City Homes
September 12, 2022
Connie Braemer Reimagines A Toronto House With Charcoal Tones, Warm Woods And Maximum Light
Houses can be a lot like relationships — over time, the things you loved at first blush can start to grate. Case in point: after Sarah and Amar Bhalla spent two years getting to know their Toronto home, they found that what was initially long on charm made them short on patience.
Rewind to 2016, when Amar, a real-estate professional, and former model Sarah — who had decamped from Miami where she owned a cold-pressed juice company — were casting about for the right family home with their 10-year-old in tow. They were seduced by a 1920s-era painted-brick house in Rosedale with a classic centre-hall floor plan and a rare servery in an already expanded kitchen footprint. They fell in love and promptly bought and moved into the house.
Over the next two years, however, they learned that the cute powder room under the stairs meant everyone knew your business come dinner parties. All those 1980s-era French doors and skylights now felt thoroughly dated, and what they initially thought was a timeless floor plan was rather boxed off and claustrophobic. To boot, Sarah was now pregnant with their first child together. So the couple turned to veteran interior designer Connie Braemer, ARIDO, of Connie Braemer Design to fix their problems.
Scroll down to see how Connie reimagined the space!
“When Sarah (pictured left) called me, she had a vision,” says Connie (pictured right). “She wanted a contemporary, kid-friendly open floor plan, but also some separation.” In addition, she wanted to keep much of the charm that had initially wooed them. Connie’s prescription was a modern black and white palette underpinned by wood for warmth throughout.
Glass wall hooks in the entry bring sparkle to an otherwise industrial-style space. The original mudroom was eliminated in favor of widening the front foyer to accommodate strollers (just in time for the couple’s next child).
Lined in concrete-look Caesarstone slabs, the entry is now überfunctional and also hints at the elegant drama inside, and that once inconvenient powder room now sits down a newly created hall. “It had been a problem for so long, but thinking about it for two years led to the solution,” says Sarah.
In the family room, graphic black and white is warmed up with layers of wood, including rift-cut white oak herringbone flooring and floating shelves stained ebony. As with so many renovations, what began as a small facelift evolved into a massive restoration. “It started out with just the kitchen, but then we ended up gutting everything,” says Sarah. “It was all knob and tube wiring, and you can’t just do one room.” Because Sarah doesn’t dillydally with decision-making, demo began in December 2017 and move-in day was just eight months later.
One of Connie’s primary challenges was the less-than-generous nine-foot ceiling height. Rather than use standard panel doors, glass doors framed in black metal were added to create an open feel. The wall between the kitchen and family room was removed and the outside wall replaced with double sliding glass doors for seamless indoor-outdoor passage to the large deck and pool. The doors can be closed for entertaining and open when the kids are playing outside.
High-gloss cabinets and a custom vent hood keep the kitchen sleek while a La Cornue range offers a classic counterpoint.
An intricate light fixture is sculptural above the dining table while black walls create a cosy feel.
Now a striking focal point of the living room, the fireplace surround was created from Nero Assoluto granite and rift-cut European oak.
A custom daybed (behind sofa) has an integrated shelf for books or a cup of coffee.
A light tone-on-tone palette is soothing in the principal bedroom.
The walk-in closet features a custom vanity table topped with backpainted glass, where small drawers store Sarah’s makeup.
For the principal ensuite, the owners wanted a luxe, marble look that was durable, so Connie went with porcelain slabs on the walls and floor.
The nursery has a playful design, with a mini Panton chair and cosy chaise longue for reading.
“We wanted a space that could incorporate the outdoors for entertaining,” says Sarah. The outdoor area includes a spacious deck for playing, lounging and dining, as well as a sleek pool. “Connie gave me the confidence to choose a black palette,” says Sarah of the outdoor furniture.
“In 10 to 15 years, you’ll still walk through this house and love it — it’s classic and subdued,” says Connie. “If you look at Paris apartments today, you’ll see herringbone floors from 100 years ago. Similarly, a lot of the elements in this contemporary house have a classic, timeless vibe, which offers longevity, and that’s what people are looking for.” And like any good relationship, this house is built to last, too.
Virginia Macdonald
House & Home September 2022
Connie Braemer