DESIGNER AT HOME

“I love to mix old and new in every space, such as traditional architecture with cleaner, more modern furniture.” Mandy Eustace

d e s i g n e d f o r l i v i n g

BY MARY TAGGART PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK HOLLERON

Mandy Eustace started her design career at 22 as an intern for renowned Gluckstein Design in Toronto after studying interior design at Sheridan College. She has since spent her entire career working in the industry. Her focus is on residential projects and she is comfortable working in a variety of capacities, selecting everything from furnishings to fixtures for one room or an entire house. But now, as a mother of three children, aged six, eight and ten, living in a pet-friendly home that includes Cash the dog and Rosie the kitten, Mandy has adopted a relaxed approach to decorating her own home.

PERSONAL STYLE Mixing elements is an important aspect of the designer’s work. “I love to mix old and new in every space, such as traditional architecture with cleaner, more modern furniture,” says Mandy, who combines antiques and vintage art work with familyfriendly furnishings at home to honour her design aesthetic within a busy household.

The family home was built in 2011 and it was primarily finished when Mandy and her husband purchased it in 2014. All it needed at the time was a fresh coat of FACING PAGE (LEFT) THE TRADITIONAL DETAILS WERE PART OF THE INITIAL ATTRACTION TO THE HOME (BOTTOM) ROSEY THE KITTEN IS A PLAYFUL ELEMENT WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD

THIS PAGE (ABOVE) ANTIQUE AND CONTEMPORARY FURNISHINGS MIX THROUGHOUT THE HOME

paint, but they continued to add their own decorative touches to the traditional Georgian style architecture which had a great appeal to Mandy and offered the ideal backdrop for her to work with.

“We fell in love with the traditional elements that you don’t see in many homes, such as the extensive trim work, the divided windows, and the lovely glass transoms over the doors.” She also admits to “secretly loving” that the exterior looks like the house in Home Alone, referring to the 1990 comedy film.

“Designing with a family can seem like an impossibility, but it isn’t difficult to get the look you want…”

FAMILY FRIENDLY SPACE IS FOUND THROUGHOUT SO THAT GABRIEL (10), COLE (8), NORAH (6) AND CASH, THE FAMILY DOG, ALWAYS FEEL RIGHT AT HOME

DO IT FOR LOVE While Mandy gravitates towards a classic design style, she firmly believes in including items that you love without spending too much time making sure they fit with a certain style. “If you love something it will always make sense,” she states.

Her passion for honouring the family lifestyle is evident throughout her home. One wall between the kitchen and living area is dedicated to family life, with a homework and organization station incorporated into the space to showcase her kids work and keep track of a busy schedule. The built-in area is both stylish and practical.

FAMILY FRIENDLY There are no out-of-bounds spaces for pets and kids within Mandy’s home, but careful consideration has been given to the fact that all areas of the home are well used. Mandy offers that, “Designing with a family can seem like an impossibility, but it isn’t difficult to get the look you want while accommodating all the members of your crew.” The designer explains that today’s performance fabrics can make a big difference with plenty of easy-clean options. When accessorizing, she understands that kids are curious and tries to place things out of reach to get the look while keeping her treasures safe. While some busy households worry about adding area rugs, Mandy believes in the power of a rug to pull a room together. She suggests going with a patterned Persian-style carpet, known for its durability for everyday wear and tear.

MANDY’S FAMILY-FRIENDLY DÉCOR TIPS • Have fun! • Scatter sisal baskets for a stylish way to collect toys • Decorate areas that kids can’t reach, while keeping other spaces more neutral • Look for “performance fabrics” • Add patterned or synthetic area rugs for an easy-to-clean style that pulls the look together