The Best of Both Worlds

BY LEIGH PATTERSON PHOTOGRAPHY: LINDSEY CORBETT & JON STEBBE

Custom-built

home in established neighbourhood takes modern living

To New Heights

It was initially destined to be a spec home, built on a double infill lot in North River Heights. But as they saw it being constructed, the now-homeowners expressed their interest to the builder, Dwell Design Homes, in purchasing it.

“Their timing was perfect,” says Braydin Huynen, president of Dwell Design Homes.

“The home was designed and fully specced and we were just at the drywall stage of the build, so we were able to swap out flooring, fixtures and other details to make it truly custom for the homebuyers,” says Huynen.

The result is a residence that truly brings together the best of both worlds – the original vision of the builder and interior designer that also accommodates the personal choices made by the clients.

The two-storey, 3,143-squarefoot home features five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms on a 50 x 120 ft. lot. The numbers are impressive, yes, but what’s more impressive is how effortlessly it bridges the gap between the classic architectural characteristics of an established residential neighbourhood and the cutting-edge materials and conveniences of a modern home.

In terms of overall design, imagine contemporary French farmhouse. The Dwell Design Homes team worked in concert with interior designer Michelle Chisick of Interior Illusions to create an airy, but warm ambience on the inside by focusing on the details. A muted natural colour palette combined with touches of metal accents of gold, brass and copper throughout keeps the beautiful flow going from the sunken front foyer and beyond.

Having to step up into the main living space from the foyer was a deliberate design choice to establish a sense of dramatic impact. The living room is separated from the foyer by a custom iron railing, in a simple arched pattern that is repeated on the other staircase railings in the home. The builder chose lightly stained, wide plank engineered hardwoods from Flatlanders Flooring used throughout to minimize the warping and shrinking that can occur in traditional hardwoods.

A central feature of the living room is a gas fireplace flanked by custom cabinetry. The fireplace façade is clad in a unique stone product, Dekton by Cosentino, that was fabricated and shipped from Vancouver especially for this project.

Adjacent to the living room is a flex space that is painted in a subtle grey-green for an intimate space ideally suited as a home office.

The kitchen is decked out in the same Dekton by Cosentino stone product on both the countertops and backsplash.

“It’s a very versatile product that can be used both indoors and out,” notes Huynen. “It’s heat and stainresistant so it is perfect for use in the kitchen. There’s a bit more time and skill required to install it, but the result is so worth it.” Huynen adds that he enlisted Canadian Countertops for the supply and installation, a company in the process of opening a new location in Winnipeg (where the owner was born and raised), offering a state-of-the-art showroom and fabrication shop.

The countertop and backsplash contain gold veining, a colour that is pulled out in both the plumbing and lighting fixtures, as well as in the cabinet hardware and even on the gleaming white appliances.

Springfield Woodworking supplied and installed all the Shaker-style cabinetry, custom painted to achieve a soft and sophisticated look. Because the cabinetry extends all the way up to the 10-foot ceilings, the overall space appears even larger. The theme continues into a small pantry where more integrated storage and open shelving is cleverly tucked away behind a solid door.

A trio of suspended pendant lights above the large island also adds an illusion of height, without interrupting the view from other areas of the open-concept main floor.

Above the large white farmhouse sink is a huge window overlooking the yard. An abundance of energyefficient windows take full advantage of the south and western exposures. Some, like this one, are framed in black inside and out as both an interesting visual feature and to tie the exterior to the interior.

Adjacent to the kitchen is a formal dining room with a large window that overlooks the front yard and is covered in neutral and elegant drapery from Interior Illusions. The fabric brings subtle softness and glamour to an otherwise clean and modern space enhanced by a futuristic light fixture from Robinson Lighting. The builder included a small nook replete with storage and serving area for added convenience.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom is bathed in natural light by day, courtesy of a large window. The room’s ensuite features an oversized shower lined top to bottom in a glossy green tile selected by the homeowners and installed in a vertical pattern. The tiles are the perfect, French-inspired design counterpoint to the natural heated tile flooring. A gorgeous deep soaker tub is complemented by a freestanding gold plumbing fixture for a true spa-like vibe.

For Space Sake designed and supplied the bedroom’s impressive and highly functional walk-in closet that includes a shoe pull-out drawer, integrated LED lighting and convenient glass cabinet fronts to make getting dressed a delightful experience unto itself.

No details were spared in the large and spacious basement. “We intentionally elevated the basement of this home to achieve an expansive feel,” says Huynen.

The area houses a full bathroom, bedroom, play area and rec room, not to mention a huge bar area. Ideal for entertaining, the bar is equipped with a detailed Kohler copper sink, tons of cabinets and a wine fridge. Black cabinets and tile, and a huge bar seating area with custom-mitered countertop make a bold statement.

Examples of the details in this home abound, including some that you can’t see. For instance, Darren Munsters of Wired by Design worked with the builder to incorporate a seamless fully automated home system.

“We wanted to keep the system in tune with the design of the home without sacrificing aesthetics,” notes Munsters. The multi-room audio system boasts speakers that are installed within the drywall, which is then covered with finishing materials so the speakers are completely invisible. Wired by Design also set up the full surround-sound home theatre in the basement.

With an emphasis on keeping the family safe and secure, there is an alarm and a multi-camera system including a two-way doorbell camera. The operating components are kept out of sight on a fan-cooled rack in the mechanical room, and the homeowner can control the system— temperature, lighting, sound, security—from their smart phone or tablet, remotely from anywhere. And, notes Munsters, “we designed the system to be universal so they can expand it to include other devices in the future.”

As beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside, the exterior façade includes windows framed in black and a fieldstone veneer that channels old-world charm. A heated, two-car attached garage at the rear of the home boasts an overhead garage door from Wallace + Wallace. Landscaping by Gateway Gardening includes a curved walkway and tons of perennials and trees to further integrate the new build into its surroundings.

“The homeowners took possession of their home this spring, and they were thrilled,” says Huynen. “They are great people and we are so glad we were able to accommodate the lastminute details to make it the home of their dreams.”

Builder Dwell Design Homes

Interior design, window treatments/blinds & furnishings

Interior Illusions

Lighting products

Robinson Lighting

Alarm, sound system, automation

Wired by Design

Flooring, tiles & tilework

Flatlanders Flooring

Cabinetry

Springfield Woodworking

Closet systems

For Space Sake

Countertops & backsplash

Canadian Countertops

Windows

All Weather Windows

Garage doors

Wallace + Wallace

Landscaping

Gateway Gardening

Plumbing fixtures

(kitchen & bath)

BA Robinson

Interior doors & trim

Metrie

Fireplaces

Alsip’s Building Products & Service

Appliances

Canadian Appliance Source

Stonework & exterior façade

IXL Building Products

Siding, soffit, fascia

KH Exteriors

Heating

Southern Comfort Mechanical

Drywall

Reimer Drywall

Painting City Pro

Realtor

Bobby Wall