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It’s all about the details in this heritage home restoration

It’s all about the details in this heritage home restoration

This private residence, dating back to the 1920’s, was built in the English Country style on a ravine property in Toronto’s picturesque Rosedale neighbourhood. Over the decades, renovations to the home, including the infilling of a broad covered porch with a garage, had altered the home’s character, both inside and out.

Interior Designer: Wayne Swadron, ARIDO
Design Firm: Wayne Swadron Interiors Ltd.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox

Our mandate was to create a sophisticated, light, and airy home suitable for a young family that enjoys an active lifestyle, reorient the indoor living spaces to embrace the wonderful ravine setting while respecting and restoring the heritage character of the exterior. Of particular importance to the owners was creating unique opportunities to display their collection of artwork, and planned incorporation of ‘installation art’.

To achieve these goals, the entire interior structure had to be demolished and rebuilt in an entirely different configuration. Nothing was spared, including floors (both the basement and ground floor levels were dropped), interior walls and most of the roofs. 

Living room with hardwood laid in a herringbone pattern, white walls with crown moulding, and gray sofas. A brass lamp with a black pedestel over hangs the three seater sofa.

Several additions were also incorporated to accommodate the special requirements of the family. A new full width terrace was added to the back of the house, onto which continuous walls of glass doors and windows were added. The main living spaces of the house (living room, kitchen, breakfast room and ‘conservatory’) all look over and lead out to the new expansive terrace, swimming pool and gardens beyond. This had the effect of visually and spatially connecting the indoor with the outdoor space, while reinforcing the interior and architectural features of the original design.

Art, and in particular, installation art, plays a major role in the vision of the interior design. A wonderful example of this is the hand painted wall covering which extends up the four levels of the new stairway. This installation, executed by artist Francesco Simeti, acts to visually connect the levels through its flowing pastoral imagery. 

  • Staircase painted in a Toile de Jouy style in black and white with mustard and brown accents. A wrought iron railing sweeps down the flights, accompanied by a runner with a woven pattern.
  • A long pale wood dining room table with 10 white chairs surrounding, a mirrored art piece at the head of the table reflects the room.

The wall panelling of the dining room provided a perfect opportunity for a  three dimensional segmented mirror installation. These unexpected elements add to the depth of the highly curated approach to the interior furnishing, which mixes distinctly mid-century modern pieces within a setting of strong traditional references.

  • Kitchen with large waterfall marble island with white cabinetry and black accents. Four brass stools with red leather cushions are placed under the island.
  • Living room with hardwood laid in a herringbone pattern, white walls with crown moulding, and gray sofas. A brass lamp with a black pedestel over hangs the three seater sofa.
  • Living room with large white carpet over hardwood, gray velvet sofa, and white walls with moulding trim and a view to the kitchen beyond.
  • Detail of living room with two mid centutry modern chairs upholstered in black and white herringbone check and dark walnut arms, in front of a fireplace. A black and white painting hangs overhead.
  • A long pale wood dining room table with 10 white chairs surrounding, a mirrored art piece at the head of the table reflects the room.
  • Staircase painted in a Toile de Jouy style in black and white with mustard and brown accents. A wrought iron railing sweeps down the flights, accompanied by a runner with a woven pattern.
  • Bathroom with two sinks opposite a window with white and gray marble, and lavender blow drawers.
  • Wine cellar with large windowed door surrounded by bottles displayed on their sides.
Wayne Swadron

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Wayne Swadron

Wayne Swadron Interiors Ltd.

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