House Tours
This renovated farmhouse combines Victorian charm and modern elegance
Photography, Stephanie Buchman
House Tours
This renovated farmhouse combines Victorian charm and modern elegance
Two distinct design eras go head-to-head in a farmhouse refresh and the results are a win-win.
When updating a home, it’s rare to reach further back into the past for inspiration than the actual age of the house. But that’s just what designer Carolyn Wilbrink did when reimagining this farmhouse outside Brantford, Ont. The stately three-bedroom Craftsman, built by tobacco farmers in 1914, is still as spacious and as sturdy as it was when the owner’s parents bought it from those first owners in 1966. Nonetheless, over time, finishes and furnishings became dated, and the current owners – a retired couple in their late 50s – wanted their home to better reflect their evolving lifestyle. They brought in local-farmer’s-daughter-turned-HGTV-star Carolyn – initially just to freshen up the family room – and the project snowballed into a full overhaul. “We wanted to maintain the farmhouse ambience, but also give it a timeless, more contemporary twist,” Carolyn says. Her plan? Mix in a healthy dose of lighthearted Victorian style to lighten the bold, heavy Craftsman look. “We wanted to make things creamy and bright and feminine,” she says. “Really up the ante with the Victorian vibe.”
Layer up
DESIGN, Carolyn Wilbrink, CW Design & Co. BLACK CHAIRS, RH. END CHAIRS, Universal Furniture. LAMPS, CHANDELIER, Pottery Barn. ART, Celadon Art. TRIM PAINT, Knoxville Gray HC-160, Benjamin Moore. WALLPAPER, A-Street Prints. RUG, Loloi Rugs.
Before
Carolyn Wilbrink, owner and principal designer of CW Design and Co., softened and modernized the Craftsman farmhouse by adding layers of intriguing detail. In the dining room, this meant graceful new panelling, bold but ethereal lighting, and enchanting art. Used here on the wall trim, teal is a touchstone that’s carried through the house, reappearing on the cabinetry in the laundry room and in the entryway’s damask wallpaper, notes Carolyn (shown opposite). Stunning original hardwood floors bring an old-world mood.
Stay focused
CABINETRY, Elmwood. HARDWARE, Emtek. CABINETRY PAINT, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore. PENDANTS, Hinkley.
Before
With its tall, swooping silhouette, simple trim and black finish, the range hood is a bold focal point. Soapstone counters in the same dark shade top all the perimeter cabinets. “I used a lot of black here in the soapstone counters, the basalt flooring, and the dark bronze light fixtures,” says Carolyn. Conversely, elements like the antiqued brass hardware and Statuario marble brighten and elevate the space.
Mix and match
SOAPSTONE, Great Mountain Soapstone. Shaws SINK, House of Rohl.
Carolyn’s total overhaul of the kitchen was, she says, about creating a space with “historical roots and modern functionality.” Wide stretches of new custom cabinets – with inset doors, delicate antiqued brass hardware and integrated appliances – were finished in a creamy white, creating a light, classic backdrop for striking features like the whimsical schoolhouse-style pendant lights and the rustic walnut island. Hand-carved wood bowls, heavy crockery vases and studded leather stools help establish the rustic, handcrafted mood.
Old meets new
CHANDELIER, Hinkley. Jute RUG, Pottery Barn. THROW, PILLOW, Marshalls. MIRROR (in hall), Wayfair.
Before
In the dark, cozy sitting room off the front hall, Carolyn paired the owners’ vintage leather armchairs with unique historic pieces, like the family heirloom Tiffany-style table lamp hand-painted with a farm scene, and the big antique coffee table, which began life as a cart in a factory. The new herringbone-patterned basalt flooring in the hall (foreground) has an easy camaraderie with the gorgeous original hardwood, which Carolyn discovered when she pulled up old wall-to-wall carpeting.
“Carefully selected vintage pieces add character and a sense of history."
Gather round
In the family room, cozy seating centred around the fireplace – now kitted out with a new gas insert and a low-key soapstone surround – encourages kicking back and unwinding. Distinctive accents like the graphic tobacco basket over the fireplace and the vintage tobacco cutter on the coffee table are nods to the property’s farming heritage, “and conversation starters!” Carolyn adds.
Opening bid
SHIPLAP, Alexandria Moulding. BEAMS, FLOORING, The Timeless Material Co. THROW PILLOWS, Pottery Barn. SOFA, Decor-Rest Furniture. LEATHER CHAIRS,
HLHF. TOBACCO BASKET, Crate and Barrel. North Prints ART (over sofa), Etsy. RUG, Loloi Rugs. PAINT, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore. CHANDELIER, Z-Lite. SOAPSTONE, Great Mountain Soapstone.
The first order of business in renovating the family room was to remove an unnecessary dropped ceiling. To play up the new height, Carolyn finished the ceiling in crisp shiplap and reclaimed beams. Painted out in white, a newly exposed brick wall adds understated texture, as does the new reclaimed hardwood flooring. “It was challenging to select wall and flooring colours that strike a balance between allowing the original Craftsman style to shine and infusing a new sense of lightness into the space,” Carolyn says.
Vanity fair
SCONCES, Savoy House. CABINETRY PAINT, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore. Perrin & Rowe FAUCET, SINK, House of Rohl. HARDWARE, Emtek. WALLPAPER, House of Hackney.
