Decorating & Design
A Designer Renovates His Friends’ Historical Home
Updated on May 25, 2021
Designer Arren Williams opens up about navigating a full-scale makeover with two of his close friends.
“‘Oh, you know, it needs a little bit of help,’ joked Sarah and Adam Cooper of the property they had just purchased — a gorgeous but dated 135-year-old clapboard house in Toronto that still had its original horse barn in the garden. The Coopers are good friends; my husband, David, had taught their eldest, and they’d vacationed with us in Portugal, so the idea of helping them turn the house into a home was both exciting and slightly nerve-racking. After all, renovations test even the strongest bonds, and this project would be particularly tricky because the house had a historical designation. Plus, the ask was ambitious: double the square footage, and replace an ’80s kitchen extension with a new two-storey addition to create more room.
Architectural design firm Bldg Workshop was called in to navigate the ins and outs of that historical designation and design the addition. Together, we worked on removing interior walls to help the space feel fresher, brighter and less formal. The key became balancing old and new. By selectively stripping back and simplifying rather than totally gutting the place, we created a livable home that would survive kids, a dog, hockey equipment and everyday life, while still feeling true to the history of the house.”
Adam and Sarah with their four boys, Josh, 14, Ben, 11, Noah, 9, Sam, 6, and the family’s goldendoodle, Yossi.
A Victrola cabinet original to the home is used for extra storage at the front door. Above it is a framed photo of the house from 1892.
A wall was removed to open up the living room to the dining area, which also brought in more natural light. A new chimney breast and fireplace give the room a sense of place.
The oak dining room table has a modern, utilitarian feel and expands for large family gatherings. A minimal Swedish chandelier is a more dramatic version of the fixture in the adjoining living room.
A vintage credenza in the dining room holds dishes, flatware and table linens, and is a handy spot to display favorite art pieces and finds from the family’s travels. A black ceramic push plate was sourced in London to match the ceramic door handle.
In the kitchen, custom-painted maple cabinets are punctuated by black hardware, and a vintage runner adds color. Mod sconces mimic the pendants over the island. “Blue, the family’s favorite color (Go, Leafs!), was just the ticket for the island cabinetry, which, through careful space planning, we managed to size at a spacious 17 and a half feet long,” says Arren.
The family room has a playful, laid-back vibe with a mix of prints, patterns and textures that feels crafted and collected but is designed to survive daily life. The space is anchored by a sculptural concrete drum table.
Pieces picked up on the Coopers’ travels mix with local finds, and always a few toys.
A vintage burled-maple credenza mirrors the warm tone of the leather sectional. Ottomans add extra seating while potted tropical plants thrive next to floor-to-ceiling windows.
The kids’ homework area features a vintage chair from Sarah’s father’s onetime furniture business. A chalkboard helps track the family’s daily schedule.
Blue was an easy pick for Noah and Sam’s bedroom because both adore hockey and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Adjustable lamps are perfect for nighttime reading.
Noah and Sam made the final hilarious choice on the pop art–influenced shower curtain in their bathroom. Along with a hex tile floor and bright Eames Hang-It-All rack (reflected in mirror), it all adds up to fun.
The custom upholstered bed sits underneath the pitch of the principal bedroom’s vaulted ceiling. A patterned rug is a playful touch paired with the dressers.
A mid-century modern credenza turned vanity takes the spa-like feeling of the principal bathroom in an eclectic direction. Black fixtures against the marbled ceramic wall tile look handsome and pair perfectly with the black-rimmed glass shower surround. “The result — layered with hex slate floor tile — was worth holding our breath for,” says Arren.
Stacey Brandford
House & Home March 2020
Arren Williams; Architectural design by Bldg Workshop