Decorating & Design
May 4, 2020
This Light & Bright Family Home Is Renovation Goals
Ryan Wilner and Dinah Weldon weren’t exactly looking for a new house, but they did dream of living closer to their daughters’ west end Montreal school. So, when they saw a sign go up in front of the most charming house on the block, it stopped them in their tracks. The two-storey 1947 brick home was long and lean with a storybook mansard roof. Inside, though, was another story: it had a good energy but was woefully dated. Ryan, who co-owns Renwil, a manufacturer and wholesaler of decorative accessories, and Dinah, who worked in e-commerce and is now at home with the kids, thought about taking on the overhaul of the 3,000-square-foot home themselves.
They called upon Leclair Decor, run by husband and wife team Melissa and Sacha Leclair, and lead designer Grace Doyle to capitalize on the home’s ample light and create rooms with unique elements. Function was also top of mind. “We wanted it to be light and bright but also warm and comfortable — not too overdone,” says Dinah. “Somewhere you can hang out and relax with friends,” adds Ryan.
Scroll down to tour this cheerful family home!
The entry sets the tone for the whole house — casual, youthful and classic. The black and white wallpaper keeps the mood lively.
Because the dining room is the first thing you see from the front door, a showstopping custom light fixture was designed by Leclair Decor and fabricated by Ryan’s company, Renwil.
A custom-made globe chandelier takes center stage in the living room. Its airiness reflects the light feeling also achieved by a coat of fresh white paint and minimal decorative items.
“We say almost every day that we can’t believe this is our house,” says Ryan. For Dinah, the location turned out to be even better than she imagined. “It’s more central. We walk to things now instead of driving,” she says. “It’s much more social, and I love that.”
The kitchen was the only room in the house that had been recently renovated when the family moved in. With a classic black and white scheme, raised-panel cabinet doors and ample storage, it was easy to embrace the space as is.
The family spends much of their time in the casual breakfast room off of the kitchen where a tonal rug and wallpaper keep things airy.
The family room was brightened up by swapping out dark, dated wallpaper for white paint. The original tile floor and a new modern sofa keep the room laid-back and informal.
It took a bit of convincing for Ryan and Dinah to agree to the moody blue-grey walls in the study upstairs, but now they couldn’t love it more. Wallpaper in the same hushed hue helps define the cozy window seat.
The dotted wallpaper in the powder room balances the traditional wainscotting and brass accents.
The kids use the mudroom when coming and going from school. Graphic wallpaper and rich color are playful nods to the period of the house.
The principal bedroom feels like a refined hotel room, thanks to the luxurious bed linens, upholstered headboard and mod chandelier. The addition of wall panel mouldings gives the space a timeless elegance.
Most of the major renovations took place in the principal bedroom and bathroom. By stealing space on one side and relocating a door, the designers were able to include everything on Ryan and Dinah’s wish list including double sinks, a walk-in shower and a freestanding tub.
Hits of black on the fixtures, side table and shower doors give the space dimension.
Eight-year-old twins Alice and Hazel’s bedrooms have a sense of wonderment, with playful textiles and bunk beds.
Dinah was fascinated by the idea of hidden doorways as a child, so she had a secret passageway added between the girls’ rooms.
The designers and contractor eagerly embraced this fun assignment, as well as the challenge. Such creative details fill the whole house with a sense of contentment and joy.
Maxime Desbiens
House & Home April 2020
Grace Doyle, Melissa & Sacha Leclair, Leclair Decor