FINELY TUNED

A musician’s Toronto home is a cool mix of vintage and modern with lots of plants – 23 to be exact.

A musician’s Toronto home is a cool mix of vintage and modern with lots of plants – 23 to be exact

Singer-songwriter Megan Bonnell

and her husband, Evan, found the perfect spot to begin their married life together on a quiet street in Toronto’s trendy Queen West neighbourhood. The couple had been casually house hunting (think: checking out open houses on weekends, just for fun) since before they got hitched in 2016. When they heard through the grapevine about this 2,600-square-foot contemporary new build, the couple didn’t necessarily know if it was meant to be. “I thought it would feel too modern to us, since we’d always liked character-filled older homes,” says Megan. “But I fell in love with all the light and the smell of the oak flooring, which reminded me of my grandparents’ farmhouse. It felt warm, fresh and inviting.”

Although the bones of the structure were intact, the place lacked personality. “It’s more open concept than what we’d been used to,” says Megan. And since she and Evan had different visions of where things would go – for instance, would the living room be situated in the front or the back? – they called in designer Lisa Lev to provide her expertise. “We want to be here for a long time, so we thought we’d better get it right the first time,” says Megan.

Lisa’s design is a toothsome mix of vintage and contemporary, high and low, streamlined and boho. “There are nods to Mid-Century Modern style, but there are also lots of pieces that are fresh, organic and current,” says the designer. One of the most impactful elements is the living room’s oversized wall mural of a forest, which references Megan’s rural upbringing and Evan’s childhood summers spent in northern Ontario.

Though she had reservations about this house at first, today Megan is singing a different tune. To her, the look is light, bright and laid-back. “It feels relaxed and easy,” she says. “Whether we’re entertaining or it’s just the two of us and our dog, Dave, it’s such a cozy place to hang out.”

ARMCHAIR, West Elm; POUFFE, Article. RIGHT, TOP Megan (pictured with Irish-doodle Dave) loves how the wall of windows at the back of the house floods the entire main floor with light. The fiddle-leaf fig tree is one of many plants you’ll find throughout this house. “I love plants, and luckily, my husband, Evan, keeps them alive,” she says.

LADDER, Pimlico Design Gallery; BENCH, CB2; BASKET, Snob; white and grey striped THROW, VdeV. RIGHT Lisa created this stylish vignette adjacent to the back door. The ladder holds a collection of cozy throws, perfect for bringing outside on chilly evenings.

The bedroom is a balance of comfort and sophistication. Note the skilful layering, which is key to a pleasing room. Midnight Dream 2129-10 ACCENT WALL PAINT, Benjamin Moore; SCONCE, EQ3; TOSS CUSHIONS, Nomadic Character. FOR SOURCES, SEE OUR WORKBOOK