"It had a lot of promise,” says designer and Style at Home columnist Samantha Pynn, recalling the first time she saw the 1,100-square-foot condo she would end up buying. “I liked the light and loved that the 1950s building was surrounded by white hydrangea. I have a thing for flowers.” So much so that her dining area features a console specially designated for flower arranging and display. This bespoke addition was part of a bigger reno that included gutting the original bathroom, replacing damaged parquet throughout and redoing the kitchen. The finished space has a fresh presence awash in soothing colours, enlivened by textures and invigorated with sophisticated tweaks. Most important, it’s a place Sam loves. “My home feels peaceful with little flourishes of glam,” she says. “It makes me calm and happy and gives me room to breathe.”

Full Bloom

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

Blueberry Muffin, designer Samantha Pynn’s adorable kitty, likes to sit atop the dining room’s custom console, which houses vases along with linens from Sam’s HomeSense collection. The wood doors mimic the pale oak flooring to strengthen the room’s airy, open look. Samantha topped the console with the same porcelain she used in the kitchen for continuity. The round table (a secondhand find) is a nice counterpoint to the square space, while the velvet-upholstered bench is a deliberate departure from the rest of the palette. “I felt like I was going a bit safe with all the whites and linens, so I chose a velvety coral pink,” she says. “It’s a gorgeous colour and I love how the floral artwork softens it a bit.”

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

WALL PAINT, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore. Table REFINISHING, Belfiore Collection. Ton CHAIRS, Smart Idea. Forestvale oak FLOORING, Torlys. FLOORING Installation, First Class Flooring. Louis Polson PENDANT LIGHT, GR Shop by Gabriel Ross. Art (on console), Juniper Print Shop; (over bench), Kelly Ventura. Art printing, Poster Jack. Bench FABRIC, JF Fabrics. RADIATOR COVER, North York Design Build.

Colour Play

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

“The kitchen counters and backsplash are showstoppers!” says Samantha. “The colours are just so nuanced: sand, lavender, grey and soft white. And the veining is just right – not too heavy and definitely not faint.” Painting the lower cabinets deep purple grey is more than a perfect complement to the veining. “Keeping everything all white would have felt too light. This dark colour helps anchor the space,” says Sam.
The cabinets, with ¾-inch frames, are a modern take on a classic Shaker-style door and feature brushed-gold pulls purchased from an all-female-owned business. A caned-front cabinet over the fridge is a warm and textured foil to stainless steel and a nifty nod to the dining chairs. “My faucet is brushed nickel because I like to mix metals.”

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

“The tiny pitcher is from my parents’ Royal Doulton set. My father won it for my mother in a charity raffle when I was seven. It always makes me smile.”

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

CABINETRY, Stockbox Kitchens. CABINETRY PAINT, Ebony Slate 2118-30 (lowers), White Dove OC-17 (uppers), Benjamin Moore. Sapienstone COUNTEr, backsplash, Ciot. Porcelain fabrication, VLM Stone Design. Rohl’s Graceline Collection FAUCET, House of Rohl. hARDWARE, Nest Studio. UTENSILS and HOLDER, MORTAR and PESTLE, Teatro Verde. ART, Juniper Print Shop. art printing, Poster Jack. Samantha Pynn Home Tea tOWEL, HomeSense.

Fine Balance

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

“The new stacked crown moulding is one of my favourite details. It’s tricked many design friends who think it’s original.”

“I designed new panel moulding that my friend and contractor Janos Nagy masterfully installed on the living room walls,” says Samantha. “It’s actually painted MDF but looks like it’s always belonged in the building.” As well as adding depth, the moulding informed the room’s symmetrical layout. Deep, comfy sofas face off across a secondhand table given new life by replating its stainless-steel frame in antique brass and painting the wood top. Sculptural lamps lend a bit of edge, and the plum, rose and camel cushions lighten the presence of the teak credenza. The faux-linen oatmeal drapes have a subtle plum undertone that tightens the mix of colours and textures. “The room is set up for entertaining, but also lounging,” says Samantha. “The sofas are so comfy. It’s a great space to nap or read a book.”

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

SOFAS, Statum Designs. Sofa fABRIC, JF Fabrics. MOULDING, North York Design Build. Coffee table POWDER COATING, Canadian Builders Hardware. LAMPS, Regina Andrew. RUG, HomeSense. DRAPERY, Workroom by Design. art, Kelly Ventura.

Romantic fashion

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

“I wanted my bedroom to be peaceful, relaxing and flowery. In case you couldn’t tell, flowers make me super happy.”

Samantha transformed the bedroom into a dreamy retreat with gorgeous hues, all fortified by lovely textures. A zigzag rug imparts edge to the floral bedding from Sam’s collection, and the wood side table introduces an organic element. The makeup vanity is an old piece she had refinished; its prettiness is played up by the pale pink mirror and lamp. The tiny bathroom is big on details – but not too big! “Originally, I was going to go with black-and-white floor tiles, but they were too high contrast. I’m glad I went with warm grey,” says Sam. The tiled wall provides a neutral background that pattern pops against, and Sam makes the most of it. “I wanted to be able to change the look of the bathroom with a different shower curtain and linens,” she says, adding that the brass and fun light bring “just a little bit of glam.”

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

Ottoman and headboard FABRIC, JF Fabrics. UPHOLSTERY, Belfiore Collection. Vanity and bedside table PAINT, Ballet White OC-9, Benjamin Moore. Samantha Pynn Home CHAIR and BEDDING, HomeSense. SIDE TABLE, Elte Mkt. ART by Hanna Ruminski (above chest of drawers), Art Interiors. ART by Kit Agar (above side table), Kit Agar. DRAPERY, Workroom by Design.

 

Photography, Virginia MacDonald

REFINISHING (vanity, chest of drawers), Benjamen Furniture Refinishing. TILES, Saltillo Imports. TUB, Mirolin. FAUCET, SHOWER KIT, Moen. P-trap replating, Canadian Builders Hardware.