Heather Dryden and Peter Miller have an affinity for country life. “We’ve been skiing at Devil’s Glen for 22 years, renting each winter in Creemore,” says Heather. “We’ve also become avid cyclists and appreciate that the area has some of the best cycling in Ontario.” Once the kids were leaving for university, the couple started thinking about downsizing in Toronto and buying and building in Creemore, where they’d be in close proximity to summer and winter sports, and the many friends they’d made there over the years.

In 2019, Heather and Peter purchased 22 hectares of land just outside of Creemore. Peter works as an investment banker in Toronto, so they downsized in the city and started planning the new country house. The property, which reminded Peter of “the rolling hills of England,” came with a cute but run-down log home. Their longtime designer Sam Sacks quickly renovated, transforming it into a cosy modern retreat from which the couple could plan their dream house: a 4,380-square-foot, barn-style new-build in a contemporary country style.

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“I got so excited when I saw the house, because there was so much character and potential and history,” says designer Alison Milne, principal of Alison Milne Co., a Toronto-based design studio and art gallery. Alison took on the renovation and redesign of this historical Prince Edward County, Ont., farmhouse for friends Jodie and Jesse, who purchased the property in 2016. Post-reno, the space is a homey and inviting retreat with a minimalist, Scandinavian vibe and hits of heritage charm. Presented by ARD Outdoor

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If you’ve dreamed of living in a farmhouse, Quebec has some standout examples. Discover the most inspiring country escapes from La Belle Province below (all from our archives). They share common elements of farmhouse style — antique furniture, quaint wallpapers, quilts, rustic farm tables — while proving one size doesn’t fit all. Whether it’s a working cattle farm, renovated century farmhouse or flower farm, the owners of these abodes embrace farmhouse style in a fresh way — even if their homes date back a century. Equally inspiring are the newer houses leveraging the rustic nostalgia that is a hallmark of this style. As a whole, these charming Quebec farmhouses manage to blend classic, European charm while playing up the area’s unique history and natural beauty.

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English kitchens set the gold standard for owners hungry for living spaces that look back in time, but also capitalize on the latest cooking technology. While this kitchen isn’t set inside a cottage in the dales of Gloucestershire, it does feel authentic — the perfect place to savour a hot cuppa.

In fact, this newly built home is in Saint-Lazare, Que., about an hour west of downtown Montreal. The kitchen — a believable Brit stand-in — features a creamy Aga cooker, fieldstone-veneer wall, wide-plank wood floors and two dark oak islands that resemble retrofitted antiques.

Designer Fay Martel, co-founder of the Montreal firm Les Coupables, had revamped the previous home of pharmacists Geneviève Lamarre and Maciek Zarzycki. When they wanted to build a new house, Fay was brought in early so she could dispense advice on the layout, as well as the decorating.

“We wanted our new house to be warm and cosy, and completely livable,” says Geneviève, an admitted Anglophile. “We wanted it to feel inviting without being overly fancy.” Set in famously horsey Saint-Lazare — the area is studded with stables — the locale was a natural fit. “To keep the look authentic, we sourced a number of items from the U.K., including the hardware and some of the light fixtures,” says Fay.

For lucky visitors, spending time in this house is akin to taking a mini-vacation in England. “When guests walk in, they don’t want to leave,” says Geneviève. “It feels like we’ve captured that cosy British farmhouse vibe we were aiming for. In this home, comfort reigns supreme, and we couldn’t be happier.” See inside the Quebec country home oozing with Continental elegance below.

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In this family home makeover in North Toronto, designer Alicia Marchioni of Harrison Fae Design brought dated rooms back to life with Modern Farmhouse-inspired style including a white and wood kitchen, bright sunken living room and a functional mudroom for a busy family. Watch the full transformation here. 

The post Before & After: A Cozy Family Home In The Suburbs Gets A Fresh Facelift appeared first on House & Home.

Designer Karin Bennett takes us inside her clients’ lakehouse that’s packed with neutral elements and plenty of texture. Starting in the entrance, dark muddy green built-in cabinets are reminiscent of the pine trees outside, while wood ceilings, exposed beams and a stone fireplace in the living room nod to the neutral setting. The open-concept main floor was designed to keep the focus on the lake view, with soft, low-profile furnishings. Watch for the full tour now!

Presented by Signature Kitchen Suite

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Step inside a cozy home on Lake Ontario designed by Michaela Burns. Completed in 2022, this house captures early 1900s charm with a trad parlour, updated country kitchen, guest loft and a basement movie theatre.

