Modern touches that are made for today ensure continued longevity for this 1915 home.

For well over a hundred years, this grand and gracious house has been a beloved feature of this North Toronto neighbourhood,” says designer Lauren Woods. Her challenge? To find ways to honour that, and still support the lives of the family of seven that lives here. That required ensuring that each room in the house would become a destination born of how the family likes to spend their time. And it meant embracing the original architectural features, such as strong mouldings and grand doorways, while giving them a new spin. Says Lauren: “What could be better than knowing you’ve given a house like this another chance to shine?”

“The arches in this home are such an important part of its history, so we repeated their curves in statement pieces, such as the giant metal pendants and slipcovered counter stools,” says designer Lauren Woods. Classic white millwork is paired with Valentino marble surfaces. “I love how it has quiet undertones of almost blue.” 

The spacious pantry (top) includes a hidden coffee bar, dishwasher and a full-size apron sink, which is positioned for optimal outdoor views. This arched doorway (bottom), one of many in the home, leads the way to a well-stocked serving area, then to the dining room. 

At one end of the kitchen’s island is a sun-splashed breakfast nook. “It’s definitely a gathering place for morning cereal and snacks,” says Lauren. The comfy custom benches aren’t heavy, so they’re easy to move in and out. And, like the chairs, they feature practical washable slipcovers. 

“The living room is quietly formal,” says Lauren. “Think of it as a relaxed take on a heritage sitting room.” Two loveseats are drawn up to a gracious coffee table with a marble top. The chandeliers share geometry with the wall art, and colour tones with the marble fireplace.

In the lighter of the two powder rooms (the darker is shown on page 74), Lauren chose a mirror to echo the home’s arches. “I like the way the chevron wallpaper serves as a sophisticated backdrop for the vanity’s marble and the sconces’ unlacquered brass,” she says.

The dining alcove is the home’s precious gem. To emphasize its circular shape, Lauren commissioned a custom round table of white oak, which she set on a bleached jute rug. “Then we added that larger-than-life chandelier. It has over 40 bulbs!” says Lauren. The drapes and wallpaper are both linen. 

A powder room on the main floor is a study in the dramatic arts. Its panelled walls are painted a compellingly deep hue, and the vanity’s marble top “is unapologetically bold,” says Lauren. “We’d approached the fabrica- tor asking for something splashy. Amazingly, when he showed us this slab, voilà! It was already cut to the exact size!”

Lauren (shown, right) poses on the stairs with homeowner Janet Katsiris. Just up the steps, there’s this landing (below left) with its pretty reading nook. It has a huge cushy window seat that looks over the pool. “And a sparkly chandelier and delicate wall sconces to light the area for cozy evening reading,” adds Lauren.

Grand touches like the coffered ceiling and arched metal doorways are hallmarks of this well-loved family room. “Everything in here is oversized – we had to have two hobnail rugs seamed together to cover the floor. And that coffee table is huge. This is defi- nitely the home’s crash and relax space!” says Lauren. As in any family room, entertainment is key. Above the marble fireplace is an oft-used TV, but less visible is the room’s drop-down movie screen. When streaming and movie watching aren’t quite the thing, there’s lots of room for settling in with a good book, accompanied by a roaring fire. 

“The entire office is finished in white oak,” says Lauren. It’s an old- world space reinterpreted for modern life. The desk faces a wall of mirror. “The homeowner told me she loves the fact that in the mornings, she can be at the laptop but use the mirror’s reflection to watch the news on TV.”

“This ladder and all that brass are my design dreams come true,” says Lauren. The room’s lighting, ladder, cubbies and shelves make it feel like a library. To Lauren’s delight, the space is used by every member of the family, whether for homework or reading.

The walls of the primary ensuite are adorned in marble tile. “Believe it or not, we went through each and every tile and cut away any rust-coloured veining,” says Lauren, which is why the wall looks so perfectly tonal. The white oak vanity is fitted with fixtures and hardware in unlacquered brass. “The chande- lier is made from pieces of coconut shell that have been painted white. They radiate the most beautiful wash of light over the tub at bathtime,” says Lauren.

The primary bedroom features an original – and amazing – ceiling cove. “It definitely cried out for a real showstopper of a chandelier!” says Lauren. The rest of the room is more subdued with gentle touches, such as bouclé storage stools, natural bedding and a wall of linen drapes. 

The bedside tables in the primary bed- room may be light in colour, but they’re heavy on storage space. “The lamps have simple lines that flatter the mouldings on the wall panelling,” says Lauren. Flanking the fireplace is custom mill- work, painted white and illuminated by classic library-style lighting.

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