Style at Home design editor Jessica Waks brings her 1934 Georgian-style house to life with the combination of black, red and gold accents.

When Style at Home design editor Jessica Waks laid eyes on this charming 1934 Georgian-style house in midtown Toronto, she knew it was the one. The only glitch? It required a major overhaul to bring it into the 21st century. Visions of an addition with a spacious kitchen, a glam eat-in area and a chic family room quickly reaffirmed that this was to be her forever house.

"The biggest challenge was designing an open-concept space that wouldn’t have a support column stuck in the middle of it (my pet peeve!)" says Waks. "I opted for a structural support beam, which was cleaverly camouflaged with a coffered ceiling."

Calacatta marble island

The generous island in the kitchen is perfect for hosting family gatherings and parties. It houses a Sub-Zero beverage centre, a microwave oven drawer and recycling and garbage bins.

"I decided to work with Cameo Kitchens and Fine Cabinetry to create a well-laid-out kitchen with loads of storage for appliances and gadgets and lots of prep space," says Waks.

Warm brass accents

The custom range hood makes a statement in white and brass, especially when combined with the Calacatta Oro marble backsplash that is carried right to the ceiling. The marble's gold-toned veining highlights the warm metal perfectly. Warm brass pendant lighting and cabinetry handles add to the luxe look while the black stools add contrast to the Cloud White (OC-130 Benjamin Moore) painted island.

Silverware drawer

The satin brass knobs and cup pulls accent the Cloud White (OC-130 Benjamin Moore) kitchen cabinetry. The cup pulls easily open silverware sorting drawers. 

Calacatta Oro backsplash

The marble subway tiles contain gold-toned veining that highlights the warm metal accents perfectly.

Entertaining essentials

The gold jug adds luxe to the faux shagreen tray and is perfect for serving drinks when entertaining guests. 

Gold French press

The gold Bodum French press sits inside a gold lined tray, playing off the kitchen's warm brass accents. 

Eat-in area

The kitchen's eat-in area features a "buffet" of Jessica's favourite design styles, from the retro-glam vintage Sputnik pendant light and table base to the classic chinoiserie-inspired breakfast chairs.

"The banquette was a creative way to maximize seating in a tight corner. I had it covered in shiny black faux leather with deep diamond tufts to make it feel like you were sitting at a restaurant," says Waks. 

Chic living room

Brass accents and hits of black, white and red connect the family room to the rest of the space. For instance, the embossed-vinyl fabric on the ottoman picks up on the signature red knobs of the Wolf range in the kitchen and the breakfast chairs in the eat-in area. 

Jessica diversified the palette introducing more forgiving and family-friendly hues like the rich sapphire chenille sofa.

Vintage vases

The cloisonné vases that Jessica inherited from her grandmother personalize the space.