Graceful Transition

Story Merrilyn Patterson | Photography Jason Hartog | Flowers Wr Designs

Susan and Mark Wilson moved into their three-storey, red-brick Victorian home in Elora in 2003, before they had children. Their first priority was to freshen the house with paint and open the back wall, allowing easy access to the backyard and new deck.

In 2017 the couple took first steps to open up the kitchen, with a simple pass-through to the formal dining room. The counter is topped with marble, wide enough to hold serving dishes or nibbles when the space is used for casual entertaining. Custom-milled mouldings match the period style. 

The real work began in 2016. By then, Susan had developed a friendship with Danielle Carson, the senior designer from Xanadu Fine Cabinetry and Interiors. Their daughters took riding classes together, so they met at the stables frequently. Susan was intrigued with Danielle’s work. They got talking about Susan’s renovation plans and the partnership with Xanadu began. 

“Because she has a family of her own, Danielle knew exactly how to organize the spaces,” Susan says. She recommended extending the kitchen by three feet and they raised the roof on the porch, which allowed more light into the space. Although the new window is the original size, it now opens to let fresh air in. Danielle designed a seamless panelled fridge and freezer and a sleek wall of pantries. All new appliances were sourced from TA Appliances.

Susan spends a lot of time in the kitchen. She runs the household from there with most of the family meals served on the Cambria quartz-topped island to accommodate everyone’s busy schedules. Sometimes she and Mark even share a late-night dinner there. Grand Valley Tile supplied the hardwood floors in the kitchen and living room.

A clever office space is tucked around the corner, integrated into the multi-purpose laundry and mudroom.

Bavarian Window Works replaced all the windows in the house. There was always a plan to add a great room off the back of the kitchen, and Rob Vanderwoerd of Vanderwoerd Drafting & Design drew the plans with 16-foot ceilings and a wider footprint than the original structure. The tall ceilings and wall of windows allow ample sunlight to filter into the great room and spill into the kitchen.

Expertise within the walls by Fritz England Plumbing and Heating set the stage for the plumbing and HVAC system.  To compliment the existing roof lines, Diamond J Services completed the flat roof in the new addition.

Bill Van De Ven, co-owner of Xanadu Homes Ltd., managed the renovation project. Bill and Danielle designed the ceiling feature, pre-fabricating the intricate pattern in Xanadu’s local shop in St. Jacobs. Susan was amazed at how quickly it was installed. With the painted ceiling and milled design, it respects the Victorian roots but with a modern twist. Xanadu coordinated with the Wilsons’ favourite painter, Jim Mulhall, who has been on hand for many projects in the home.

 The chandelier from The Lighting Shoppe was a must-have that Susan found on a shopping trip with Danielle. It echoes the design of the smaller fixtures in the kitchen. 

The wall of cubbies was Danielle’s idea – an ideal spot to showcase Susan’s curated collection of elephants. Collected over many years, they were packed away until this whimsical but practical space was designed.

The oversize fireplace by Bast Home Comfort is the focal point of the great room. Danielle chose a subtle, painted-panel look for the wall with a stunning gold reveal. The mirrored surround sparkles as it reflects the light. Mark loves this room and works here in the mornings with the garden doors open.

The formal dining room is used for seasonal family celebrations. The sideboard is a treasured gift from Susan’s mother. 

The front living room and adjacent sitting area are sunny spots for reading or playing games. The quirky, painted cabinet was a fun find from a treasure-packed shipping container. 

There are three bedrooms upstairs: a quiet master retreat for Susan and Mark, a place for son Hugh’s Lego collection in his bedroom, and what daughter Abigail calls “the best room in the house,” where she displays her treasured collection of Breyer horses.

In the master, Xanadu built custom wardrobe cabinetry, complete with jewelry organizers for Susan. Additional storage was added to the existing walk-through closet leading to the en suite.

Renovating the third-floor walk-up involved raising the ceiling, creating room for Mark’s home office – a quiet space for him to work when the family is home. It also doubles as a guest suite when the kids have sleepovers or when Susan’s mother comes to visit. 

Susan says trust made the working relationship with Xanadu a great success. They trusted the team would find the best solutions for their family. She also says having a designer work with a contractor brings the renovation experience to another level. “A designer has the expertise and knowledge to make your ideas come to life,” she says, adding “I’d never renovate again without Xanadu!”

It was extremely important to Mark and Susan to remain true to the Victorian roots of the home. “The executed design exudes timeless elegance and a welcoming warmth, proving that a refined and defined space never goes out of style,” says Danielle. From the front door through to the back of the great room, painstaking care was taken to create a graceful and gradual transition from the historical to the modern part of the house. 

Danielle describes the finished project this way: “The extra living space, combined with the clean lines and layering of textures allow for a better-organized home that recognizes and compliments the Wilsons’ active family lifestyle.” The Wilsons love their home and plan to enjoy it for years to come.  OH