Sisters’ bond survives a home reno
Jessie Kelly redesigned her sibling’s 3-bedroom semi and moved the family in with her for the 8-month job
Jessie Kelly and Jamie Keenan have always been close sisters. When they were kids, they shared a room. Today, they own a family cottage together and live just four houses apart on a leafy street in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood.
It’s a relationship that’s remained intact — even after undergoing a renovation that found Jamie moving her 41⁄ 2- person family into Jessie’s home for eight months.
In 2016, Jamie, a portfolio manager, and her husband Tyler, a vice-president at an e-sports company, were faced with a major choice: whether to renovate their three-bedroom, semi-detached home, or move to a larger residence to accommodate their family that was soon to include a third child.
Ultimately, they chose to renovate. And they called on the professional services of sister Jessie, an interior designer and owner of Jessica Kelly Design. “I think it was just a given that she would do it. I couldn’t imagine it any other way,” said Jamie.
The renovation would mean they’d need a place to stay throughout the process. That’s where Jessie came in — again. Overnight, she went from living alone to sharing her house with her sister and brother-in-law, plus nephew Thompson, who was 4 at the time, and niece Georgia, who was 2. Newborn Tristan soon followed. And don’t forget the nanny who joined the clan every day.
“I think it was more stressful for them than me,” said Jessie. “Not only were they renovating their house, but the financial markets were a mess, which affected Jamie’s job, Tyler was transitioning to a new position and Jamie was about to have a baby and continue to work.
“I knew it was temporary, so for me to have the two kids and the newborn was actually kind of special. Living alone, I’d never seen so much action in my house.”
(Her dishwasher was less gracious. It called it quits after being called upon to run twice a day instead of its regular once weekly schedule.)
“We are forever grateful to Jessie,” said sister Jamie. “It was a huge imposition but also a time that we both remember as being very, very positive.”
The transformation at their home included a completely renovated main floor with an eight-foot extension off the back and a spacious master suite on the third floor. “We wanted the kids to have the three bedrooms on the second floor, and for us to have our own haven on the third floor, with no kids’ toys,” said Jamie.
The addition on the main floor was intended to be an informal family dining area, and a place for the kids to do crafts and play. It also serves as the family’s main entrance, so Jessie designed sorely needed storage space for coats, bags and even the vacuum cleaner. “We went as far as hooking the electrical up in the
closet, so the alarm is hidden in there too,” said Jessie.
Asumptuous and washable vinyl banquette in the dining room was the ideal solution for letting kids slide in and out easily. A craft drawer is built-in beneath, so they can easily access what they need. A friend of Tyler’s custom-made the table to create a distinctive look. “Tyler is super creative, so Jessie and Tyler worked together on this project. I was not part of (design decisions). I’m in wealth management so my role was getting them in trouble for spending money,” said Jamie.
Jessie says she was eager to use her sister’s family as guinea pigs to try out one of her first, dark-coloured kitchens. “They were fans of a white kitchen, but I pushed them out of their comfort zone and the end result is perfect,” said Jessie.
Her selling point was that the blue-black cabinets would coordinate with the herringbone backsplash and the contrasting grout they chose. She also persuaded them to go with marble countertops. “While it’s true that marble does etch and you can see stains on it, it develops a natural patina that blends in. There’s nothing more beautiful to me than natural stone because it is quite unique.”
The wire and brush, handscraped engineered hardwood flooring in chestnut brown with a touch of grey is also forgiving for a busy family. They were able to purchase long boards from Fuzion Flooring for a polished and continuous look.
The main and second floors may be all about the kids, but when you reach the third floor, it’s a serene zone. “For Jamie and Tyler, it was really important to create a sanctuary. Having three kids and being busy working, you need a calm space to reflect and relax,” said Jessie.
A stand-alone soaker tub was a must for the couple and plentiful windows flood the space with light. Jessie mirrored the kitchen cabinets with a dark wood vanity, switching up the hardware for a custom look.
The bedroom features simple decor, including a blanket the sisters got on a trip to Morocco. “The king-size bed was such a luxury after eight months of camping out in Jessie’s basement,” said Jamie.
Four years after the renovation, the family is still thrilled with their renovation. Thompson, now 8, Georgia, now 6, and 3-year-old Tristan are making the most of the extra space off the kitchen. And when Jessie welcomed daughter Virginia six months ago — Jamie was right there to help out.
“It’s come full circle because Jessie is a single mom and I can hopefully give back in a way that she was able to give to us,” said Jamie.