Words by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Jody Beck.
Enjoying a private corner lot in a quiet residential neighbourhood, this 1330-square-foot one-level rancher was built in 2003 and was the perfect renovation project for designer, Larry Myers from Alfresco Living Design. Seeking a residence that felt connected to the exterior “as a singular experience,” he and his partner bought the two-bedroom, two-bath home with the objective to create a more contemporary and efficient living space for a more luxurious lifestyle. It was important to Myers to create a harmonious interior that would visually connect to the home’s exterior environment. Myers used repetition of materials in a simplified palette for design cohesion and turned to Gabriel Ross for furnishings that would enhance the home’s linear geometric layout.
To create a more cohesive open concept, several interior partition walls were removed to allow the home to connect to the outdoors. Myers adds that “this improved sight lines and provided an inclusiveness ideal for entertaining. Spatial management and scale were top of mind to foster a balanced environment. To maintain sight lines and create a light feel, built-in cabinetry, underlit and wall mounted off the floor replaced free standing furniture. To maintain the sleek minimalistic aesthetic, the design is void of baseboards, crown moulding, window trim and window coverings (with the exception of the bedrooms).
In the living area, the
Artifort Mare sofa is the standout piece and sets the tone for the room’s luxurious feel. “Understated elegance, timeless design and Artifort’s unrivalled quality and comfort are what make this piece so amazing,” says
Ross Taylor of Gabriel Ross. He adds that “Artifort dates back to the late 19th century making it a highly sought after brand. When you purchase from a brand like Artifort, you are buying a pedigree that can only come with this type of longevity.” The
LZF suspension light in an orange veneer swirl provides vibrancy and an amazing ambience. Orange brings energy and warmth to the space and complements many of the art pieces.
Cattelan Monaco dining table with glass top and oak base with a wenge finish is visually light in the open plan.
Cattelan Arcadia dining chairs in ‘lobster leather’ add a thoughtful punch of colour.
A large island creates a visual divide in the open concept and offers an anchor in the functional work triangle. Designed to feel more like a furniture piece than strictly utilitarian, the island cabinetry incorporates downlit display for art viewed from the living areas. Seating options were created for various experiences — stools at the island afford casual island seating or an adjacent nook counter for exterior viewing. The waterfall countertop on the island is Cambria Quartz, ‘Brittannica’ and has a very modern interpreted marble value. The backslash and adjacent counters are Quartz, Cambria in ‘Walton.’
Wenge wood was used for millwork in the kitchen and dining cabinetry as well as the fireplace surround, coffee table and all interior doors. “The linear grain creates an architectural quality while the rich espresso tones are enhanced with a nuance of charcoal and grey. The wood grain runs horizontally in the millwork parallel to the plane created by the island,” adds Myers. Wolf Appliances —steam oven, wall oven, sub-zero fridge, 6 burner gas stovetop — were flush mount installed. Continuous handles were used in the kitchen to maintain the sleek galley-style feel.
Large format Italian ceramic tile in ‘Provenza-in-Essence Composto Sabbia’ was used on the floor throughout the residence. This created continuity and an opportunity for radiant in-floor heating. On the walls, Benjamin Moore AF100 ‘Pashmina’ from the grey/taupe genre with green undertones is rich with depth and intensity. The ceiling paint is Benjamin Moore OC 130 ‘Cloud White’ is both subtle and sufficiently reflective for brightness.
Myers adds that “my art collection creates interest and energy, as well as the opportunity to use colour in the fabric selections for furniture. The art and furniture support one another and unify the design. This was essential in order to lay juxtaposed to the neutral background.” Authenticity, quality and longevity were paramount in the acquisition of all elements. Lapalma Miunn stools in oak dark walnut with a round base create a casual option for dining.
“When you buy originally designed pieces you are supporting innovation in design. I always remind people that original design crosses all price points so just because you can’t afford an original Le Corbusier LC3 chair doesn’t mean that you can’t purchase something amazing for your home that is original,” says Taylor.
Vitra Petite Repos chairs in saffron wool fabric create fireside comfort. The fireplace surround is made from wenge wood and was designed to frame an original oil painting and has an acid stained bronze plated inset. The coffee table was designed and fabricated with wenge wood as well for design cohesion. It has an orange glass composite inset providing practicality and cohesion to the colour in the art and furniture.
The desk was designed with minimal lines to have very little weight or volume, yet serve as a functional working plane. Fabricated with spalted maple, it boasts floating drawers, tapered legs and ‘copper booties.’ Built-in cabinetry used in the dining area creates additional storage capacity as well as universality as a design principle.