Presented by Signature Kitchen Suite

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Two years ago, Toronto expats Erica and Ryan Duffy fell head over heels when they toured their future house in Lions Bay, B.C. The family needed to relocate when a job opportunity came up for Erica, a tech company executive. Lions Bay was attractive because of its family focus, as well as its nearby beach, hiking trails and skiing. Plus, it was only a 20-minute drive from North Vancouver. Though Erica’s job was just a two-year commitment, they decided to stay, making their move west a permanent one. Tucked into a mountainside, the West Coast bungalow had views of Howe Sound and the surrounding forest while Harvey Creek burbled nearby. “Once you head up the steep driveway, it’s very peaceful and the view is spectacular,” says Erica. “You’re surrounded by cedars; it’s like a cabin in the woods.”

Constructed in the late 1960s by West Coast builder Bob Lewis, the nearly 2,000-square-foot bungalow had a classic post-and-beam structure. The bones were great, but the interiors needed serious updating. Peel and stick laminate covered the floors and a wonky rental suite was slapped over the garage. “It was so rotted, you could put your foot through the floor if you stomped hard enough,” says Ryan, a former high school teacher who now runs construction company Timber and Stone Projects. Tudor trimmings such as leaded glass windows and dark-stained elements didn’t suit the family’s modern aesthetic, either. Erica knew exactly who to call. “Ami McKay had to design the house!”

The designer had the dark beams painted a creamy hue in breezy West Coast style. And the rental suite? It was transformed into an inviting kids’ zone, with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a recreation space. Having interiors that felt connected to the landscape and view was important. “As much as possible, we wanted to bring the outside in,” says Erica.

Take a look inside this West Coast bungalow dressed for season!

The post Ami McKay Designs A 1960s Bungalow In Her Trademark Modern West Coast Style appeared first on House & Home.

This story was originally published in our November 2023 holiday issue.

CeCe Krecsy, who owns Little White House & Co., a lifestyle shop and teahouse in Fort Langley, B.C., and her husband Gene had built a house near Salmon River back in 2017. But when they stumbled onto a ramshackle, two-hectare country property three years later, they fell in love: it had blackberry bushes and an old orchard of plum and apple trees that would produce enough fruit to make organic jam, chutneys and tarts that CeCe could sell at the store.

They bought the place and started by building a new 1,398-square-foot barn; they would stay there during the construction of the main house. Later, it would become a work zone for the shop with a drying area for hydrangeas and a place to prep berries and fruit. Plus, the barn would act as a bunkie for visiting family.

Now that CeCe and Gene’s main house is ready, the barn will be a charming extension of their space during the holidays. “Our plan is to have everyone over on Christmas Eve, with some of the family sleeping in the barn,” says CeCe. We can’t imagine a cosier place to wake up Christmas morning. Sweet dreams.

The post A Newly Built Barn Is Decorated For The Holidays With Fresh Greenery And Vintage Finds appeared first on House & Home.

Artist, Designer and Entrepreneur Christine Flynn’s home was originally published in our November 2023 holiday issue.

A rustic farmhouse deep in the countryside — that was Christine Flynn’s original vision for her family’s home in Prince Edward County, Ont. But it wasn’t exactly what her husband, Niall Flynn, had in mind. “He wanted to be in Picton for our boys and to be able to walk to everything,” says Christine, an artist, designer and entrepreneur.

So in 2019, Christine, Niall, their two kids and the dog, Charlie, made the move from Toronto to Picton, where they had bought a three-bedroom, two-bathroom century house. The solution for satisfying Christine’s country cravings? She let the decorating do the work. “Giving the house farmhouse style was a great compromise,” says Christine.

Over three months, Christine and Niall embarked on an initial reno, giving the 1920s house “a softer flow” by removing doors and adding arches. They also had a local carpenter replicate the original crown moulding throughout. The next year, when the couple took on the bigger projects, they enlisted the help of Christine’s friend, designer Jenn Garnett of Jenn Garnett Design in Toronto. “I trust her taste and vision implicitly,” says Christine. “She helped figure out the bathroom and kitchen layouts, and was a sounding board for our ideas. She also lent a hand with all the decisions that come with renovating.”

The season is a golden excuse for Christine to do what she does best: tinker and play — with intention. “I love that a home is never finished,” she says. “I change things all the time: I rearrange vignettes, change wall colours, bring in new art and unearth new antiques. It’s all part of the fun!”

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