"Four teenagers live here?” one might ask incredulously, upon entering this pristine three-storey Edwardian home in Toronto’s leafy Rosedale neighbourhood. Ditto about the three family dogs that romp freely across all 6,000 square feet.

Since he favoured a traditional aesthetic that felt authentic to the home’s 1910 provenance, the homeowner enlisted the help of Howard Heintzman and Maureen Sanborn, the architects and interior designers behind Toronto-based Heintzman Sanborn Architecture Interior Design, who have a reputation for excelling at such projects. “I wanted to make sure everything was done top notch,” says the homeowner, when asked why, as an architect, he didn’t tackle the project himself. “The level of detail and design here is beyond me.”

For this busy dad, “the very best” entailed practical musts, such as a spacious kitchen for relaxed repasts, multiple seating areas on the main floor, and an ensuite bathroom for each bedroom (to accomplish this, the bedrooms were scaled down). For the decorating scheme, he planned to furnish most of the rooms with cherished period pieces from his previous home.

Charming leaded glass window
For a natural display, a boxwood wreath, cedar boughs, magnolia leaves and pine cones grace a leaded glass window original to the home.
Antique chandelier
The antique French provincial wrought-iron chandelier looks beautiful over the dining table. The tablescape of potted plants hints at the holiday season.
Tabletop decor
Potted plants of varying heights instantly dress up the dining table.
Grand dining room
The Duncan Phyfe mahogany table, a nod to the home’s traditional design, is for formal entertaining. The combination of crystal, gold and lush natural greenery imparts elegance.
Festive centrepiece
Sculptural solid green and striped glass ornaments make for an easy-to-create, festive centrepiece.
Fabulous family room
In the family room, full-length wool drapery in a pale moss green lends a sense of grandeur. "Because it’s a south-facing property, we wanted the drapes to open all the way, taking advantage of the sunshine and sweeping garden view,” says architect and interior designer Maureen Sanborn.
Floral arrangements
Echoing the floral chair fabric, a posy of pretty chrysanthemums and cedar sprigs beams brightly from the coffee table.
Stylish shelving
Oil-rubbed bronze wall sconces flank the built-in bookcase for symmetry and are characteristic of the home’s period, as is the William Birch-style chair with turned feet. The intricate moulding, Maureen’s specialty, on the built-in is carried throughout the home.
Bookshelf decor
Casually placed in a pitcher, a floral arrangement of mimosa and viburnum add a dash of life to the bookshelf.
Well-designed kitchen
Maureen wanted the range hood to look like a piece of furniture and have most of the large appliances seem as discreet as possible. “There’s a massive fridge and giant hood,” says Maureen. “We wanted to integrate them into the kitchen cabinetry, so we stepped the cabinets in to make the hood look seamless. The fridge looks like a pantry – you can’t differentiate it from the other cupboards.”
Panelled cabinetry
Old-world-style corbels and panelled cabinetry emphasize the traditional look of this kitchen. A lush magnolia holiday wreath is joyfully unexpected.
Kitchen island
The family enjoys relaxed meals at the large five-foot-deep kitchen island, where the stools and pendant lights have an easygoing vibe. The other side of the island houses a dishwasher, microwave, and storage and garbage areas.
Wonderful white accessories
White vessels allow fresh, seasonal greens – whether artichokes or sprigs of berries – to stand out.