In downtown Toronto, this 418-square-metre project is a functional, luxurious and timeless home for a stylish, energetic family of five.
“We believe design should be a reflection of the user.” This philosophy, to which Stacey Cohen Design subscribes, is perfectly reflected through this project located in an affluent and picturesque neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada.
“Our inspiration came mostly from our client and her sense of fashion,” says Stacey Cohen, owner and principal at her eponymous studio.
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“We listened to the feeling she wanted to achieve—something that was timeless, but also had a hint of edginess—and then chose and combined luxurious materials and textures of all sorts that we felt would evoke those feelings.”
The owner shared with Cohen her favourite fashion pieces that became the starting point for the creative concept. The interior designer brought this vision to life for the family of five (with children ranging from age 14 to 25), who also has a golden retriever.
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“The biggest challenge was how to maintain the integrity of the existing home’s character while still giving it a modernised and updated feel”, explains Cohen. “We achieved this by leaving the existing structure and interior frame in place while designing unique architectural accents, applying an array of intricate finishes, ambient lighting and custom furniture.”
“I love seeing a space and envisioning how we can completely turn it around”, says Cohen. In the foyer, the interior designer and her team painted out the existing panelling and added walnut doorway arches as an architectural detail.
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The kitchen is the heart of the house. “It is the place where they all gather”, says Cohen.
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She completely redesigned the space, which now features white-painted cabinetry with gold details, an oversize dark ebony hood, and an Italian marble inlay backsplash with broken down shapes.
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The main floor hosts the powder room, the living room—where a fireplace clad in birch veneer and Nero Marquina marble takes centre stage—and the dining room, which features a bar with custom cut-out glass detail.
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The dining room features a custom table and bar area with a glass window. The lighting fixture is by Restoration Hardware.
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“The archways to the living and dining room were initially wrapped in wainscoting featuring a traditional door frame”, explains Cohen. “We updated this detail by engineering a thick walnut frame to modernise the space.”
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Both cosy and sophisticated, the family room features a fireplace clad in a porcelain slab, an antique mirror and some artworks. “We agree with Charles Eames that the details are not the details; they make the design”, says Cohen.
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The private spaces are situated upstairs, including one of Cohen’s favourites: the master bedroom. “It is a soothing place to wake up every morning”, the interior designer says.
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“I love all the different areas we included such as vanities, work area in front of the bed and the oversize custom wardrobe we designed to house our client’s favourite fashion pieces. The silk oversize rug that we incorporated also adds that sense of luxury and warmth to the space,” she adds.
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Throughout the home, tones are mostly neutral, creating a chic and relaxing atmosphere with a distinct feminine touch.
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Pops of colours are introduced via accesories and a few pieces of furniture, such as the mustard yellow leather lounge chair in the family room and the pink ottoman in the master bedroom.
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Local metal fabricators, art framers and furniture manufacturers were responsible for over 60 unique, custom-designed creations.
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Aiming to primarily use locally sourced materials, Cohen and her team focused on terrazzo and brick veneer for this project.
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“Some pieces are wrapped in natural fibres, others in leather; some were fabricated out of natural stone and other out of various species of woods”, says Cohen.
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“The idea here was to mix lots of materials and textures to achieve a very refined look,” she says.
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A strong believer that our physical environments impact how we feel, Cohen put all her energy into making the most of the house’s potential, highlighting its original details with a contemporary twist and creating an aesthetic that is aligned with the owner’s personality.
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“The synergy and connection with the client is what drives the project to move forward”, Cohen says. Here, that is clearly what happened.
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