Rejuvenated & Rustic
STORY DENISE O’CONNELL
PHOTOGRAPHY LARRY ARNAL
Ashley and her husband Patrick grew up just south of Newmarket and early in their marriage lived in a downtown Toronto condo. “After stepping on each other’s toes, we decided it was time to move closer to our families where we had a better chance of having more space,” recalls Ashley.
It’s a move that became increasingly common when working remotely took flight. The couple made the move before it was de
rigueur. Two years ago, they found their forever home in a century-old farmhouse that sits just off Newmarket’s old Main Street, nestled in a historic neighbourhood.
“The home was built in 1875,” Ashley says. “We wanted a historic home, but it was hard to find one that had enough of the original elements in it. We didn’t want something completely renovated and modernized that had lost its character. We wanted to restore a home and rejuvenate it to respect its original history.”
Ashley is also community- minded. They wanted the home to retain its original splendour, fit in with the neighbourhood, but make it functional for their lifestyle and family.
The home had been renovated over the years. The kitchen was a holdover from the 90s with dark wood and mosaic tile and the baths had been renovated in the 70s. As soon as the purchase closed, Ashley brought in Michelle Berwick of Michelle Berwick Design to help her bring her ideas to life.
“It was a big project,” says Michelle, “and unique in its mix of old and new. We also added an addition to the home and revamped the outside. This being a heritage home meant that we had to work with the local heritage committee to ensure that some aspects were preserved and that can add another layer of complexity.” Michelle worked with contractor Hartley Built and architect KBK Architects Inc. to bring the vision to reality.
The key to Michelle’s success is really getting to know her clients on a personal level. “We start the process by getting into the nitty-gritty of
the clients’ lives,” says Michelle. “I ask questions like ‘Where have you travelled? What do you do in your spare time? Tell me what a night of entertaining looks like for you.’ If I know those things, I can help create a space that they love and feel inspired by.”
Michelle walked through the property with Ashley to decide what elements to retain. One of the stars of the home is the pantry door, a refinished original from a Newmarket post office with a built-in wicket.
The couple has travelled extensively and love elements of French country design. “We had recently travelled with family to Provence, France and there we fell in love with everything European,” says Ashley. “We loved the way the old meshes with the new and the focus on history and craftsmanship and reclaiming old pieces.”
“One of the myths out there is that you can’t mix clean minimalist aspects of a space with more classic or ornate pieces,” relays Michelle. “That’s not true at all and how we approached it was keeping the bones of the home clean, such as the fixtures and main pieces and sprinkled in nods to the home’s heritage with accent pieces that were more vintage or classic.”
The couple knew that they wanted a warm and cosy space but also love light, airy and bright interiors. Their home mixes these styles perfectly with white walls, black metal and black accents on focal points, and warm woods and natural elements like the stone hearth in the living room from The Art of Stone. Michelle added terra cotta and mossy green to the palette to help bring in a natural feeling. A plethora of greenery is Ashley’s personal touch.
The kitchen was an addition by previous owners, but the couple decided to increase the living space by adding a second storey with something that century-old farmhouses don’t usually have – a luxurious and spacious primary suite with an en suite and walk-in closet. They also dug out the basement to create a playroom for the kids. The stairs, railings, doors and trim were supplied by The Royal Wood Shop.
Sustainability is paramount to the family. Ashley admits they were open to paying a slight premium for items if it meant it was more durable and wouldn’t end up in a landfill before it’s time. For example, they chose a metal roof over asphalt shingles, concrete tile and countertops from Creative Concrete Industries, refurbished old pieces and chose appliances from Tasco with fewer bells and whistles that might cause problems down the road. Many of the wood furnishings, including the mantel, dining room table and coffee table, were created by a local craftsman who works with reclaimed wood.
Ashley laughs that even with two kids, Michelle taught her that a good quality white paint can still work with messy little hands and markers. “Michelle was so capable of pulling our ideas together and gently nudging us in another way when she knew our ideas weren’t going to work,” says Ashley. “She was also able to adopt to our sense of style, rather than pushing hers on us.”
This is their forever home and with the classic but updated design, it’s timeless.
