“Because it’s the first room you see when you enter the home, we wanted the dining room to have high impact,” explains interior designer Sarah Birnie. “With its curved banquette, custom table, antique mirror, and dramatic ceiling fixture, you immediately get a sense of the style of the home.” The trio mixed metals—polished nickel, brushed and polished brass—throughout the home and brought fresh textiles, warm woods, and high-style stone.

Sarah says the kitchen is the literal and figurative center of the home. “The former kitchen lived at the back of the house and was cramped and fairly basic,” she recalls. They doubled the size of the space with the addition of a 10-foot island that seats five. Oversize custom pendants, marble countertops, fluted glass, a custom limewashed range hood, and brass accents work together to ensure visual interest throughout. The cabinets are Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee.

Just beyond the kitchen, the millwork is extended to achieve more storage as well as a built-in workspace for work-from-home days. The walls are painted Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace throughout. The property backs to a park in Midtown Toronto, which allows for the best of both worlds—treetop views yet easy access to the city.

Interior designer Kelly Lynn Armstrong says the project tapped the design strengths of both firms. “We are friends and share a workspace. So on a communication level, it was quite easy and fun,” she explains. “We have similar yet different aesthetics which somehow work.”

Most of the furniture and all of the millwork was custom- designed by their firms
and fabricated locally. The limestone fireplace is flanked by storage, and a cozy sectional has plenty of room for the family to snuggle up. The upholstered ottoman was selected as a safe option for their toddler, and the comfortable armchair chosen for the grandparents. The drapery fabric is by Tonic Living and fabricated by Hemme Custom.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom and bathroom were completed to provide a luxury experience with a soaker tub and double vanity. “We were able to add some beautiful marble to the threshold, niches, and backsplash to add some flavor to mostly white walls,” Kelly Lynn tells us. The custom vanity is a showstopper and features barely-their Bocci outlets.

“The entryway and first impression of their home was sadly a forgotten space before the renovation,” says interior designer Kelly Lynn. “So, we laid some checkerboard tiles to really spice up the space and removed a half wall which we felt was messing with the flow and made it feel dark and dingy.” Sarah adds, “We replaced it with a lovely railing which creates a view into the gorgeous dining room.”

“At the beginning of the project, the client wanted the renovation to be more neutral and minimal,” Kelly Lynn says. “Then, more than halfway through the project, she shared that she had fallen deeply in love with British design, so we were able to bring some of those elements in with the styling and final touches.”