FUTURE PERFECT

JUNE 2017

PHOTOGRAPHY, JANIS NICOLAY SWEET SURRENDER

Simple serene decorating to complement warm lazy days is in the cards this month. We’re welcoming all that summer has to offer with open arms and letting the season’s natural beauty speak for itself.

STYLING MORGAN LINDSAY

perfect future

Designer Jordy Fagan reimagines a cramped fixerupper as an airy open space fit for a family...eventually.

“I THOUGHT I COULD HANDLE THE MAKEOVER ON MY OWN.”

Famous last words when spoken by homeowners with little or no reno experience, not to mention full-time jobs. Wanting a forever home where they could raise a family, this young couple sold their condo and purchased a 3,000-square-foot four-bedroom house – a 1920s fixer-upper that needed a serious overhaul – in Toronto’s Humewood neighbourhood. “I planned to consult with a designer but oversee it all myself and then call in a professional to help with just the finishing touches,” says one of the homeowners. But that professional – designer Jordy Fagan of Cabin Co. Design – got the call sooner than planned. “The owners quickly realized how much is involved in renovating and furnishing an entire home,” says Jordy, “and that’s when I stepped in.” Before she could deliver the cozy and youthful – but not too trendy – aesthetic the couple sought, however, the whole house required a reboot. It hadn’t been renovated since the ’70s and harboured the usual suspects: closed-off rooms, cheap fixtures and odd paint colours.

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Basic budget- friendly chairs were embellished with durable seat cushions for a customized look. OPPOSITE “A closet used to extend above the staircase, closing it in,” says designer Jordy Fagan of the entryway in this Toronto home. “I removed it to open up the space and showcase the original millwork.”

DESIGN, Cabin Co. Design, cabincodesign. com; CONTRACTING, RKS Building Group; Chantilly Lace OC-65 WALL PAINT (throughout), Chelsea Gray HC-168 RAILING PAINT, Benjamin Moore; BENCH HARDWARE, Ginger’s; plaid TOSS CUSHION, CB2; custom white TOSS CUSHION, Cabin Co. Design; SEAT CUSHION FABRIC, Threadcount Textile & Design. Jody delineated the dining area of this open-concept Toronto home with elegant drapery and a striking light fixture. The humble wooden table and white chairs balance the formal features, while seat cushions covered in washable cotton fabric keep things spill-friendly.

DINING TABLE, DINING CHAIRS

(customized), Crate and Barrel; SEAT CUSHION FABRIC, Tonic Living; DRAPERY, Interiors by Gila; engineered hardwood FLOORING (throughout), Riviera Flooring; LIGHT FIXTURE, Union Lighting and Furnishings.

ABOVE, LEFT Jordy fashioned this corner of the kitchen into a mini workspace. “It’s a sunny spot to work or pay bills,” she says. “Plus, it’s counter height, so it doubles as a handy buffet surface when the couple entertains.” BELOW, LEFT “I wouldn’t have thought of things like installing soft-touch drawers or placing the microwave below the counter to keep the work surfaces clutter-free,” says one of the homeowners. “But Jordy knew the importance of kitchen functionality. Entertaining here is almost intuitive.” RUNNER, eFloor Specialty Flooring; grey VASE, Crate and Barrel. OPPOSITE Jordy turned the young couple’s kitchen wish list into reality. “It has the usual covetables: a big island, hardwood floors, a table for entertaining and ample storage solutions, such as ceiling-height cabinetry,” she says. The mostly white space gets its impact from the brass accents and contrasting hits of grey. Chelsea Gray HC-168 ISLAND BASE PAINT, Benjamin Moore; BACKSPLASH TILES, Ceragres; STOOLS, Wayfair.ca; ROMAN SHADES, Interiors by Gila; PENDANT LIGHTS, Rejuvenation; FAUCET, Roman Bath Centre; CABINETRY HARDWARE, Ginger’s.

BEFORE

THIS PAGE & OPPOSITE,

TOP RIGHT At first glance, it’s hard to tell the built-ins flanking the fireplace aren’t the same depth, but an HVAC unit running between the fireplace and the window prevented symmetry here. Savvy Jordy (pictured opposite) had a solution: She used the same cab- inetry bases, making one more shallow than the other to accommodate the HVAC, and spaced the floating shelves equally apart to achieve a deceptively balanced look.

Custom SOFA, COFFEE

TABLE, TOSS CUSHIONS,

Cabin Co. Design; SIDECHAIR, Elte Market; SIDE

TABLE, FLOOR LAMP,

Elte; custom RUG, Dominion Rug & Home; CABINETRY HARDWARE, Ginger’s.

“THIS HOME JUST WASN’T CONDUCIVE TO HOW YOUNG FAMILIES LIVE TODAY. I wanted an open concept plan that still felt warm and cozy.”

Yet it was not without its charms. “It had great bones, original stained glass windows and an amazing staircase,” says Jordy. “But I knew the couple planned to have kids one day, and with all its small rooms, this home just wasn’t conducive to how young families live today. I wanted an open concept plan that still felt warm and cozy.”

To achieve that openness, Jordy had the first floor gutted and knocked down almost all the walls to create one great room with a living room, dining room and kitchen.

A palette of deep warm greys and blues in a white envelope unifies the plan, while traditional details like Shaker-style cabinetry, open shelving, and plush and tufted furnishings keep it homey. Muted patterns and textures – in such pieces as the dining chair seat cushions, kitchen stools and porcelain backsplash – add interest, and geometric light fixtures and brass accents infuse a youthfulness befitting the young couple.

Though the homeowners desired brass fixtures throughout the whole house, they opted for less expensive chrome in this private ensuite.

ABOVE, LEFT & BELOW, RIGHT “The ensuite’s marble look is really porcelain,” says Jordy. “It’s budget-friendly and a lot easier to clean and maintain.” Budgeting also determined the faucets they chose. “While brass was on the owners’ wish list, we kept that to the main floor and opted for chrome in this private space, as it is far less

expensive.” VANITY COUNTERTOP, Caesarstone Canada; STOOL, SCONCES, RH Restoration Hardware; VANITY HARDWARE, Ginger’s; TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER, Crate and Barrel. ABOVE, RIGHT & OPPOSITE To enliven the neutral master bedroom, Jordy added crisp blue accents and layers of texture with a woven rug, a juju hat and raw linens. Combined with the upholstered custom bed frame and plush toss cushions, these elements make for a cozy space. NIGHTSTAND, Structube; BEDDING, RH Restoration Hardware;

white COVERLET, TABLE LAMP, IKEA; RUG, RugsUSA.com; DRUM LIGHT, Crate and Barrel; custom TOSS & LUMBAR CUSHIONS (on bed), Cabin Co. Design; JUJU HAT, Snob.

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Giving off a luxurious marble vibe, porcelain serves as an affordable stand-in.