An Orangeville Home Comes Back to Life
A couple relocating from Toronto to Orangeville were completely new to the area in 2013 when they moved with their first child. They found a home that backs onto a woodlot on a quiet court. Now, with three children under the age of six, it’s a busy household. The owners found the original design wasn’t serving their needs.
They loved that the kids could run and play, eat and sleep all on the main floor. What wasn’t working was the central kitchen and family room space. It wasn’t conducive to the way they wanted to live and interact with their children, friends and family.
The couple had many ideas about what they wanted but needed someone to take charge of the renovations. In 2017 they commissioned Kristin Bax of Montgomery Homes to lead the project. During a three-month renovation, the family lived with friends. The interior of the house was gutted. Pillars, which were part of the original dining room design, were removed to accomplish a more open design.
A new great room was added and new flooring installed throughout the home (engineered oak supplied by Bigelow Flooring Inc.). All bathrooms were renovated, millwork installed in the entryway, and the addition of a garage is an ongoing project. New kitchen cabinetry by Sutcliffe Kitchens and Renovations is both modern and transitional.
The rear wall was opened up to the green space beyond, giving the great room a cottage feel. The original fireplace was removed and replaced with a gas insert from Caledon Fireplace. Ferndale Trim & Doors faced it with a stunning white high-gloss panel with recessed walnut banding. The wooden bench allows little people to birdwatch and peek into the forest-like backyard, as well as a place for a thriving plant collection.
The warm wood accents are carried into the L-shaped kitchen pantry. Sleek granite counters and island finishes blend harmoniously with the walnut and the overall effect is chic, welcoming and functional. The same dramatic Caesarstone White Attica quartz was used on the countertop and the backsplash.
Artful, traditional millwork graces the front entry, which offers a view into the dining room. It’s linked to the great room by the cleverly placed pantry. A painted dining set is used for family occasions and for more formal, sit-down dinners. Blue velvet drapes and a coordinating rug warm the space.
Wallpaper in the main-floor master bedroom (and the dining room) was existing when the home was purchased. Montgomery replaced baseboards and removed the window coverings to showcase the fabulous treed landscape outdoors. The en suite was completely renovated with large windows and new vanities that echo the kitchen finishes.
A son's bedroom is a fun getaway, decorated in a nautical theme. Everything pink is the theme in their daughters' room.
Downstairs it’s playtime for the whole family. The children have a playroom that’s cleverly closed off by a sliding barn door. There’s a home gym complete with a rock wall for kids to climb on one side and a workout area for adults on the other.
Montgomery designed a special place to showcase Nick’s impressive collection of Scotch along one wall, adjacent to an existing fireplace. Tucked behind an arched wooden door is a wine cellar.
