Decorating & Design
Tour A Glamorous Home With An Art Collection That Wows!
Updated on June 6, 2022
What comes first when you’re designing your home – the decorating or the art? Most people would say the former, but in Suzanne Cohon’s house, it’s the latter. “We wanted the interior design to complement the art, not the other way around,” says Suzanne, principal at ASC Public Relations. The design of her Toronto Victorian was built around her family’s collections, everything from unique furniture finds and heirlooms to museum-quality artworks. Click through to see the stunning space by designer Sara Bellamy.
A traditional mood is set in Suzanne’s living room, where two conversation areas allow for both large groups and more intimate gatherings. Designer Sara Bellamy re-covered a set of inherited Art Deco club chairs in a shimmery, light grey leather, bringing a modern touch to the space.
Two still lifes from artist Kirsten Everberg’s White House series anchor the living room. Suzanne owns eight of Everberg’s works, three with the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art.
An organic sculpture by Stephan Balkenhol rests on a vintage Lucite table, which elegantly separates the two seating areas in the formal living space.
In the modern kitchen, a panelled fridge and touch-latch cupboards read as furniture, while the induction cooktop disappears into the counter.
Skipping a hanging fixture in the dining area keeps sight lines open to the artwork and the views outside.
Wallpaper by David Hicks adds bold pattern in the main-floor powder room.
The great room feels spacious thanks to ceiling-height windows.
A private terrace has clear views to the garden through the glass railing. The yard is a favorite spot for Pongo, one of the family’s two dogs.
The modern addition was deftly integrated into the terrace by facing the exterior wall in the same Indiana buff limestone.
A watery grey scheme allows for restful nights in the principal bedroom. Suzanne’s love of animal prints comes through in a subtle way via the muted zebra-patterned fabric on a vintage Lucite bench, a hand-me-down piece from her husband’s parents. Formal valances and elegant full drapes are balanced by whimsical monkey-shaped lamps and cheeky artwork depicting a king, queen and petulant child.
An extra bedroom was converted into a large closet to house the couple’s wardrobes. “My husband loves clothes as much as I do, maybe more,” says Suzanne. A carefully placed skylight in the hallway drenches the space in natural light.
Suzanne is passionate about fashion and has many colorful pairs of shoes to display. Sara designed the decorative open shelving for easy viewing. The zebra print used in the bedroom reappears here on the roman blind for continuity.
The home’s serene palette continues into the principal bathroom, where the cabinetry is a soothing taupe. Facing vanities balance out the long and lean space, and provide elbow room in the morning rush. Frosted glass and gable blinds allow for privacy but don’t obstruct the black-framed architectural windows.
Eight-year-old daughter Parker’s bedroom is nestled into the cozy eaves of the third floor. Tidy built-ins that follow the ceiling line offer orderly storage space.
The pillow fabric was the jumping-off point for the white and fuchsia color scheme in Parker’s room.
Virginia Macdonald
House & Home May 2014
Sara Bellamy