Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Tech Style & Beauty Kitchen & Dining Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeHomesInterior design: Making bigger better A rambling suburban home gets a soulful refresh, suited to “casual hangouts with the kids” or drinks with adultsLast updated 36 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.The designers at Stafford House Studio elevated the homeowner’s credenza by styling it with a pair of alabaster sconces, organic vases and a chandelier (not shown). Photo by Niamh BarryReviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.Large houses, like this 5,400-square-foot Burlington property with soaring ceilings and cavernous rooms belonging to a bachelor with two young sons, can be challenging to cosify. While ideal for milling with cocktails, such homes are hard to pull down to earth. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThat’s where the right decorative elements come into play: artwork, furnishings and colours that feel grounding, inviting and still sophisticated, all of the vibes this homeowner wanted. “The focus around health and wellness is also important for this family,” points out designer Sydni Hoffman. Hoffman and her partner Nicole Bechbache (the pair runs Stafford House Studio) were recruited to work their magic after the design-build firm Brejnik Fine Homes had made substantial big-picture improvements to the home. (The Style Co. helped with styling.) A ficus in an earthy vase and a quirky stone stool from Bettencourt Manor bring personality into the formal living room. Photo by Niamh BarryThis included underpinning the lower level to accommodate an indoor basketball court, a golf simulator and sauna with a marble waterfall outside of it. A wine cellar for post-sweat tipples was also installed, and dark dated floors swapped for white oak throughout. The first move by the designers was to neutralize the abode’s outmoded grey shell. “We painted the entire house Creamy by Sherwin-Williams,” says Bechbache. “It’s a beautiful colour that warmed everything up.” The paint, which has yellow undertones, “is on the trim, the doors, ceilings and walls,” says Bechbache. “It is softening — there are no visual breaks. People default to a bright, white ceiling but when you paint in the same tones, it’s elongating and enveloping.” A concrete dining table from Restoration Hardware has an unfussy presence in the space. Photo by Niamh Barry And, in her view, it draws attention to architectural flourishes such as the coffered ceiling in the living room and the curated ceiling light fixtures the designers chose throughout, one of them a three-pronged brass stunner from Etsy with shades that recall ostrich eggs. The designers are especially proud of the formal living room that has little in common with the unwelcome space it once was. It came together by better using some of the homeowners’ own furniture. A texturally rich sideboard, artwork and vase spruces up the wine cellar, which has Pietra marble and acrylic backlit shelves designed by Brejnik Fine Homes. Photo by Niamh Barry “It’s a long and narrow room with a fireplace in the middle and two doorways,” says Bechbache. “It was a pass-through space.” Previously, a sofa was plunked in the centre with two chairs flanking it and a coffee table and side tables. The vignette partially sat on a small rug. “The wings [on either side of the room] felt totally sad and empty,” says Bechbache. “He loves to entertain and he wanted this room to feel like a parlour.” As such, the duo layered in furnishings suitable for “casual hangouts with the kids” or drinks with adults, says Hoffman. A sumptuous lounger offers a restful spot outside the sauna. Photo by Niamh Barry A bespoke, vanilla-toned wool-nylon carpet (made by Allan Rug, over two weeks) fits narrow space, skirting perfectly around the fireplace’s hearth. Two cream chairs, once an afterthought, are now part of a conversation set on one end of the room. New pieces, meanwhile — the cushy bench, wavy stone stool from Bettencourt Manor, metallic nesting coffee tables and abstract artwork defined by library lights — jazz up the joint thanks to the multitude of textures and tones. “We wanted everything to sing to each other and feel special in (its) own right,” says Bechbache, noting that changing the coffee table from rectangular to round offers better circulation in the room. A new glass door leads into the revamped sauna landing. The designers lined the space in cedar and added hidden storage. Photo by Niamh BarryOver in the dining area, a monolithic, 10-seat concrete table and armless chairs invite simple serenity. It sits on the clients’ own Greek-key-patterned rug moved into place from another part of the home. Hoffman notes that “there (are) barely any wood pieces throughout the home because the homeowner was specific about materials — he wanted a more sleek, modern, feel.” One exception is the dry sauna downstairs. It, too, was tweaked to match the level of finesse throughout the house. The landing to it was bare, so the designers devised a pretty moment leading to it. They lined the area in cedar that incorporates hidden storage. Today, a glass door lets the cedar shine. Another purposeful moment was created in the once-empty area outside of the sauna. It now mimics the calming mood of a spa: a Vitruvi aromatic diffuser puffs headily, and there are brown boucle loungers to rest on post-sauna. “It was an open space and there was nowhere for him to hang out,” says Hoffman. “Now it’s wonderful being down there,” adds Bechbache, “surrounded by a sense of calm.” Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.