House & Home

Showhome Raising the Bar

Designer Sarah Baeumler’s debut Princess Margaret Showhome mixes fantasy with practicali­ty for her take on a grand family home.

- Design by SARAH BAEUMLER | Text by WENDY JACOB | Photograph­y by ANGUS FERGUSSON

Tour this spring’s Princess Margaret Showhome designed by Sarah Baeumler.

THIS SPRING’S 2020 Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Home Lottery Showhome in King City, north of Toronto, is definitely in the major leagues: it’s a sprawling 9,390 square feet and boasts five bedrooms. Her first time designing a Princess Margaret Showhome, Sarah Baeumler certainly hit it out of the park, but she had an inside advantage. “This house will be filled by a family one day, so I thought about the things that would make life a little bit easier,” says Sarah. As a mother of four, she knew exactly how to make a luxury residence work for family living.

Sarah is best known for chroniclin­g the renovation of the Bahamian boutique hotel Caerula Mar Club with her husband, Bryan Baeumler, on HGTV Canada’s Island of Bryan, and she clearly owes a lot of this home’s design DNA to beachy influences. A neutral palette and natural materials such as linen, grasscloth and woven accents are timeless elements that will easily serve as a backdrop for the future winner’s own style. But she wasn’t shy with colour or pattern, either: in the basement lounge area (which she playfully refers to as a “speakeasy”), she deftly paired peacock blue and bold jungle wallpaper to create a moody, club-like vibe.

Sarah notes that many of her smaller design considerat­ions will have a big impact when it comes to function. “I was lucky to be brought in at an early stage so I could weigh in on the architectu­ral plans,” she says. It was her idea, for example, to move the laundry room from the main-floor mudroom to the second floor (“Who wants to fold clean laundry when the kids are barrelling in with their hockey bags?”), and she added a sink and wall oven to the pantry behind the kitchen — both will be handy when cooking a holiday turkey.

Alongside these practical perks, the designer also delivers showstoppi­ng moments. Take, for instance, the principal ensuite’s wet room, with its elegant tub and dual showers — it’s luxe and it stays warm for bath time. “There’s nothing worse than stepping out of a tub into a freezing room,” says Sarah, who admits the ensuite is her favourite space. She even included an armchair and side table where she imagines the home’s winner pouring a glass of wine, taking a sip… and agreeing with her wholeheart­edly.

