Displaying posts from September, 2015

I wanted to share another Atticus & Milo beauty. This one was an 80s townhouse that had become completely dull after a renovation. A dramatic entry and cosier spaces were requested by the owners. Some really incredible wallpaper made the entrance/staircase come to life, and the home office and bedrooms also got a wallpaper treatment to create inviting rooms you don’t want to leave.

I’m ruthless when I real estate stalk. I flick from property to property with nary a second thought. Yes, bookmark. No, move on. A stalking machine. But when I saw this Paddington, Sydney property I think I caught my breath. Stylist and author Sibella Court‘s old shop and home is for sale. I fell in love with this building the first time I walked through the door. I spent far too much time exploring all her treasures for sale. I bought a few trinkets, a couple of her books and a knitted rat dissection (!) and on returning home told everyone they had to go. Every time I was in Sydney I would visit, quietly, reverently like a overwhelmed child in a sweet shop. I even planned to stay there when it was listed on airbnb but perhaps I have left that too late. I need not worry about her shop though. The Society Inc has a new home not far across town in a warehouse in St Peters. I wish I had the money to buy Sibella’s old home. Is it creepy to say that I’d keep it just the same way? The bijou time warp kitchen, the quirky bathroom, the walls and floors and all. It would be perfect for my ever expanding collections. The link to the listing is here while it lasts.

P.S. If Australians readers have not been watching Sibella’s new TV series Restoration Australia you absolutely must! I’m hooked. You can catch up on the first two episodes here.

This little office is at the top of the landing is above the mudroom in the rebuilt addition. 

I saw a before photo of the bathroom. I recall a very narrow yellow tub and really awful tile on the wall. This bathroom is a dream come true in comparison. 

I LOVE this photograph by Maureen O’Connor from the H.H Richardson Complex Asylum for the Insane in Buffalo NY

This painting is ‘Taking the Call’ by Ottawan Andrew King 

The daughter painted this $5 vintage wooden chair in Annie Sloan chalk paint. I have been meaning to get some of this paint in black – now I HAVE TO. 

Their son is a lego GENIUS and his room proves it. 

And now for the backyard tour!

I stepped out and exclaimed ‘You even have a cool door mat!” 

The deck was just completed. What a great little oasis to enjoy dinner and hang out in the evenings. The owners spend all of their time out here now (as opposed to hanging out on the front porch). I can see why. 

You’ll spot a few of these succulent wall planters along the fence. SWEET!

Their grass looked like a carpet.

Serious attention to detail out here. 

All of the lighting around the house (I think) including these little gems outside are from Hubbardton Forge. 

It is that time of year again….the Glebe House Tour is coming up September 20th. Get your tickets HERE! This is one of my favourite local events – when a select group of people in one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Ottawa open up their homes for us nosy folk. 🙂 There’s nothing like snooping through a stranger’s home (it is a well guarded tour I might add) without them present so you can OH! and AH! and HUH? to your heart’s content. I was given a personal tour by the owners of one of the homes on the tour (thank you Michel and Lara!, and the kids who I did not get to meet but who cleaned their rooms for me!), and I really lucked out because this house is almost identical to mine so it was really interesting to see how someone else made over the same spaces. In this case the owners have gone to town renovating what was once a very neglected home. Over the past 6 years they have worked on every single nook and cranny to restore and update to their liking. And boy do I like! I always have a hard time narrowing down the photos of these house tours so this post will be the exterior front and main level and the next post will be the second floor and backyard. (Posts from last year’s tour here and here) 

There’s a surprise behind that door 🙂

All of the original oak doors/trim/window frames/beams are so beautiful and OMG the time it must have taken to restore it all… That’s the vestibule door in the middle, with the living room on the left and the dining room to the right.

When the homeowners first moved in things were in such rough shape the family of four all lived in one room for a while. I may not get these numbers quite right but they lived without a kitchen for 6 months and without a bathroom for 1 month. 

Two remarkable things to note about this house tour are the amazing little potted plants everywhere that are like sculptures, and their fantastic art collection. This piece above is by Stephen Hayes of Toronto. 

The homeowner built most of the small tables around the house, including the one above. His father is a metal worker who taught and helped him build the bases. I looove this coffee table.  

The art above the fireplace is ‘From the Depths’ by C. Jere purchased at Suede Interiors

The art above is from Koyman Gallery (artist unknown).

An example of the little potted plant arrangements thoughout the home. I wanted to scoop them all up and take them home with me. 

The legs on this dining table made me swoon. It seems I love fat legs. All of the furniture above was refinished by the owners. 

GORG hutch!

The secret gem behind the door at the end of the foyer. Formerly a closet, there was a pantry in behind so both were transformed into the tiniest of bathrooms, with the smallest sink and toilet Preston Hardware had in stock. I am totally jealous of this because I don’t have the space they do behind the closet to fit a bathroom. 🙁

I saw a photo of the kitchen cabinetry before the renovation – horrifying is an accurate adjective. The new custom cabinetry fits the small space perfectly. The sink section of cabinetry and its countertop are recessed a few inches to allow more room to move around. The kitchen even allowed for a Wolf range (YESSS!) and a large refrigerator. 

This mudroom is the lower level of the small addition at the back of the house. I saw a before photo of this from the outside and EEEKKK! A couple of contractors told the owners that it could be salvaged but once it was opened up it was deemed too much of a disaster and had to be torn down and rebuilt. Again, I am jealous as a mudroom is something my house is desperately lacking. The walnut slatted bench was built by the homeowner, and the cabinetry on either side are Home Depot sink cabinets that were on sale because the sinks were broken. They added countertops and the homeowners’ father build metal inserts to hold plants. Cute!!

Part 2 coming up later!

I really think that the national pastime of Australians is renovating and the the holy grail is the house extension. We all have dreams of taking a small, pokey period property and blowing out the back to create an open plan inside/outside family relaxation and entertaining space that doubles our floor space and exponentially explodes our enjoyment of home life. Like this fab reno and extension of a Kensington, Sydney house by Angus Mackenzie Architect.