Decorating & Design
July 16, 2018
You’ll Love The Result Of This Historical Home’s Three-Year Reno
Ric and Shirley Riordon first spotted this Oakville century home as they cycled by on their bikes. They were drawn to the structure’s classical character and architectural details and they fantasized about what the space could become. In November 2012, when the circa-1909 house went on the market, they snatched it up, and took on what ended up being a full-scale three-year-long renovation. When it finally came time to decorate, they stayed true to the spirit of the heritage home. “We really valued the historical architecture,” says Shirley. Here’s how they modernized their home for the present, while respecting its storied past.
Homeowners Shirley and Ric take a spin in their leafy Oakville, Ontario, neighborhood.
To enhance the symmetrical façade, sculptural hedges and shapely topiaries define the front yard, while hydrangeas tie in with the preppy exterior palette. The addition at the back is clad in pre-painted wood siding and blends seamlessly with the painted-to-match brick structure. “Before we committed, we honed in on nearly 10 color combinations for the structure and trim and tested them to see which came closest to what we were imagining,” says Ric.
Slide the arrow to see the before and after!
Ric and Shirley in front of their knew garage. The exterior of the utilitarian structure was styled to match that of the house.
Graceful millwork, French doors and a luxe coffered ceiling add dimension to the new sunroom and gently lead the eye outward to the garden, which wraps around the space. “This is our main floor entertainment area,” says Shirley. “In the summer, we open up the French doors to extend the space outside into the garden and the outdoor dining area. It’s got a California-lifestyle feel to it.”
Getting the millwork up to snuff was key to reviving the home’s original character. “We removed the trim and our hero, carpenter extraordinaire Henry Steganga, replicated all of it to perfection,” says Ric. Antique botanical prints picked up in Rome, and set in frames found in upstate New York, complete the look of the understated breakfast nook — a favourite spot for Benny, their Main Coon cat.
While the galley kitchen at the front of the house is an unusual location, it works in the overall flow of the space. “Moving here was a huge life change for us,” says Shirley. “In our previous house we had a much larger chef’s kitchen, but we actually prefer this galley kitchen as it’s much more accessible and open to social areas.”
The addition and extensive landscaping are perhaps the most transformative elements of the renovation. Every room at the rear of the house leads into the carefully planned garden, blurring the lines between interior and exterior. Manicured boxwood hedges (Ric’s personal favorite) and yews add structure to the lush plantings.
Slide the arrow to see the before and after!
“We think of the backyard as an outdoor room,” says Ric. “I designed the pergola first; I wanted to do something architectural to complement the house.” An open lattice structure frames a bubbling fountain, an eye-catching feature for the backyard, no matter the season.
The oriel window, or bump out, — believed to date back to the ’40s — was one of the features that first attracted Ric and Shirley to the house. To unify the new and old elements, the half-arch bracing was replicated elsewhere on the exterior, while panelling that matches the front door was added below. Topped off with a fresh coat of paint, the window now blends seamlessly.
Donna Griffith
House & Home June 2018
Shirley & Ric Riordon