?? ?? On the showhome’s lower level, designer Sarah Baeumler created an area for entertaini­ng with jungle-motif wallpaper and teal millwork to play up the off-hours mood. A full-size refrigerat­or, pantry, dishwasher, wine fridge and ice machine eliminate the need to ferry supplies from the kitchen. Savuti wallpaper, Cole & Son; counter, Majestic Marble Import; faucet, Brizo; panel refrigerat­or, dishwasher, wine fridge, ice machine, JennAir; cabinet colour, Teal Ocean (2049-30), Benjamin Moore.
On the showhome’s lower level, designer Sarah Baeumler created an area for entertaini­ng with jungle-motif wallpaper and teal millwork to play up the off-hours mood. A full-size refrigerat­or, pantry, dishwasher, wine fridge and ice machine eliminate the need to ferry supplies from the kitchen. Savuti wallpaper, Cole & Son; counter, Majestic Marble Import; faucet, Brizo; panel refrigerat­or, dishwasher, wine fridge, ice machine, JennAir; cabinet colour, Teal Ocean (2049-30), Benjamin Moore.
?? ?? Sarah dubs this lounge area a “speakeasy” for its intimate, grown-up feel. Mrs. Godfrey sofa, Jonathan Adler; flooring by Torlys, Frontier Flooring; art, Elizabeth Interiors; wall colour, Iron Mountain (2134-30), Benjamin Moore.
Sarah dubs this lounge area a “speakeasy” for its intimate, grown-up feel. Mrs. Godfrey sofa, Jonathan Adler; flooring by Torlys, Frontier Flooring; art, Elizabeth Interiors; wall colour, Iron Mountain (2134-30), Benjamin Moore.
?? ?? The kitchen island seats eight and is open underneath to accommodat­e counter stools. Sarah placed the panelled refrigerat­or (left) and freezer on either side of the window for symmetry. Millwork, Selba Kitchens and Baths; refrigerat­or, range, JennAir; counters, Majestic Marble Import; stools, Nuevo Living; sink, Blanco; sconce, pendants, Circa Lighting.
The kitchen island seats eight and is open underneath to accommodat­e counter stools. Sarah placed the panelled refrigerat­or (left) and freezer on either side of the window for symmetry. Millwork, Selba Kitchens and Baths; refrigerat­or, range, JennAir; counters, Majestic Marble Import; stools, Nuevo Living; sink, Blanco; sconce, pendants, Circa Lighting.
?? ?? BELOW: In the great room, the coffered ceiling is accented by a dark rattan pendant. “Some people lose sight of how important ceiling details can be,” says Sarah. “If you pulled all the furniture out, you’d still have a beautiful envelope.” French doors framed by Belgian linen drapery open up to a glassed-in lanai, and a large indoor-outdoor sculpture adds a sense of presence. Sofas, Elte Mkt; drapery fabric, Kravet Canada; fireplace surround tile, Weston Tile; fireplace surround trim, Exotic Woods; pendant, Cocoon Furnishing­s; table lamp, Circa Lighting; coffee table, Sunpan; white stone sculpture, Phillips Collection.
BELOW: In the great room, the coffered ceiling is accented by a dark rattan pendant. “Some people lose sight of how important ceiling details can be,” says Sarah. “If you pulled all the furniture out, you’d still have a beautiful envelope.” French doors framed by Belgian linen drapery open up to a glassed-in lanai, and a large indoor-outdoor sculpture adds a sense of presence. Sofas, Elte Mkt; drapery fabric, Kravet Canada; fireplace surround tile, Weston Tile; fireplace surround trim, Exotic Woods; pendant, Cocoon Furnishing­s; table lamp, Circa Lighting; coffee table, Sunpan; white stone sculpture, Phillips Collection.
?? ?? ABOVE: Designer Sarah Baeumler in front of the dining room’s custom installati­on by Toronto artist Anthony Valin.
ABOVE: Designer Sarah Baeumler in front of the dining room’s custom installati­on by Toronto artist Anthony Valin.
?? ?? Sarah positioned the gas fireplace so it can be enjoyed by guests seated at the formal dining table. A stone veneer treatment on that wall mimics concrete while the custom oval table reflects a modern spirit. Credenza, Bernhardt Interiors; chandelier, Union Lighting and Furnishing­s; stone veneer (on wall), Earth Anatomy; fireplace, Montwest Mechanical; tabletop, Caesarston­e; chairs, Nuevo Living; mirrors, Elte Mkt; table lamps, Global Views; wallpaper, Kravet Canada; art installati­on (on credenza wall) by Anthony Valin.
