Magic TRICKS
Our readers have their say
I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED onto our street 18 years ago, my friend and legendary publisher Michael de Pencier, who had lived there for many years, had some good advice. “It’s a great street, but there will never ever be a time without at least one renovation going on. Get used to it!”
He was so right. After a time, I learned to get used to the endless trucks and construction noise. I even stopped noticing what was going on behind the latest building permit nailed to the newest hoarding. But then, last year, there was one house that I could not stop staring at. It was a drab, rather ugly house in a classic Tudor style… until the painting crew showed up with buckets of black and white paint. I watched each day as they painted all the window mullions jet black and all the old brick a creamy white. It was a bold move, to say the least, and utterly transformative.
After that, I had to find out who lived there. The result is the fabulous home of Shelagh and Richard Kellam ( page 68). The back story of Shelagh and her globetrotting family is fascinating, but what is perhaps most impressive is her utter confidence. I don’t know a designer who would have had the guts to paint a multimillion-dollar house in stark black and white — but Shelagh did.
And speaking of transformations, how about our own Gillian Atkins, whose amazing kitchen reno graces our cover. I love the way she goes into detail on exactly how she and her carpenter made her new Ikea cabinets look ultracustom. Gillian is the managing partner in our design firm and the mother of three young boys, which means she did this renovation in her spare time while juggling real life.
On the subject of hacks, in this issue’s Style Files, I spotted Johanne Nadeau’s particularly handsome white sofas
( page 26) and asked the section editor, Kimberley Brown, to please ask for the brand. She came back with perhaps the greatest Ikea hack ever. Here’s what Johanne had to say: “They’re actually Söderhamn sofas from Ikea, but I styled them up a bit with added filling, new legs and striped down-filled pillows.” Compare the price of this sofa with a deep, modern one from any one of the brands offering this great look, and you’ll see what I mean.
I love inventive, creative solutions that deliver huge style for less. And, in the end, nothing beats the drama of a great makeover. Hats off to all the folks in this issue who pulled it off.
PS I can’t believe our luck in getting the recipe for the absolute best Sticky Buns ( page 109) from designer Candace Thompson. When we tasted them, Michel said they were so good that some man would marry her for those buns. (I know... not PC, but true!)