Calm in the eye of a reno storm
Inspired by Nova Scotia, Karl Lohnes’s guest suite is light, bright and airy
"Guests like that they can both spend time with me and enjoy some privacy," KARL LOHNES ON THE THIRD-FLOOR SUITE HE DESIGNED FOR VISITORS
Karl Lohnes has a well-deserved reputation as a great host, welcoming guests into the historic town house he owns in downtown Toronto half a dozen times or more each year.
But because a 12-year renovation has “dragged on a long time” and left the rest of the house “a bit chaotic,” Lohnes wanted to create a quiet, restful space for his frequent visitors.
He decided to dedicate the two 11by 14-foot rooms that comprise the top floor into a suite: one became a guest bedroom with its own bathroom, the other a lounge.
Décor inspiration came from Nova Scotia, where Lohnes has family.
“I intentionally decorated it so that it would feel different from the rest of my house. The elements are all humble — raw wood, with warm whites and pale foggy greys. It has a rustic feeling, but it’s modern and clean.”
The room is anchored by easy-care laminate with the look of the scraped pine floor of a boathouse. White beadboard on the walls goes up five feet rather than a more conventional 36 inches.
“It adds texture and it’s great for covering old walls, so I did not have to do any repairs to the bottom five feet of the wall,” he explains.
The remaining walls are painted a muted green that Lohnes says subtly changes throughout the day, and the colour is wrapped up onto the ceiling to avoid calling attention to awkward angles.
An electric fireplace serves two purposes, offering a console surface and warmth to the room. At just 12 inches deep, it doesn’t interfere with the walkway between the bed and the door.
A headboard was custom made out of unfinished maple wood trim and washable, oatmeal-coloured fabric with an interesting texture.
“I wanted it to look homemade,” he says.
“People reuse furniture in creative ways on the east coast, so I tried to emulate that in a slightly more modern feel,” he explains.
A small plywood jam cupboard from a vintage shop provides storage. Originally painted in white enamel, it was sanded down and waxed for a matte finish.
The bathroom was created by adding a wall to make a three- by 10-foot rectangle that opens into the room through translucent glass doors.
“All the doors on that floor are the same. I wanted that diffusion of light but also a sense of privacy,” says Lohnes.
A small window on the exterior wall of the bathroom brings in light from outside.
To save space, Lohnes chose a toilet with a short profile and a tiny utility sink with no cabinet underneath. Behind it, beadboard goes all the way up the wall. A narrow ledge at the five-foot mark provides a perch for toiletries while hiding the seams of the beadboard. A show- er is tucked in the corner.
Lohnes says guests love the privacy and functionality of the space. He also admits that when the house is empty, he enjoys the space himself.
“It’s really the only room that is white and light and bright and airy,” says Lohnes. “Sometimes country decorating has lots of layers and frills and details. But this simple silhouette feels refreshing and modern to me. It’s actually one of my favourite places in the house.” Vicky Sanderson is also the DIY editor for Reno and Décor magazine. Follow her on Twitter: @vickysanderson or email her vswriter@sympatico.ca.