A Designer’s Dream Home With a Hamptons-Inspired Backyard Surrounded by Forest

After living in a 1,200-square-foot Toronto home with her family, designer Lindsay Thornton was ready for a change—she wanted to be surrounded by nature. When she found a raised bungalow an hour north of the city, she tackled the renovation in phases, beginning with the interior. The open-concept main space centres around a standout eat-in banquette and a sleek black-and-white kitchen, complete with a hidden walk-in pantry “We knew we wanted to live outside all summer,” says Lindsay, who went on to create a Hamptons-inspired backyard featuring a large deck with an outdoor kitchen, a modern rectangular pool, and lush, layered plantings.