Have you guys seen this before and after tour on
Design*Sponge? The response was a bit controversial in the comments as people were quite upset by all that wood panelling being painted. I am on the fence on that argument - I LOVE wood, to me there is nothing quite like it. In our last house we actually stripped all the old wood trim and plate rail in every room on the main floor (in a heat wave in the summer with no air conditioning using stinky chemical peels...no fun). The gumwood traditionally used in Toronto homes looks a lot like teak when stripped right down and oiled. However, I do sometimes think houses need to have the wood freshened up to brighten up the whole space, and in this specific case, I think that the design statement they made with the house in certainly equal to that of the original craftsman builders who put in all that wood; and I think the white is perfect. Here are some more of the pics (all from
Design*Sponge) of the house transformation:
GAH that bathroom! Love the whole thing. It was done by Toronto design firm
Palmerston Design Consultants, with Principal Kirsten Marshall and designer Allison Granovsky. A quick perusal of their site shows that they do
amazing work, and I love that they are in Toronto. They have a way of doing sleek, modern interiors that are also quite warm and livable. Here are some samples from their
portfolio:
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| College Street |
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| College Street |
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| Glen Ayr Road |
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| Logan Avenue |
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| The Dunvegan |
Kirsten Marshall also did a segment for House and Home Online TV about how to make the most of a typical narrow Victorian
kitchen, as you would find all over Toronto. This home was on Beaconsfield (I am so curious to know which one!) and the result is quite beautiful, with an arrangement that makes a lot of sense: http://houseandhome.com/tv/segment/narrow-kitchen-tour.
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| Beaconsfield Avenue |
I love when I get to discover such talent and design prowess is Toronto! Do you have nay other firms or architects I should make sure to look up?
I WANT A COLORFUL STRIPED RUNNER ON MY BASEMENT STAIRS....its probably overkill, with the screen and all...but i want it!!!
ReplyDeleteThis firm is amazing! I am tempted to hand over my basement to them, and see what I end up with (I am really tired of being stumped by the space...I was moving things around yesterday - still no go...yes i was moving a couch at 32 weeks pregnant)
ooh I think that running would be awesome on your stairs! Maybe they could come and just do a lay out for you? I am not sure how they break out their services... although I still think your basement looks great. :) Oh, and please don't hurt yourself in the name of design!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous portfolio- adore the striped runner and the first kitchen!
ReplyDeleteThey do great work. I recognize a few of these homes from the pages of SAH and House & Home. Other firms (mostly architects) whose work I like: Munge Leung, Superkul, Montgomery Sisam.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Jen - I knew you would have a bunch. Can't wait to check them out!
ReplyDeleteIt bothers me that I don't know what exactly I need down there...so I am gathering inspiration pictures so that I can eventually figure it out! I have never been this stuck before! Once baby comes I am sure I will have other things on my mind and the basement will recede into the background...
ReplyDeleteI had a designer come and layout our basement, got the drawings, and then changed them anyway. But it gave me the confidence that I was on the right track all on my own!
ReplyDeleteThe books above the cabinets is a cool idea in that first kitchen!
ReplyDeleteOhh! I love this! I totally understand the back and forth over the painting. I love the would trim in our house and now say I'd never paint it but you never know... I love the colourful runner on the College Street House! I would totally do something like that!
ReplyDelete