PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Designer Shirley Meisels imbues a home with modern design and family-friendly function.

Modern design and familyfriendly function cleverly transform a home

In many ways, decorating is all about practice – trying things out, making mistakes, learning, perfecting and revising. And it all begins with simple observations: “Taking note of what a family really needs – and wants – in their home is so important,” says designer Shirley Meisels, owner of Toronto’s M-House. This was the philosophy that guided her when a pair of professionals with kids contacted her to help design their 2,200square-foot 1940s home.

The house had already been gutted and a small two-storey extension was added to the back. This created a beautiful blank canvas for Shirley to begin designing the clean, bright rooms the homeowners were after.

“For the couple, modern, clutter-free spaces were really important,” says Shirley. “And for the kids, lots of room for the happy chaos of free play was what mattered.” The challenge was to bring these elements together and to do so in a way that would flatter the space.

Shirley set out to select furniture durable enough to withstand plenty of kid action – easy-to-clean fabrics and surfaces were must-haves. In addition, while the homeowners wanted the pieces to be cozy enough to curl up in, they were also after contemporary lines. In other words, no overstuffed sofas.

“A wish list like this can seem impossible,” says Shirley. “But it’s not. Natural fibres, such as wool blends, clean beautifully.

“Before you decorate, know how you’ll use the space,” says designer Shirley Meisels. Since everyone enters through the front door, having a place to drop keys and remove shoes is crucial. The glass banister on the staircase is modern, so Shirley...