Decorating & Design
This Farmhouse Strikes The Perfect Balance Between City & Country Living
Updated on June 26, 2020
For lawyers Bridget O’Leary and Stephen Gleave, living on a 40-hectare property in bucolic Ancaster, Ontario, gives them the best of two worlds. Bustling Toronto and the couples demanding jobs are close enough to commute to a couple of days a week, but they’re also far enough away to feel like they’re getting away from it all when at home. Their 135-year-old Italianate house offers plenty of modern amenities, and the property has enough countryside for the dogs, cats, birds and livestock that live here, too. But in 2014, one thing continued to drive them mad: the home’s dated interior.
The couple’s overall design goal was a seamless dovetailing of old and new. “One of the things that was really important to me was to honor and respect the home,” says Bridget. “It’s been here since 1885 and will hopefully remain for many years after we’re gone.” With only Bridget, Stephen and their 20-year-old daughter, Alexandra, in the house, the new layout would more than accommodate the family.
Bridget hired designer Susan Burns to help get through what would end up being a two-year-long process. “We both agreed we couldn’t do glitzy if you made the house too glamorous it wouldn’t suit the country environment. It had to be calm and classic,” says Bridget. “After all, this is still a farm.”
To look as seamless as possible, the brick used on the home’s addition was closely matched to the original brick that surrounds the bay property.
Stephen and Bridget enjoy a glass of wine on the side porch with Alexandra, and Frosty, one of the family’s Kuvasz dogs.
The interiors are calm and compatible with the exterior style of the house but get graphic punch with black window frames, and a dark railing and console.
Marble was nixed for the perimeter counter in favor of dark soapstone, which is less prone to staining. “My husband likes red wine, and he’s not the type that wipes the bottom of the glass,” says Bridget. “I don’t want to stress about that!”
Dark window frames, upper cabinets and sconces are a graphic contrast to the wall of glossy white subway tile.
The dining room is grounded by sleek navy chairs and a contemporary chandelier.
The designer found the living room fireplace’s limestone surround by happy accident: it was a remnant from a granite supplier that happened to be the exact size needed. “We wanted something minimal,” says Susan. The coffee table is topped with honed marble. “Even though it’s stone, it has a buttery softness that makes you want to touch it,” she says. The large arched windows in the addition allow light to flood the room.
The home’s original staircase is where their Brittany dog, Ginger, likes to lie and look out the window and the new glass door installed at the side entrance.
A tall, tufted headboard gives Alexandra’s bedroom a sumptuous feel, while a striped coverlet keeps the look simple.
Custom built-ins and a linen-covered bed frame with nailhead trim are handsome in the principal bedroom.
The principal ensuite bathroom has a spa-like vibe and features warm metal accents.
The new basement includes a welcoming entry with ample built-in storage.
“Every time you let a dog outside, it’s like they’ve gone for a run though the park, so ease of cleaning helps!” says Bridget of the new dog shower in the basement.
The house is refined but not stuffy. An outdoor volleyball court feels perfectly at home. “The house doesn’t take itself too seriously,” says Susan.
Robin Stubbert
House & Home June 2020
Susan Burns