soft blue and grey colour palette in the master bedroom. Artwork sets the mood. “It’s just where one wants to be,” she says. “On the beach.”
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