Decorating & Design
March 19, 2021
Tour An Eclectic Family Home With Art Deco Accents & Vintage Finds
Carlo Colacci, co-founder and president of Drake General Store, has been known to bring his work home with him — at least when it comes to The Drake Hotel’s signature style. “We like fun fabrics and colors, and interesting materials,” he says of the west end Toronto home that he shares with his family of five. That design philosophy plays out in one-of-a-kind furniture, quirky tile and an eye-catching palette of dusky pinks and bright blues, with plenty of natural texture for balance.
The home needed both personal touches and practical updates, so Carlo called on his Drake design conspirators: Aránzazu González Bernardo and Michael Fohring, the principals of Toronto design firm Odami. The duo came up with a plan that highlighted the home’s architectural details — think elaborate baseboard, door trims and crown molding — but still felt contemporary, playful and eclectic. The goal was to layer in design moments that reflect their love of Art Deco and cool vintage finds without compromising on kid-friendliness, such as arched doorways, eye-catching light fixtures and interesting furniture silhouettes.
Scroll down to see more of this eclectic home!
In the entry, the staircase is now a showstopper, thanks to its curvaceous railing and pink-hued walls, while a built-in wardrobe and Corian-topped bench add much needed storage. “We really wanted the bench, the stairs and the wardrobe to read as a whole,” says Aránzazu. “We chose to paint the back wall of the staircase to give it more depth and make it feel as though it were carved out of a volume, giving the sense that those three elements were treated as a single unit.” The stair cladding, stair wall and railing are all completely new.
This arched nook in the hallway between the entrance and kitchen is currently a workspace, but it could also serve as a bar.
Carlo, his wife, Laura, and their three kids, twins Serafina and Milo, and Luna (far right), eat most of their meals at the kitchen island.
A curvy settee designed by Milo Baughman and the Maralunga sofa were sourced in Brimfield, Massachusetts, while the ceiling fixture is from a French street market.
Patterned drapery “tones down the room a bit,” says Carlo. The side table is vintage Paul McCobb.
A new stained glass window in the dining room adds an Art Deco vibe and obscures a brick wall view.
Quirky and architectural furniture appears throughout the home — but it’s durable, too. That’s how each of the rooms feels carefully considered, but not precious.
The bright blue rug extends from the dining room into the family room. A tufted sofa separates the two spaces, while a lacquered goatskin-covered coffee table grounds the living room (a $400 vintage shop find from Buffalo, New York). These days it’s morphed into a stage for the kids’ dance parties. “The kids have five wardrobe changes a day,” says Carlo — not surprising for a family with such a strong sense of style.
Palm-patterned wallpaper, black tile and brass fixtures bring a glam look to the first-floor powder room.
Graphic pattern and warm wood accents are a signature move for Carlo.
Carlo and Laura took it upon themselves to refresh the laundry room and basement bathroom, which hadn’t been touched since the ’80s. The basement laundry room now has heated floors and tons of storage, including a hidden broom closet and foldout ironing board.
Clean lines and light hues modernize the basement bathroom.
Stacey Brandford
House & Home March 2021
Aránzazu González Bernardo & Michael Fohring, Odami