MOD MODE

Clean lines, natural materials and splashes of colour reinvigorate an eastend Toronto home, creating the perfect backdrop for a vibrant art collection.

TEXT CHRISTY WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY PATRICK BILLER

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NATURAL WOOD SLATS

A custom sectional in the living area offers ample seating for guests. Easy-to-move ottomans provide even more seating in a pinch. The designers ensured that the powder room door was seamless so it wouldn’t look out of place beneath the stairs. “We treated it with the good old Houdini combo of flat slab door, continuous baseboard, invisible hardware, a push latch, and drywall corners instead of casing, ” says Brian.

DESIGN, Brian McCourt and Michayla Caughlin, Brian McCourt Design & Build. Custom SECTIONAL, Brian McCourt Design & Build. CUSHION, COFFEE TABLE, OTTOMANS, Urban Mode. RUG, Elte Mkt. Grey OTTOMAN, Urban Mode. ARTWORK (by bench), Capitaine, Love&UGroup, D10 Art Space (Switzerland).

seamless powder room door

LEFT A custom-made focal wall featuring 1.5-inch solid wood slats laid on rift-sawn oak plywood presides over the dining area. There’s a dynamic tension between its strict lines and the organic curves of the chairs. To avoid a wood overload, designers Brian McCourt and Michayla Caughlin opted for a custom concrete table with plenty of seating for entertaining. With salvaging in mind, the designers sanded down the original dark, glossy floors. “It was a complete surprise to discover that they were beautiful hickory, ” says Brian, who opted for a natural stain to enhance the grain. The graphic artwork injects a contemporary presence.

WALL PAINT, Oxford White CC-30, Benjamin Moore. All TILES, Eurotile. DESIGN (dining room oak wall, kitchen cabinetry, walk-in closet), Brian McCourt Design & Build. Custom DINING TABLE, Touchstone Architecture. DINING CHAIRS, Design Within Reach. White VASE, HomeSense.

avid Forestell likes a Mid-Century Mod look. His partner leans toward a “ modern glamour ” aesthetic. Their house, when they purchased it in 2019, had neither. To remedy this, and its 2,000 square feet of dated materials, the couple hired designers Brian McCourt and Michayla Caughlin.D “We were excited to create a space that would reference the couple ’ s styles, showcase their art, and reflect both their passion for entertaining and for detailed finishes, ” says Brian. Most of the original finishes, though only a decade old, were poorly installed and had to be demolished. After that, tweaking the floor plan (extending the kitchen, converting a bedroom into a walk-in closet) and layering in custom features and thoughtful decor throughout achieved the desired effect. The art-filled space is now ideal for entertaining and combines a midcentury-meets-minimal vibe with upscale materials and splashes of glam colour. In other words, a perfect mix for the couple that lives here.

The 42-inch-wide powder room has punchy plumbing.

FAUCETS, PLUMBING,

Rubinet. ART, Idania del Rio, Clandestina Gallery.

“The dining room is the leading lady of the ball, so we wanted to keep things extremely simple in the kitchen, ” says Brian. The mostly white space is enlivened with pink tiles, chosen by the owners, and the extra-wide island features oak cabinets stained to match the floor. The faucet has a jewel-like effect. “Since there’s no cabinetry hardware, we had the luxury of selecting any finish we wanted, ” says Michayla. “Rose gold was an accent on the owners’ wedding day, so we went with that. ” The “abstract” art is by Brian’s fouryear-old son, Calvin, who used drywall mud and paint.

FAUCET, Wayfair. BAR STOOLS, Rove Concepts.

The designers created a snug lounge zone between the kitchen and living areas and right beside the dining room. It serves as an after-dinner cocktail space when entertaining. A custom-made sofa complements the owners’ chairs. The in-between space is defined by a colourful rug, and a contemporary floor lamp ensures soft, flattering light.

ARTWORK, Gold in the Morning by Alfredo Jaar, Galeria Animal (Chile). RUG, Elte.

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SHADES OF GREEN

“Dave is super dapper and loves fashion, so the closet design was as important as the kitchen’s. He even counted all of his ties so we could build slots for them. ” – Brian McCourt

OPPOSITE Photographic art exudes energy in the primary bedroom. “Dave’s photographer friend took it on a whim when he saw a skateboarder passing by, ” says Brian. “He captured the skater in a single frame. ” Its splash of colour is picked up in the sheets. “Usually, you see the pattern and interest on the duvets and pillows, but we wanted to invert that idea and show some colour in an unexpected way, ” Michayla says. The nubby rug and fabric chair are plush foils to the sleek space.

Skater ARTWORK, Pablo Godoy. SCONCE, Luminaire Authentique. BED, Rove Concepts. CHAIR, TABLE, Urban Mode. BEDDING, OTTOMAN, Elte Mkt. RUG, West Elm.

LEFT The primary bedroom’s walk-in closet melds bespoke design with a budget-friendly material. “It’s actually melamine, which is a great cost saver, but it has the same texture and look as oak, ” says Michayla. Black accent bars dress it up, and decorative touches, such as art, books and greenery, make it feel like a special room.

Closet RUG, black VASE, Elte Mkt.

“There wasn’t enough room for two vanity sinks, so we worked in a trough sink – its elongated shape feels expansive and it’s a smart option for a smaller space. ” – Michayla Caughlin

LEFT “For visual interest, we wanted a real sense of division between the tub and the shower in the small primary bathroom, ” says Michayla. They chose large black tiles to demarcate the tub and vanity area and white penny rounds for the shower – a nice contrast linked by dark grout. Storage is generous thanks to the custom-designed vanity and medicine cabinet. The matte-finish tub was a splurge.

TUB, FAUCETS, Roman Bath. OTTOMAN, CB2.

RIGHT The owners wanted the new shower to have a ledge for live plants. “Our goal was to keep that unique feature the focus, ” says Brian. With that in mind, he and Michayla positioned the shower niche a little lower than usual. It corrals soap and shampoo without drawing attention away from the greenery.

“Two mirrors create spaces that are easily shared yet defined, while the sconces are the cherries on top of this cute, functional vanity wall. ” – Brian McCourt

LEFT The designers needed to add very little to the second floor’s combo home office and guest room. “We think it is such a smart design and it’s all of the owners’ furniture. Because it’s pretty neutral, we decided to layer in some custom colours with the fun light fixture, ” says Brian.

Office CEILING LIGHT, Luminaire Authentique. RUG, HomeSense. THIS PAGE The guest bathroom’s contemporary black shower tiles were freshened up with a playful chevron-pattern placement. The light-coloured vanity is an airy contrast that’s heavy on storage. Brian says, “We kept it simple but there are spots to display attractive, utilitarian items, as well as lots of practical closed storage – a nice mix of what we want and what we need.

SCONCES, EQ3. MIRRORS, CB2. SINKS, FAUCETS, Roman Bath. HARDWARE, Richelieu.