House Tours
A Luxurious Toronto Home Designed To Stand The Test Of Time
PHOTOGRAPHY LAUREN MILLER | STYLING STACEY SMITHERS
House Tours
A Luxurious Toronto Home Designed To Stand The Test Of Time
Elegance and ease of maintenance drove designer Elyssa Maldoff’s informed reno of this Toronto home for a family of five.
It all started when designer Elyssa Maldoff found herself chatting with a young Toronto family. “They have three children – the youngest is two, and the eldest is only eight!” she says. The couple had dreams of a gracious renovation, but with all the frantic activity of a growing family, how would they ever keep it that way? Elyssa assured them they had options. “There are just so many great-looking performance fabrics and durable finishes out there now,” she says, asserting that you can absolutely have elegance without giving up on efficiency. With that goal in mind, Elyssa set out to fashion a softly modern and truly welcoming family abode – a place that would grow along with them. “I focused on clean lines to keep it fresh, but chose finishes with a lot of warmth,” she says. A peek inside reveals how she did it: layers of comforting neutrals were combined with touches of white oak and the use of plenty of finger-proof, spill-proof, play-hard fabrics and surfaces. “If you’d like your home to look this way, I have a tip,” says the designer. “Trust the process. Just start with a base of neutrals, then add in pieces that fit your family’s needs and express your personality. Not only will your result be unique to your specific family, it will serve you well for years.”
DESIGN, Elyssa Maldoff, Design State. Custom SECTIONAL, Design State. FLOOR LAMP, END TABLE, Crate & Barrel. Custom COFFEE TABLE, Corwin Woodworks. TV MILLWORK, Magnum Millwork. Amber Lewis x Loloi RUG, Loloi Rugs.
The family room opens up to the kitchen, so this is where everyone comes – kids and parents alike – to slouch, cuddle, slumber, sip and tumble. “The sectional looks luxurious because of the camel-coloured velvet, but by piling it with casual pillows, we made it look more friendly and welcoming,” says designer Elyssa Maldoff. Within easy reach is the room’s signature piece – a coffee table, custom made, with wonderfully curvy edges.
“In the family room, it’s important to have surfaces that can withstand a lot of wear and tear.”
CABINETRY, BANQUETTE, Magnum Millwork. LIMEWASH FINISH, Bauwerk Colour. BACKSPLASH, Cava Surfaces. COUNTER STOOLS, Atelier Arking. Silestone COUNTERTOP, Cosentino. BANQUETTE FABRIC, Threadcount Textile & Design (seat cushion); JF & Co. (seat back). DINING CHAIRS, Pottery Barn. Custom TABLE, Corwin Woodworks. BREAK- FAST NOOK PENDANT, Light House Co. SERVERY COUNTERTOP, SHELVES, Cava Surfaces. Vincenzo Oak laminate SERVERY MILLWORK, Egger.
“We were going for a kitchen that’s modern and warm, so we embraced limewash for the range hood, marble for the backsplash, and added in the texture of those reeded glass doors,” says Elyssa. At snack time, it’s not unusual to see kids scrambling up onto the sturdy leather and oak stools. In the servery, which connects the kitchen and dining room, what looks like oak is actually laminate – a practical and economical choice. On its counter, a toaster and coffeepots await in the mornings.
“The tones in the kitchen are neutral, but the look is fresh and contemporary.”
At the roomy banquette in the cozy breakfast nook, Elyssa paired a wipeable seat cushion with a modern back cushion that’s stain resistant. “Don’t be shy about using fabrics in eating areas,” she says. “There are so many carefree options these days.” Winter suppers at the custom-made round table assume a gentle glow thanks to the soft light cast by the ceramic pendant.
PAINT, Shaded White 201 (panelling), Farrow & Ball; White Dove OC-117 (walls throughout house), Stone Hearth 984 (servery cabinetry), Benjamin Moore. Custom TABLE and CREDENZA, Corwin Woodworks. HEAD CHAIRS, Crate & Barrel. SIDECHAIRS, MIRROR, RH. CHANDELIER, Light House Co.
“We wanted to add charm into the dining room, so we created a very special sideboard with scalloped ornamentation,” says Elyssa, who added character to the space with arched doorways and painted panelling. Lovely as it is, the room is virtually indestructible. The chair seats are covered in performance fabric and the table is purposefully stained a dark tone to keep it kid friendly. In the servery, a sink and stocked bar make entertaining a breeze. The stone countertop is a remnant from the bigger slab in the kitchen.
“We had extra marble left over from the kitchen, so we used the remnant to top the sideboard. It’s a great cost saver!”
MILLWORK, Magnum Millwork. PAINT COLOUR, Midsummer Night 2134-20, Benjamin Moore. CHAIR, Sunpan. Custom RUG, Dominion Rug & Home.
“What parent wouldn’t want a room exactly like this?” says Elyssa. The cozy space is where the dad’s collection of vinyl gets a workout. It’s outfitted with a bar, TV and a huge leather armchair. Elyssa panelled the walls and painted the room in deep mahogany tones, adding in richness via the camel-and-cognac coloured chair.
FAUCET, Riobel. SCONCE, Light House Co. WALL PAINT, Midnight 2131-20, Benjamin Moore.
On the main floor is the type of powder room that makes you feel like you’re at a boutique hotel. Its inky black marble vanity is paired with applied wall panelling painted a dramatic midnight black. Gold details – like the faucets and regal sconces – add a luxe feel.
BED, Crate & Barrel. BEDDING, Zara Home. THROW, Hopson Grace. TABLE LAMP, CB2. NIGHTSTAND, RH. RUG, Accents for Living.
During the renovation, extra square footage was added to the home. The primary bedroom and ensuite now occupy this new space. “We were committed to ensuring this room would be a very soothing environment,” says Elyssa. “You’ll notice there’s no art on the wall. Instead, there are subtle surface elements, such as limestone in the lamps and stone-inspired hues in the textured carpet.”
Soothing and serene, the primary ensuite features a breathtaking nave, with an arch lined with reeded oak. By candlelight, the soaking tub serves as a spa-come-true. “We chose wood-looking laminate for the vanity,” says Elyssa. It’s only steps away from a swish little makeup station, complete with its own cushy bouclé ottoman. “Everything in the space is intended to inspire relaxation, even the quiet colour theme of sand and ivory.”
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