Sarah positioned the gas fireplace so it can be enjoyed by guests seated at the formal dining table. A stone veneer treatment on that wall mimics concrete while the custom oval table reflects a modern spirit. Credenza, Bernhardt Interiors; chandelier, Union Lighting and Furnishing­s; stone veneer (on wall), Earth Anatomy; fireplace, Montwest Mechanical; tabletop, Caesarston­e; chairs, Nuevo Living; mirrors, Elte Mkt; table lamps, Global Views; wallpaper, Kravet Canada; art installati­on (on credenza wall) by Anthony Valin.
?? ?? ABOVE: Pretty powder blue millwork and blush wallpaper dress up the mudroom, which is outfitted with multiple hooks, loads of cubbies and generous seating. Wallpaper, Drop It Modern; flooring, Ciot; ceiling fixture, Circa Lighting; armchair, Sunpan; throw pillows, Tonic Living; millwork, Selba Kitchens and Baths; millwork colour, Mount Saint Anne (CC-710), Benjamin Moore.
ABOVE: Pretty powder blue millwork and blush wallpaper dress up the mudroom, which is outfitted with multiple hooks, loads of cubbies and generous seating. Wallpaper, Drop It Modern; flooring, Ciot; ceiling fixture, Circa Lighting; armchair, Sunpan; throw pillows, Tonic Living; millwork, Selba Kitchens and Baths; millwork colour, Mount Saint Anne (CC-710), Benjamin Moore.
?? ?? “People are looking for luxury in their ensuites,” says Sarah of the two-person shower in the wet room, which is also equipped with a stand-alone tub. A large frosted window between the water closet and wet room allows natural light to flood the space. Wallpaper, Crown Surface Solutions; flooring, Premier Ceramics; shower door, Glass Showers & More; tub, Maxx; shower fixtures, Brizo; armchair, Elte Mkt.
“People are looking for luxury in their ensuites,” says Sarah of the two-person shower in the wet room, which is also equipped with a stand-alone tub. A large frosted window between the water closet and wet room allows natural light to flood the space. Wallpaper, Crown Surface Solutions; flooring, Premier Ceramics; shower door, Glass Showers & More; tub, Maxx; shower fixtures, Brizo; armchair, Elte Mkt.
?? ?? The guest room’s muted palette was inspired by the fabric Sarah turned into roman blinds. White oak flooring is carried throughout the home. Bed frame, Four Hands; nightstand, Bernhardt Interiors; table lamp, Circa Lighting; blind fabric, Kravet Canada; accent pillows, Tonic Living. To tour the Princess Margaret Spring Showhome on H&H TV, visit houseandho­me.com and click on the current issue
The guest room’s muted palette was inspired by the fabric Sarah turned into roman blinds. White oak flooring is carried throughout the home. Bed frame, Four Hands; nightstand, Bernhardt Interiors; table lamp, Circa Lighting; blind fabric, Kravet Canada; accent pillows, Tonic Living. To tour the Princess Margaret Spring Showhome on H&H TV, visit houseandho­me.com and click on the current issue
?? ?? TOP RIGHT: “I’ll always invest in lighting — it elevates a bathroom,” says Sarah. In the bathroom shared by two bedrooms, a blue vanity with fluted detailing and crystal hardware has broad appeal. Custom mirrors, Celadon Collection; faucets, Brizo; counter, Majestic Marble Import; flooring, backsplash, Premier Ceramics; sconce, Circa Lighting; ceiling fixture, Nuevo Living; vanity millwork, Selba Kitchens and Baths; sinks, Avenue; vanity millwork colour, Knoxville Gray (HC-160), Benjamin Moore.
TOP RIGHT: “I’ll always invest in lighting — it elevates a bathroom,” says Sarah. In the bathroom shared by two bedrooms, a blue vanity with fluted detailing and crystal hardware has broad appeal. Custom mirrors, Celadon Collection; faucets, Brizo; counter, Majestic Marble Import; flooring, backsplash, Premier Ceramics; sconce, Circa Lighting; ceiling fixture, Nuevo Living; vanity millwork, Selba Kitchens and Baths; sinks, Avenue; vanity millwork colour, Knoxville Gray (HC-160), Benjamin Moore.
?? ?? ABOVE: With its designated craft area and orange ceiling (a riff on Fuzzy Peach Slices), the “Candy Shop” is a kid-centric space that encourages unplugging from technology. The cloudlike light fixtures add whimsical appeal, and the practical vinyl flooring is easy to clean. Wall cabinet design, Robert Cripps; pendants, Ikea; ceiling colour, Sweet Orange (2017-40), Benjamin Moore.
ABOVE: With its designated craft area and orange ceiling (a riff on Fuzzy Peach Slices), the “Candy Shop” is a kid-centric space that encourages unplugging from technology. The cloudlike light fixtures add whimsical appeal, and the practical vinyl flooring is easy to clean. Wall cabinet design, Robert Cripps; pendants, Ikea; ceiling colour, Sweet Orange (2017-40), Benjamin Moore.

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