City Homes
September 30, 2024
Designer Kim Lambert Brings Luxe Belgian Style To A Toronto Victorian
In 2021, the owner of a handsome, 3,500-square-foot Victorian in Toronto’s Annex neighborhood was looking for a designer who would do right by her circa-1888 house. She reached out to designer Kim Lambert after discovering her work in the pages of House & Home. She saw that Kim wasn’t afraid to create rooms with a distinct point of view. The designer admires northern European design and Gustavian style, a Scandinavian take on the opulence of French Rococo, and her signature aesthetic embraces ornate, luxe details but with more muted, modern colors — less gold, more warm whites and soft blues.
The subtlety suits this owner perfectly. “I find it tranquil, beautiful, sophisticated, and exactly as I had hoped it would be,” she says. The design might have been born out of the stress of lockdowns, but the feeling now is one of elegance and ease. “Being in this house brings me such joy.”
With the help of Sierra Custom Homes, the two-year project involved a full gut renovation, with new electrical, HVAC, hardwood floors and millwork throughout. The client wanted to lighten the palette, address the lack of storage and redesign the kitchen, all with equal consideration for beauty and function.
The client knew that Kim would be a great fit for her project. And when Kim first walked through the house, she immediately saw its potential. “It had good bones and a decent flow. We wouldn’t have to take down too many walls, but the palette was depressing,” she says. “We wanted to wrap the owner in understated elegance.” Kim restored the new plaster mouldings and a custom handrail on the grand staircase.
Throughout, the look remains elegant, with sculptural furniture in subdued wood tones, whites and greys, and lots of linen and chenille. Carefully considered materials bring a wonderful richness, including grey marble trim that frames the entry to the living room, smoky teal quartzite counters in the kitchen, and the custom vent hood with a copper patina over the range. The vibe is neutral and natural, creating an overall calming effect the client loves.
The fireplace’s brick interior was painted black for a more modern look.
Tempest Blue quartzite on the backsplash and island counter adds subtle movement and contrasts with the Belgian oak millwork. Kim designed the curved vent hood with a copper finish.
On the main level, generous windows in the living room, dining area and kitchen look out to lush front and back gardens designed by landscape architect Ronald Holbrook.
Beyond aesthetics, the new built-ins added much-needed storage. “The house isn’t huge,” says Kim. “We looked at every wall and thought, Where can we add more storage, more utility?” For continuity, the floors throughout the home are also done in Belgian oak. “Having the millwork and flooring in the same material contributes to that modern warmth,” she adds.
Kim layered in Belgian style by painting the classic plaster moldings a soft, subdued white and juxtaposing them with minimalist Belgian oak millwork in the kitchen, principal ensuite, powder room lounge and third-floor guest room. The counter in the powder room nods to the stone used in the kitchen.
Kim removed as few walls as possible during the renovation. That said, she did create a more open floor plan by taking down a partition between the kitchen and dining area, where a banquette now sits.
A grand staircase leads to the second-floor lounge and principal suite, and there’s a combined guest room, office and workout space on the third floor (a closet conceals the folding bed).
A large TV flanked by built-ins and an oversized coffee table make this a great place to watch movies.
The shelves have integrated lighting and offer a place to display favorite vessels and objets.
Muted hues in the principal bedroom have a calming effect.
Two small bathrooms on the second floor were merged into one to create a spa-like principal ensuite, and a coat closet was added in the front foyer. “There was no entry storage,” says Kim. “Shoes were cluttering the front door.”
The ensuite’s slatted screen separates the tub from the toilet while still allowing light to filter through.
“We used a restrained selection of finishes,” says Kim of the ensuite’s minimalist, Scandinavian-style look. The bone-colored counters and large-scale porcelain tile floors continue the neutral palette.
The bed disappears when the guest room serves as an office or home gym.
Lauren Miller
House & Home
Kim Lambert