Page 92 - Canadian House & Home - xxx 2010

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MAKING holds the one departure from the pale
house to shoot, I approached John. In paint rule. A bold, deep charcoal paint
those days, all the great decorators saved HISTORY coats one wall to act as a dramatic frame
their work for City & Country Home. for a large abstract painting that Alan
“Of course,” he said. He introduced me to CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59 bought years ago from a friend. The
two of his great clients and their Forest Parsons-style table and chairs are a
Hill house in Toronto started the ball for entertaining alfresco. Alan and simple foil for the curvaceous bergere
rolling. I was so grateful. friends can often be found dining or chair nearby.
In the years that followed, many of lounging on the lower veranda or playing The new kitchen was designed with
John’s best rooms came our way. Like bridge on the upper one, a perch that simple Shaker-style cabinets, which Alan
the bedroom of the Junior League offers pretty river views. Glossy white- ordered from a building-supply store to
Showhouse of 1988. We were shooting painted floors here carry the lightness save on costs. Bold accents like the
the rooms for an upcoming issue and we of the interior outside, and billowing striking modern Zettel’z light fixture by
asked the designers to pose. When I saw white curtains — actually inexpensive Ingo Maurer over the island, woven grass
the photo of John reclining in the bed painter’s dropcloths — offer shade bar stools, towering African kudu horns
with Mark Dodge, I gasped. This photo and privacy. on a pedestal, and panels made with
would be controversial. John loved to Inside the house, Alan created elegant antique wallpaper provide
be naughty. interest in the sparely decorated room.
He was taught by the great Albert Although in many ways the project
Hadley and Billy Baldwin, and his “Although in many was a sensitive restoration of the house’s
work held the same cosmopolitan ways the project original character, the end result
elegance. It’s the New York school of produced a home thoroughly modern in
sophisticated design, which was at its was a sensitive both style and function. Pale wood floors,
height when John was at his. He believed bright, open spaces and an arresting mix
that style couldn’t be learned. You were restoration of the of contemporary and traditional pieces
born with the raw material. People are all on-trend and make for a highly
either had it or they didn’t. house’s original livable space. Yet the house’s architecture
One day in 1992, John called to say has once again been brought to the
he had sold his landmark Victorian and character, forefront, with its beauty intact, proving
moved to a “terrible little place with Swift’s old adage wrong — Alan has
nothing going for it.” He was doing it up the end result created a veritable silk purse.
— did we want to shoot it? Of course we
did. The surprise was a light and airy city produced a home
space in creamy tones with loads of glass. MODERN MIX
John had turned the page. Almost all his thoroughly
contemporaries had retired but he was CONTINUED FROM PAGE 62
stronger than ever. modern in both
His longtime friend and collaborator, few must-haves from my husband: hits
Nancy Nevile-Smith, expressed what style and function” of stainless steel in the kitchen, dark
many designers believed to be true: that wood floors and built-in bookshelves.
John had the keenest and most sensitive Because the renovation took four
eye for colour that any of us have ever charming vignettes and seating areas, months to complete, I knew exactly
seen. Said dear friend Scott DeWare, putting into play his unique collections what every room would look like by the
“John was urbane and elegant; he believed of furniture and artwork to create time we moved in. I’m a big believer in
the ultimate luxury was comfort. He was delightful layerings of old and new, and reinventing old finds, reupholstering
infallible in matters of scale and creating traditional and modern — and with more every few years and shifting furniture
environments that welcomed all.” than a few unexpected pieces offering from room to room. I also like to shop,
The ’80s was a wonderful decade for hits of whimsy. With the pale, neutral so I made sure my budget allowed for
style in Toronto. Yorkville was filled with walls as a quiet backdrop, Alan mixes a few new key pieces like a dining room
the best designers and their studios. They bold pieces in the living room: a vintage table, bedside tables and a mid-century-
all inspired me, but none more than the zebra rug, pieces from his extensive modern sideboard.
great John Schofield Manuel. collection of blue and white china In the end, those four days at my
(Chinese export from the late 18th and parents’ house turned into six weeks,
see houseandhome.com early 19th centuries), African art and but even my husband admits that the
sculpture, and architectural sketches renovation was well worth it. We now
Watch our decorating show to get style (by former Ontario College of Art teacher have a house that works for our growing
tips from Lynda Reeves. Click ONLINE TV.
Earl Wilson). The adjoining dining room family, without compromising style.

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