Decorating & Design
A Toronto Designer Renovates An 1878 Workers’ Cottage And Decks The Halls For Christmas
Published on December 18, 2024
Originally published in our November 2023 issue, this was one of our most praised cover houses yet. Read all about it on our RSVP page under “Letters about our November 2023 issue.”
There’s a storybook quality to this cedar shake house in Toronto’s Cabbagetown neighborhood. Dwarfed between two Victorians, the heritage cottage has a unique appeal that wasn’t lost on Colin Baird, an associate designer at TOM Design Studio, and his partner, Chris Bell, a TV studio executive. “We snuck in to see it before it was listed and immediately fell in love,” says Colin. “We knew we had to buy it.”
They purchased the house in 2017. Along with charm, it had a yard for their dog, Cole, and room to grow (they’ve since welcomed their son, Wesley). What the couple loved most was the feeling of the original cottage. When a contractor floated the idea of demolishing the structure, he was quickly shown the door. “We wanted to keep the footprint and honor the original house,” says Colin.
“I think the green keeps it classic.” Swags are attached to sconces and candleholders, and garlands and wreaths dress up windows. “We like to add greenery in unexpected places — it’s an easy way to inject warmth,” adds Chris. This year, the holidays will be spent fireside, reading Wesley holiday classics and playing Christmas music. “It’s the one time of year for us where we lean in to our favorite traditions and the nostalgia of the holidays,” says Colin. “We both have fond memories from our own childhoods, and we want to create those same memories for Wesley here in this house.”
But while the couple admired its history, they certainly weren’t going to stop time. They started by painting the exterior in Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee. Outside, fresh garlands and boxwood wreaths usher in the season.
Chris (left) and Colin with Cole, their flat-coated retriever. The shingled cottage has a Cape Cod or Nantucket spirit, says Colin.
The mantel is dressed with a fresh garland of Scotch pine in the cozy living room.
The house is decorated with contemporary canvases painted by Chris, as well as pieces the couple inherited or bought early in their relationship. “If we see something we love, we snatch it up and try to make it work by moving furniture around,” says Colin. There are also a few nods to designer Tommy Smythe’s signature moves, including the lantern fixtures and a gilded bull’s-eye mirror. “We lean traditional but balance that with modern pieces that make a space feel young and a little more masculine,” says Chris.
Chris, with their son, Wesley. This seating area was originally used as a home office but, after baby Wesley arrived, the sofa was added to create a family room.
Next, they renovated the kitchen, which took about four months, with a total budget of around $35,000. “None of the cabinets went to the ceiling and everything was worn,” says Colin. “For the kitchen design, we were inspired by classic cabinets from deVOL Kitchens and Plain English, so we worked with Distinctive by Design, a kitchen remodelling company, to come up with an updated yet timeless layout that was still budget-friendly. Most recently, they’ve redone the hardwood floors throughout, an update that also rang in at around $35,000.
The only element they kept was a bank of glass-fronted upper cabinets. “We wanted that comfortable feeling of a lived-in house that has history,” says Chris. “The original cabinets helped connect the kitchen to the rest of the house.”
In the dining room, a wagon wheel pendant and painted-black pedestal table create an eclectic look.
A wheat sheaf candle sconce affixed to a dark hutch brings lustre.
Two vintage trumpets frame a collection of bottlebrush trees for a pared-back take on a Christmas village.
Columns were installed to define the living room from the family room extension, which was formerly the porch.
Colin, who hails from New Brunswick, embraces the festive spirit, trimming a minimum of three Christmas trees. “I think anyone born in that area has an innate love of the holidays,” says Chris. The couple’s decorating, though, is streamlined and sophisticated. “We aim for elegant and understated versus an explosion of Christmas,” says Colin.
Every door in the house is painted black for distinction; in the principal bedroom, an aerial photo of Georgian Bay has a sentimental pull.
For Wesley’s nursery, they sidestepped anything too juvenile or precious. “We didn’t want it to feel age-specific,” says Colin. A dreamy pastoral wallpaper was too expensive for the entire room, so they used two framed panels to visually anchor the area behind the crib.
In the bathroom, an antique carved mirror makes a statement above the original pedestal vanity.
New hardware, a moody wall colour and a coat of black paint on the original clawfoot tub update the space.
Colin’s Holiday Decorating Tips
HANG THEM HIGH. Colin suggests hanging holiday cards like a bunting, rather than cluttering your tabletop or mantel.
FIND A STAR HUE. “We always start with a foundation of green, then we layer in signature colors. This year, it was a combination of copper, bronze and orange.”
GO GREEN. Every surface is an opportunity to add greenery. Colin likes to tuck sprigs behind picture frames.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. “We use one hero gift wrap, plus brown and white kraft paper, which is a great base for elaborate ties and ribbons.”
DECORATE IN MULTIPLES. Displaying holiday collections makes an impact, says Colin. A cluster of bottlebrush trees, for instance, strikes a festive note.
Patrick Biller
House & Home
Colin Baird