Peek inside a modern 2,900-square-foot country home

Country charm

When searching for the perfect house, born-and-bred Torontonians Paola and Alan Fullerton weren’t averse to leaving their downtown postal code behind. The couple — she’s the founder of fashion website The Shows, and he’s a CEO — knew casting their net beyond the city limits would afford them a different way of life. “It was 2003, and I wanted a place where our growing family [daughter] could run around outside and get dirty,” says Paola, “but I wanted real dirt, not city dirt.”

They headed north to the village of Schomberg in King Township, where they fell in love with an “ideal version of a country house.” The three-bedroom, 2,900-square-foot space, an 1860s farmhouse augmented by a 1980s extension, is situated on two acres and surrounded by a 120-acre horse farm. While the setting was idyllic, the interior hadn’t been touched in over 30 years. To liberate it from its tired past, the couple turned to Toronto-based designer Trish Johnston.

“A friend recommended Trish,” says Paola, “and she immediately understood our vision.” Formed in part by the family’s love for pink-sanded Harbour Island in the Bahamas, that vision channelled open space and “neutral interiors that let the outdoors provide the colour.” However, the reality — a chopped-up floor plan and contractor-issued finishes — presented a different picture.

“Originally the house was really cluttered,” says Trish. “I wanted it to be open and clean-lined, yet still warm: a country house that was cozy, but not too rustic.” Renovations, from new bathrooms and refinished floors to an extended open-plan kitchen, transitioned the space into the 21st century. Trish’s artful mix of design elements, both rustic (pine boards, wooden beams) and refined (linen drapes, tailored sofas), created a beautifully layered effect that’s warm and welcoming. “The kids love that the house is super casual and fun,” says Paola. “I love that it feels contemporary without losing its country charm.”

Create an inviting indoor-outdoor space

Paola uses items normally assigned to interiors — a chandelier, an oak dining table and beautifully upholstered throw cushions — to transform her deck into a sumptuous oasis. It's reminiscent of the furnished verandas typical of Harbour Island in the Bahamas, the family's go-to vacation destination.

Wicker chairs, Bacon Basket. Throw cushions, chandelier, HomeSense.

Flip your pillows to match the seasons

“When selecting fabrics for cushions, think outside the box,” says designer Trish Johnston. “We chose different patterns and colours for the pillow fronts to give the room a more modern, youthful feel and finished the cushion backs in coordinating solid velvet to create a year-long palette: linen in the summer and cozy velvet in the winter.”

Mirror, drapes, sofas, Restoration Hardware. Coffee table, Camilla House. Table lamps, West Elm. Console, Crate&Barrel. Throw cushion fabric, Kravet, Designer Fabrics.

Make your kitchen the heart of the home

Paola and Alan love to throw dinner parties, so a large dining table and a cook’s kitchen were a must. To make this room the hub of the house, Trish extended the space, filled it with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and added a cozy fireplace.

Light, Clayton Gray Home. Akurum & Adel Cabinetry, Ikea. Cabinetry hardware, Lee Valley. Table, Restoration Hardware. Chairs, Nuevo. Sheepskins, Ikea. Appliances, Tasco Appliance.

Turn a staircase into a work of art

Paola was inspired by a Harbour Island restaurant that adorned its stairs with this line: “Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn, then always be a unicorn” (Elle Lothlorien). She says, “I love the idea that every night when the kids head up to bed, they are reminded to be quirky and unique.”

Sink, faucet, Kohler.

Make a statement with lighting

“One of the biggest impacts you can give a room is lighting,” says Trish. “Look for original fixtures, like this sculptural pendant light. Its angles turn the otherwise soft design of the master bedroom on its head. Also, put all lights on dimmers — I can’t stress that enough!” 

Bed, GH Johnson. Nightstand, throw, Restoration Hardware. Pendant light, Studio Lampcage. Bedside lamp, Clayton Gray Home. Area rug, Serena&Lily.

Add drama to your bathroom by combining unexpected pieces

“I wanted the master bath to feel deliberately ‘unfitted,’ ” says Trish. A contemporary vessel tub, inexpensive garden stool and glass-fronted storage cabinet achieve the look perfectly. And to kick up the design, slate floor tiles were laid in a herringbone pattern.

Vanity, vanity lights, mirrors, storage unit, Restoration Hardware. Tub, faucets, PMF Plumbing. light, Studio Lampcage. Stool, West Elm.

Modernize wood panelling by applying it horizontally

For the wall dividing the front hall and the living room, Trish chose clear-stained pine boards and installed them horizontally instead of vertically. “It’s a simple but unexpected treatment that feels really contemporary.”

Soften chairs with throws

Sheepskins are one of Trish’s signature design elements. “They give the space a lushness that’s fun in the summer and apropos during the winter.”