on the waterfront

An intriguing mix of furniture and finishes has had a dramatic effect on a luxury lake house in Canada

Michele Hatziioannou’s Cape Cod-style home, close to Lake Ontario in Canada, is an exercise in artful collecting. The house is full of intriguing flourishes that catch the eye but work together beautifully, too – it’s like a very well curated and coordinated take on a curiosity shop.

The interior designer, who owns a furniture shop, House Warmings, with her husband Leo, describes the look as a casual mix of styles. ‘ We buy pieces we love and then make them work,’ says Michele. The house has been given the sort of confident touch you would expect from a designer. For instance, the same over-sized pendant light has been placed above the dining table and kitchen island to unite the two zones, and an opulent blue sofa the couple bought in an antique shop in Toronto when they were first married brings vibrancy to a neutral sitting area.

In the dining room, a white pattern on grey wallpaper puts one in mind of the Portuguese tiling typical of Porto and Lisbon, while the pendant light with its cluster of caged bubbles makes a quirky addition. The chairs are modern and sleek, and the geometric shapes continue in the floorlength curtains. All of which is set against gold embellishments and the dark wood of the floor and dining table. This is the room where Michele, Leon

and their three children, Simon, 20, Claire, 18, and Cameron, 16, celebrate Thanksgiving and other special occasions, and tuck into Sunday family suppers.

In the sitting room, two sculptured ceramic stools have been placed in front of the fireplace. This is flanked by built-in shelving on which Michele has displayed a collection of vases and photos. The worn rug shows that this room is well used.

The back porch, which overlooks the pool, is decked out with rattan patio furniture, weathered side tables and large hurricane lanterns. The vibrant, green potted ferns and palms, and the striped cushions add a dash of colour. The whole effect is charming and nostalgic, an amalgam of British colonial decor and early 20th-century Cape Cod style. A fitting theme, considering the town’s historic links to England and the house’s proximity to water. ‘The location has influenced the colour palette we’ve used, which is primarily neutrals, with some muted shades of blue,’ says Michele.

Understandably, the family spends a lot of time outside. The surrounding trees give privacy, and a screened-off dining area and cabana make the ideal place to unwind together. ‘This house is more than a home – it’s captured our hearts,’ says Michele.

inspiration ‘I decorate with my heart. If I see something that speaks to me, I make it work, no matter what’