House & Home of the Month
HALI AND ANDREW MACDONALD’S NEW HOME EVOKES THE WARMTH AND CHARM OF A COUNTRY ESTATE.
New World Designer Hali MacDonald and her husband, Andrew, a former NHL defenceman, create an elegant home in Oakville, Ont.
WHEN YOU’RE MARRIED TO AN NHL HOCKEY PLAYER, you move a lot. In Hali MacDonald’s case, her husband, Andrew, had spent a decade as a defenceman for the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers. When he retired last year, Hali was more than ready to settle down. The self-taught designer wanted their family home — they have two children, Mason, 5, and Sage, 2 — to enjoy the airy lightness of contemporary design and the lived-in comfort of an old world country property. The result is a 5,227-square-foot house in Oakville, Ont., with East Coast shingle style and interiors that are layered with elegant antiques, statement light fixtures, lush textures, and even an aboveground wine cellar. We spoke to Hali about her inspirations and research process, as well as her unique approach to designing her own home.
Q&A
HOUSE & HOME: What sparked your interest in design and decorating?
HALI MACDONALD: When we moved to New York 10 years ago and I decorated our place, it was as if I had finally found what I was meant to do. From that point on, I knew that design was my calling. My husband finished his hockey career a year ago and, with that decision, I began the process of launching my own design business and started taking on clients last fall.
H&H: How did you choose your architect for this house? Why was he a good fit for the project?
HM: We chose Gren Weis because we liked other homes he had designed in Oakville that also had an East Coast feel. His designs are always unique, original and tailored to the family. We were fortunate to be able to walk through another home that he had designed, and the layout was like nothing else we had seen in the area and we loved that about it.
H&H: How long did it take for the house to be built from start to finish?
HM: The project took two years to plan — although
I’m not sure you’re ever done designing your own house — and about 15 months to build. For the majority of the build, we were living outside of Canada. Our builder sent photos and videos, and I would fly in every couple of months. During the hockey off-season, we rented a home in Oakville so we could be on-site almost every day.
H&H: What was your original concept?
HM: I’ve always loved gambrel roofs, and that became the starting point for the design. Inside, I wanted the mainfloor walls to be warm white because brightness elevates my mood. It was important to have a lot of windows, and
to layer in colour, texture and depth to make it feel cheerful and unique. Andrew and I both grew up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and the people are warm and welcoming. I think that feeling of warmth resonates here.
H&H: How did you go about capturing that feeling?
HM: We chose a lot of natural materials such as wood, stone and metal that have been used in home-building for centuries; they add so much character and warmth to a space. I also incorporated a lot of antiques — I spent my spare time scouring Chairish, 1stdibs and Etsy. When I came across something I loved, I bought it, knowing that once the house was built, I would find the perfect spot for it.
H&H: That’s confidence! Do you generally make decorating decisions that way, or do you tend to agonize over the details?
HM: I’m obsessive about research and, once I got into this project, I made sure that I took each decision one step at a time and researched every single element. I also read countless design books that forced me to focus on all the details that go into making a beautiful interior.
H&H: What’s your favourite detail in the kitchen?
HM: The custom vent hood. It became the object we designed the whole kitchen around. I love that it brought an industrial vibe to a more traditional kitchen.
H&H: What decorating decisions did you make to help this house stand up to family life with kids and pets?
HM: We made sure to select fabrics that were easy to clean and we went with elements that only get better with age, such as marble counters in a vintage finish, oil-rubbed oak floors that are easy to touch-up and antique rugs that can disguise stains. We built this house to be lived in.
The dings and marks that happen along the way add to the story of our time in the house and the wonderful memories we’ve made.
H&H: Balancing colour and texture with a sense of lightness can be tricky. How did you manage all those elements?
HM: In the main living areas, I started with white walls and layered in textures and patterns to keep it feeling current and fresh. I love to bring in more colour on the walls in personal areas like the bedrooms, playrooms, and den or office spaces.
In every room I design, I try to bring in a wood element, a black element, a white element, usually something glass, something metal and fabrics with different textures. Adding antique furniture brings a nice contrast to the new, more sleek objects in a room. All of these elements combine to create a unique home that’s a perfect reflection of us.