Redesign aimed to recreate spirit of loft
and financial services company Goldman Sachs.
He arrived first, to begin work and hunt for a house. Krista, an actress and filmmaker, made half a dozen trips to check out his finds before they finally landed the two-storey Tudor/Georgian-style house.
With its convenient location, five bedrooms on the same floor and move-in condition — except for a dark, dingy floor — the 10-year-old abode “hit all the marks,” says Krista. “The snow-melt feature on the driveway was a big seller!”
At first, she recalls, “We thought, ‘Oh well, maybe we’ll just change the floor’ … then we met Abe.”
That’s Abraham Chan, a Torontobased designer they met through a friend. Chan started his own design firm, ACDO, five years ago after working on upscale residential and commercial projects in Canada, the U.S. and Asia.
He agrees “the chemistry was definitely there when we first met.”
During consultations in the Rowes’ three-bedroom loft apartment in New York and later in Toronto, it became apparent that the house’s elegant, traditional interior didn’t suit the pace and lifestyle of a modern, young family.
“The kids are transitioning from little to big kids so we wanted a space that would grow with them,” says Krista, adding the words “super warm and super welcoming.”
Ahome should reflect its owners, Chan explains, describing them as a “fun couple, very intelligent and progressive.”
The Rowes’ wish was to “transfer the spirit” of their contemporary loft, with its big windows and open floor plan, to their new home, he continues. His goal was to “make sure all the rooms talk together” through continuous design elements like flooring and a palette of neutrals and cool greys.
When the couple identified things they didn’t like about the house, Krista says, Chan came up with a solution, whether it was removing a wall to facilitate flow or eliminating the butler’s pantry to enlarge the kitchen.
The Rowes didn’t set a budget initially, opting instead to choose from among differently priced design features as they went along.
“A nice floor changes the dynamic,” says Jason in explaining their decision to spend $20 per square foot on wideplank European oak for the flooring and staircase.
He also wanted a full basement makeover, including a big gym, bathroom, home theatre and wine room with kitchen facilities.
“I wanted it to look like part of the house, a place where everyone brings friends and hangs out together,” he says.
Work on the lower level began a couple of months after the family moved in. Six months later, they relocated to the finished basement while the first and second floors were done over the following six months.
On the main floor, three separate rooms were combined to create the kitchen/family room. Big, modern windows were added, along with sleek lacquered wood cabinetry, custom designed by ACDO and built by Renca + Heilimo in Woodbridge. The same millwork was used in the gym.
For practicality and efficiency — Krista loves to cook and Leia is a budding baker — two high-end ovens and Caesarstone counters were installed, and a large island with seating was repositioned. Chan also ordered a customleather banquette for the eating area after Krista told him: “I have kids who love ketchup.”
She says the designer was “a genius” in providing small private spaces such as the little library tucked alongside the family room.
Renovations were also done in the main-floor office and upstairs master bedroom, walk-in closet and luxurious bathroom where a glass shower was lined with limestone. Other areas like the living and dining rooms and girls’ bedrooms were given a cosmetic rejuvenation.
Leia appreciates the fact that each sister now has her own ensuite.
“My room in New York was small, like a closet, and everyone else used my bathroom,” she says.
A smart lighting system was installed throughout the house along with other high-tech features such as hidden speakers in the sound-proofed home theatre.