Before
A wild, oversized floral wallpaper gives the otherwise traditional second-floor bathroom a powerful presence. “The wallpaper brings a soft, romantic charm to the room, but also ties in nicely with the original wood baseboards and window casing,” Carolyn says. The room only has one small window, so Carolyn put a huge mirror over the vanity to help amplify the natural light.
Clean sweep
RUG, Pottery Barn. Perrin & Rowe SHOWERHEAD, House of Rohl. SHOWER GLASS, SHOWER HARDWARE, Braniff Intercity Glass.
In the spacious new shower, Carolyn varied the sizes and styles of the Calacatta marble tile to keep the look lively. “The Calacatta marble has a sense of grandeur and timeless beauty,” she says. “It’s a nod to the Victorian taste for fine, natural materials, but it also adds a contemporary edge with its crisp, clean lines.”
Hide and chic
WALLPAPER, House of Hackney. CABINETRY PAINT, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore.
Carolyn papered the dressing room (above and right) in the same ebullient floral that she used in the bathroom and outfitted the space with dressers and cabinets finished in a clean white. A large, elegant tufted ottoman is a spot to put on shoes or lay out outfits for the day.
Rest period
WALLPAPER, A-Street Prints. CHAIR, OTTOMAN, Hooker Furniture. DUVET COVER, SHAMS, Marshalls. SIDE TABLE, Zara Home. BEDSIDE LAMP, WOOL RUG, Pottery Barn. SHEEPSKIN RUG, Wayfair.
Carolyn carried blue from the main floor up into the primary bed- room via a pale blue grasscloth wallpaper, navy drapes and a pretty, patterned rug. The bespoke dark wood bed and nightstands feel formal, while layers of rugs, throws and pillows invite the owners to curl up and get cozy.
Soft touch
Market Stripe WALLPAPER, York Wallcoverings. BED, BEDSIDE TABLE, Wayfair. DUVET COVER, COVERLET, Marshalls. RUG, Loloi Rugs. TABLE LAMP, CHANDELIER, CUSHIONS, Pottery Barn.
With its handsome wrought-iron bed luxuriously piled with linens and pillows, the guest bedroom promises comfort and ease. The colourful landscape painting and a print featuring a great blue heron bring country charm to the sophisticated look, as does the rustic little blanket box, which one owner inherited from her grandmother.
“Throughout the home, I introduced contrasting lighter-coloured furniture, upholstery and accessories to keep the spaces from feeling too heavy.”
Serious, with sass
Perrin & Rowe SHOWERHEAD, SINK, House of Rohl. SCONCES, Hinkley. VANITY PAINT, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore. HARDWARE, Emtek. SHOWER GLASS, Braniff Intercity Glass. TOWEL SHELF, Kohler.
Before
A stylistic counterpoint to the second-floor bath, the main-floor bathroom has a clean-lined, masculine look thanks to trellis-patterned wallpaper, luxe Carrara marble wainscotting and vintage hotel-style accents in polished nickel. With their crisp lines and minimal adornment, the vanity, shower and stonework have timeless appeal – the curvaceous mirror and elongated brass sconces inject a hit of razzle dazzle to balance that.
In transition
PAINT, Wedgewood Gray HC-146, Benjamin Moore
Before
The watery blue hue on the laundry room’s new cabinets gives the functional space a tranquil ambience. It serves a double purpose: the Victorian-inspired pastel also balances the more staid Craftsman elements. The durable basalt mosaic flooring is a smart choice for this hardworking room and runs into the adjoining mudroom (visible through the doorway), where Carolyn installed new walnut cabinets that tie in with the handsome original chestnut woodwork.
Flower power
FRAMED PRINTS, Uttermost. WALL PAINT, Paper White OC-55, Benjamin Moore.
Folksy prints that Carolyn hung in a tidy grid in the laundry room have a look of homespun pressed botanicals that might have been made by the farmhouse’s original owner.
Wash and wear
FAUCET, Shaws SINK, House of Rohl. RUG, Wayfair.
The cabinetry’s inset doors, apron-front sink and wall-mounted bridge faucet are pitch perfect for achieving a historical look in the laundry room. For balance, the clean-lined walnut frame around the sink and the walnut shelf above it modernize the room while also referencing the tone of the home’s original woodwork. Carolyn ran the Statuario marble backsplash up to the shelf – a smart decision in a utilitarian sink zone.
Deep in the woods
Chardonnet Damask WALLPAPER, Thibaut. RUG, Loloi Rugs. PENDANT, Hinkley.
Maintaining the original chestnut woodwork (made from wood actually harvested on the property) was critical to Carolyn’s design plan. “With its dark, rich tones, the panelling adds real depth and character,” she says. In the entry, she balanced the dark wood with a damask wallpaper – a suitably traditional pattern in aqua that feels as lighthearted as a summer day. Soft, pale rugs and carpeting further brighten the look, as does the pretty drum pendant.
History project
HARDWARE, Emtek.
By incorporating details like a beadboard backsplash, leaded glass and elegant corbels, Carolyn gave the newly built laundry room cabinetry real vintage appeal. Inside the cabinet, old-fashioned lidded glass jars corral supplies like clothespins, dryer balls and linens. Delicate brass hardware dresses
up the cabinetry. “This room is about marrying functionality with a traditional farmhouse look, all while creating a serene and cohesive design,” Carolyn says.
Recommended
9 PLANTS TOXIC TO CHILDREN AND PETS
Comments