Decorating & Design
October 13, 2020
Visit A New-Build Home With The Soul Of An Old Farmhouse
When a young Toronto family — two busy professionals, Heather and her husband, Jonathan, and their two kids, Vivienne and George — moved into their new country home in Kimberley, Ontario, two years ago, it was a blank slate: the paint was barely dry, the woodwork was pristine and the floors were still unscathed by the posse of little feet to come.
Purchased in 2016, the 20-hectare property had nothing more than a long-abandoned farmhouse and an old barn on it, but the panoramic view of fabled Beaver Valley was so spectacular it gave Heather and Jonathan goosebumps. “Looking back, buying the property was quite a leap of faith,” says Heather. “Our daughter was three years old, our son just four weeks old, and we had never built a house before. But it ended up being one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”
The 4,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home they envisioned and had built is a series of interconnected clapboard-clad structures in streamlined, iconic shapes that are inspired by the agrarian aesthetic of the farmland that surrounds it. “We wanted a house we could grow into over the years,” says Heather. Also on their wish list? High ceilings, white walls, oversized windows and a sense of spaciousness. For help, they turned to their dear friend Toronto designer Allison Willson, who had worked with them on the decorating of the family’s home in Toronto. She layered in textures that were as comforting to the eyes as to the touch. “The goal was to make this new house feel lived in and reflective of the family who lives here,” says Allison.
Scroll down to tour this idyllic family getaway.
From the left, the principal bedroom, covered patio and hallway connect to the great room and porch. The mudroom leads to the guest bedroom and children’s bedrooms on the second floor.
“We wanted to bring in as much natural light as possible, and create a connection between indoors and out,” says Heather. “We wanted to feel the seasons.”
Heather and Jonathan, with their two kids, Vivienne, 7, and George, 3. “For years, our parents have created happy memories and holiday traditions for each of our families,” says Heather. “Now, my husband and I are so grateful that we can do that for them.”
In the mudroom, an antique pine bench is practical and “adds a sense of history to a new space,” says Allison.
A vignette of casually arranged flowers, found antlers and a pastoral landscape set the tone the minute you walk in the entryway.
With their low-sheen finish, reclaimed elm floors are practical and low-maintenance in a high-traffic area like the kitchen.
“Quintessential farmhouse touches such as wrought-iron shelf brackets, antique dishes and cutting boards create the casual aesthetic we wanted,” says Allison.
“That table is indestructible!” says Heather of the dining area’s rustic, kidproof wooden table. “Every stain and spill just adds a memory and more character.”
At lunchtime, daily bread from the local bakery is served, farm-style, on simple white dishes.
On the open-plan main floor, Allison defined the living room with carefully placed furniture and a rug to ground the space.
Like a giant exclamation mark, a wall-mounted, oil-rubbed bronze charger and handsome pendant anchor the living room.
Field flowers picked on the property decorate the hallway linking the great room to the principal bedroom.
The principal bedroom’s clean-lined headboard and neutral gray, linen and cream palette create a calming vibe.
A pair of cozy bouclé-covered chairs by the bedroom’s picture window are the perfect spot to enjoy the view.
A new dresser made from reclaimed wood adds texture and history.
“We knew we wanted a soaking tub where you could have some quiet time,” says Heather. The stone tile floor and jute rug echo the home’s organic decorating.
Valerie Wilcox
House & Home October 2020
Allison Willson