Decorating & Design
January 10, 2020
Step Inside A Designer’s Rustic & Refined Family Home
Designer Jordy Fagan of Collective Studio and her husband, Ben, were planning the transformation of their dream home when a surprise discovery altered their plans. “About a month into the renovation, we found out we were expecting twins,” she says. So, the walk-in closet turned into a nursery for their children, Quincy and Breaker, and the whole place got a family-friendly treatment (hint: the spacious laundry room). “It was perfect timing.”
The dated Toronto home hadn’t been renovated since the 1980s, which is exactly why the couple bought it: they wanted to take it back to the studs and start from scratch. Jordy and her business partner Alana Firestone completely opened up the choppy layout, injecting a refined rustic feel with a monochrome palette, plenty of natural texture and hits of muted green.
Scroll down to tour this newly-renovated family home.
The entrance at the back of the house sets the tone with a graphic black door, beadboard wall and geometric tile underfoot. A wooden bench and woven basket add plenty of warmth, and create a seamless transition from the outdoors in.
Panelled rift cut oak cabinetry adds visual interest to the white, wood and black kitchen. The sink interior — made out of matte black granite — was a design risk that paid off, according to Jordy.
Jordy and Alana went for integrated appliances and a hidden pantry because of the open concept layout — she didn’t want the appliances to be visible from the family room. Plus, they were given a moody touch with Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty (2128-10).
A cozy banquette turns into a major design moment with a black and white photo of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Plus, built-in wooden drawers are the ideal place to store kitchen essentials Jordy doesn’t use every day.
Jordy kept it simple in the living room with storage-savvy built-ins that hide the twins’ toys, a sleek textured ottoman and a spacious sofa for the whole family. The lush view of the backyard is the true star of the show.
“Our general vibe is more about layering with texture than color,” she says — and the industrial-meets-rustic dining room is the perfect example of this. A woven light fixture contrasts beautifully with the original exposed brick — a happy find beneath the ’80s fireplace — hot rolled steel mantel and stacks of wood.
A foggy forest mural in the light-filled nursery pays homage to the couple’s past. “My husband and I love travelling to the Pacific Northwest,” says Jordy. “It’s something we look forward to doing with the twins when they’re older.”
“It’s the perfect example of a gender-neutral nursery that isn’t beige or grey,” she says. Her daughter, Quincy, lies in a woven basket on the change table, while a gallery wall of landscape photography and vintage U.S. National Park posters hang above.
Jordy and Alana are known for their modern monochrome design, but a coat of muted green paint on the custom vanity in the kids’ bathroom feels like a neutral. “It’s easy to infuse color that isn’t bright,” says Jordy.
It was Jordy’s idea to write a playful message in tile in the hardworking laundry room. A heavy-duty Whirlpool washer and dryer can easily tackle the whole family’s load. Plus, a built-in rack makes air drying clothes a breeze.
The basement bathroom feels cool and contemporary with a black-framed shower enclosure, which adds architectural interest to the otherwise neutral space.
Jordy and Alana were able to squeeze in a principal bathroom with a spacious walk-in shower — a serene sanctuary for the mom of two.
Kiely Ramos
Collective Studio