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My Houzz: Contemporary Beauty in an Ontario Home
Rich colors, sleek lines and a backyard oasis fulfill both halves of a Canadian couple's wish list for their upgraded home
Monica Brown and Mike Levy knew exactly what they wanted in a new house. For Brown, it was functionality; for Levy, details and aesthetics. Together they communicated their visions to Bayview Design and Cedar Hill Custom Homes to create a home that would look and feel just right for their family. The result is a modern and upgraded home with sleek finishes, durable materials, clean-lined furniture and a beautiful backyard oasis.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Monica Brown, Mike Levy, son Grayson and Weimaraner Luca
Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms on the main level; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom on the lower level
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Monica Brown, Mike Levy, son Grayson and Weimaraner Luca
Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms on the main level; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom on the lower level
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| The living room's cathedral ceiling draws visitors in at the entrance. The fireplace, flanked by shuttered windows, is clad in ledge rock stone. A pair of dark leather sofas have adjustable backs for added comfort. Two white Barcelona chairs round out the seating area. |
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| Laurie Christopher and Susan Oliver from urbanescape helped with the home's color palette. "Gray is beautiful and sophisticated, it won't go out of style, and you can add color to it," says Brown. |
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| In the dining area, three oversized wall mirrors visually expand the space. Charcoal gray upholstered linen chairs complement the marble tabletop. "I like the fact that the kitchen isn't visible from this space," Brown says. |
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| A rectangular sheer-fabric ceiling fixture from Twin Bridge Lighting adds ambience, and a modern white sideboard provides display and storage space. Dark hardwood flooring from Palazzi Flooring runs throughout the main floor of the home. |
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| The kitchen cabinets have a warm, rich glow that works beautifully with the granite counters. Stainless appliances, hardware and modern backless bar stools add shine. The couple worked with Mylen to design their space. |
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| Two sinks and a large island add to the kitchen's functionality. French doors with a transom open to the backyard. Interior doors: Home Hardware |
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| The couple wanted the indoor-outdoor flow of their home to be seamless. "We wanted a home where we'd never have to leave," says Brown. Adam Allison of Leaf Garden Design helped them create this relaxing outdoor space. |
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| A seating area near the gas fireplace is where the family cozies up and relaxes together on cooler evenings. Beech trees add soft color along the fence line. |
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| A graceful waterfall flows into the pool. The sound makes the family feel like they're on vacation in their own backyard. Washington Pools installed the rectangular clean-lined concrete pool with a bullnose finish. Removable, flexible fencing for the pool from Guardian Pool Fencing is currently stored. When needed, it's installed by sliding the fence posts into sunken stainless cups in the concrete surround. |
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| Rocks and pebbles continue the indoor color palette. Water flows from a large rock placed along the fence in this arrangement. |
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| Concrete slabs laid in pebbles form a path from the storage area at the side of the house to the pool area. Lighting is discreetly installed in the pathway and throughout the backyard to highlight plantings. |
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| Back inside, the master bedroom brings the outside in with colorful greenery in the art above the bed. The home has a split bedroom design — the master suite is on one side of the living area, while the second and third bedrooms and bath are located on the opposite side. |
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| The master bath features a clean-lined tub under the shuttered window and a walk-in shower. |
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Two Ikea mirrored medicine cabinets are hung side by side above the floating vanity for a clutter-free aesthetic. Brown and Levy like to mix investment pieces with budget-friendly items for an affordable but high-end look.
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In Grayson's room, playful patterned bedding and accessories are added to brighten up the soft gray walls and drapery. Ikea cabinets provide storage, and decals match the car-patterned bedding.
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This main floor full bathroom is located between the second and third bedrooms. Like the other bathrooms, the aesthetic is kept minimal and modern. The heavy weight of the stone tiling made installation challenging in this bathroom. All the bathroom tiling is from Toronto's Tile Shoppe.
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| The downstairs lounge is a comfortably carpeted space used to entertain friends. "We like to come home to our little haven. It reflects us and what we like to do," says Brown. The door leads to two guest bedrooms and a third bathroom. |
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| An extra-wide sliding door, ordered from The Sliding Door Company, provides access to Levy's sports room from the lounge. The couple plans to install a large-screen TV in this room. |
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| Another wide sliding door in the lounge leads into a playroom for Grayson. A third sliding door leads into the weight and exercise room, once again allowing the family to be at home for many of their activities. |
Ideabook updated on June 25, 2012.
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Does anyone know where I can find the stone used on the fireplace, and what it is called exactly? Thankyou.