It’s hard to imagine that this
Victorian house was a ’80s reno
nightmare when Peter and
Camille Marrello got their hands on
it two years ago. It had been stripped
of all of its charm and character. Yet
everything about the house today
looks like it’s been there for, well, over
a hundred years. To bring it back to
its former glory, Peter and his reno-savvy
dad rolled up their sleeves and
added moldings to as much of the
house as possible. Then Peter and
Camille combed through vintage
stores and antique shows to find
period pieces to play up the period
details. The Carrara marble fireplace
was a lucky find at a Habitat store.
“They’re really hard to find, because
they often break when people take
them out of old houses — this one was
perfect,” says Peter, a creative director.
Rustic hewn floors and a new
floating wood-and-glass staircase add
just the right updated touch. The
resulting look is a perfect balance of
classical and freshly modern.
Stack books spine in
To lend visual unity to the built-ins, the homeowners placed books spine in — it's a fun way to show off the soft muted tones of book pages. Flea market finds are peppered throughout —everything from an old block and tackle to shoe lasts finds a home. A coffee table made from an old drum punctuates the space.
Get this look: Resin antlers, Restoration Hardware. Birch logs, acorn filials, Sheridan Nurseries. Gold bowl, Elte. Sofa, Casalife. Vintage drum coffee table, Christie's.
Get more flexibility in tight spaces by choosing scaled-down furnishings that are easy to reconfigure. Storage is hidden in the panelling of the structural wall behind the Louis XVI-style chair.
Get this look: Glass stair enclosure, Comelight Glass & Mirror, 416-603-7965. Table, frames, Home Sense. Purple pillow, Elte. White Eiffel chair, Design Within Reach.
Dark colours can create the illusion of space, so painting one wall of this narrow dining room a dark grey makes it feel more spacious than it really is. Painting all the moldings one colour is a modern way to treat traditional architecture. Peter and Camille chose upholstered benches instead of chairs for the seating.
Get this look: Tufted bench, Pavilion Home. Table, chandelier, Casalife.
Before: The dining room was dark and small.
Peter panelled the walls to create a strong grid, then hung some art outside the molding for a quirky, unexpected effect.
Get this look: Modern frames, Ikea.
The living room window didn't look onto anything spectacular, so Peter and Camille created a beautiful outdoor scene by placing faux boxwood topiaries in large white planters. White sheers and softness without being old-fashioned.
Get this look: Painted white planters, Home Sense. Stairwell bracket, Love the Design. Rope, Restoration Hardware.
Why drown in plastic when vintage Mason jars are a practical and attractive way to keep pantry staples on hand?
Get this look: Drawer hardware, Restoration Hardware. White subway tile, Olympia Tile+Stone.
The couple used a former store counter for their kitchen island. Old corbels support the marble countertop. Antique French pendants add task lighting, while white subway tiles are a classic accent.
Get this look: Kitchen design, Andrew Pike Interiors. Counterop, Crystal Tile & Marble Ltd. Light fixture, Restoration Hardware. Glasses, cake plate, Williams Sonoma.
Before: The kitchen had no character and an awkward layout.
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