Creatively Managing the Juggling Act

Since joining The Richards Group in the spring of 2022, Adrienne Scott has hit the ground running. There’s never been a dull moment at work – or at home, either, thanks to her four busy young daughters.

Adrienne’s roots in the Beach community run deep. Growing up on Rhyl Avenue and Williamson Road, she attended Kew Beach, Glen Ames, and Malvern public schools and, to continue the tradition, has sent her kids to Williamson Road. As a teen, she hung out at The Goof (as locals call the Garden Gate Restaurant), met up with friends at Mac’s Milk (now the Circle K), and worked her first-ever job at Mastermind.

It’s not surprising that Adrienne returned to the Beach after earning her MBA and a stint working in Boston. It’s equally unsurprising that she has managed to transform her Pine Crescent home into both a haven and a hub from which she helps her clients and her community. Here’s what she told us about how she pulls it all together with style and grace.

Seize the Day

Before becoming an agent, Adrienne co-founded a smartphone app that crowdsourced home sale prices across the GTA, helping consumers access information that is typically only available to real estate agents. So when she began looking for a career change, Mark Richards felt it was fitting for Adrienne to become a real estate agent. “I knew she would be a natural in the business,” he says. “Her work ethic, her ability to connect with her community, and her spirit in the East End are second to none.”

Mark saw this back in 2014 when he first met Adrienne at an open house. Adrienne bought the Duart Park home from him and then hired Mark as her agent for her next home on Glen Manor.

When it came time to purchase her current home on Pine Crescent (one of the only streets with interlocking brick), Mark was impressed at how keen Adrienne was to make a strategic strike over the May long weekend when many other buyers leave town. “One of the keys to success is not letting opportunities in those quiet moments pass you by,” she says.

It's this proactive attitude that Adrienne’s clients have come to rely on, and shifts in the market have meant that her working hours are unpredictable. When a client calls on an evening or weekend, Adrienne has to be ready to rush out the door, leaving her girls – ages 11, 9, 7, and 5 – with their dad or a friend on their street. “I’m successful because of my mom tribe and the many babysitters and little helpers all over the neighbourhood,” she says. “Being close to so many other families is part of the magic of the East End.”

It Takes a Village

Scott credits local Beaches businesses for saving the day regularly. “They’re what get us through the week,” she says. After school, she ferries her daughters to and from the Toronto Dance Company, Beaches Scholars, and other activities, stopping off at Carload Food Market, Dyson’s Valu-Mart, Rowe Farms or the Yumei Sushi for groceries or takeout.

Adrienne keeps breakfasts and snacks simple by rotating through the same 5-6 options while being more flexible and seasonal with dinners.

“I’m not a chef, and we like to buy food in small batches, so the ability to zip to Queen for options is a lifesaver,” she says. “The local and easily accessible food options are part of why people love the Beach.”

Stay in Sync

When it comes to keeping track of family, work, and personal time, Adrienne turns to the Google Suite. She syncs her family calendar with her work calendar to ensure she doesn’t miss a beat.

And since Adrienne often finds herself out and about with clients – and kids — she saves each child’s art, schoolwork, and essential paperwork directly to Google Drive folders using her iPhone and the Google Drive app. She has everything set up to go straight to recycling except for anything she tags as a favourite. This has radically cut down on time spent scanning and filing.

Clear the Clutter

Adrienne knows first-hand that a tidy home is critical for keeping a busy house moving – and with four young girls at home, the pile of out-grown clothes and toys can build up quickly. So Adrienne found a neighbour with kids younger than hers who is more than happy to take any hand-me-downs. Her eldest kids get involved by dropping the items off themselves, so no one is tripping over bags of old clothing waiting to be taken to Value Village.

To clear her busy mind, Adrienne takes on a sweaty hot Pilates session at Beaches Hot Yoga, owned by her best friend, Dana Dineen.

Inspired Every Day

The family’s six-bedroom Pine Crescent home does triple duty as a cozy sanctuary, entertaining haven, and workspace. There’s plenty of space to showcase each family member’s personality.

Though the four girls each have their own bedroom, the rooms speak to one another through common themes of playful wallpapers, colourful paints, and unique light fixtures. Adrienne recruited a friend and stylist with The Richards Group to create distinct vibes for the adult and kid spaces, punched up with midcentury modern-inspired furnishings and lighting.

“The living room walls are a dark navy because that’s the adult zone, and it should feel grown-up. We’re not shy about using pink in the girls' rooms.”

Relatively low-cost, low-commitment accessories and wall accents allow Adrienne to let her creative side run free. The approach also gives the house room to evolve as the family’s needs change, resulting in a home that’s a never-ending contributor to Team Adrienne. When life moves at a hectic pace, it takes a well-designed home to keep everyone in step.

Want to learn more?

Connect with Adrienne at C 416.300.7390 / E adrienne@therichardsgroup.ca