GROUNDING INFLUENCE

British-inspired architecture melds with Belgian sensibilities for a transportive backdrop to family living.

- Yelena Moroz Alpert

ENTRY

Belgian oak planks were tumbled to give the floors a worn, authentic look. An antique tapestry hangs from a hammered iron rod, complementing the room's traditional elements. Wall plaster: San Marco.

DEN

To inject coziness into the sprawling multipurpose room with 15-foot ceilings, MacDonald added custom built-ins, pushed the marble fireplace forward, and created intimate vignettes. Sofa, armchairs, coffee table: Hickory Chair.

HALI MACDONALD was not about to design a hands-off house. After all, she was building a home that would be the base for her young family, including two elementary school-age kids. Still, the property—located in a lakefront town southwest of Toronto—had to have heart and soul.

Over the next 18 months, she worked alongside architects Gren Weis and Geoffrey Roche of Gren Weis Design Studio to craft a new build grounded in storied design to create the impression of a historical residence revived.

LIVING ROOM

Ample seating feels fresh, thanks to a variety of contours and fabrics that feel collected over time. Ottomans: Lee Industries, in Pierre Frey fabric. Chandelier: The Urban Electric Co.

Rocking chair: McGuire.

KITCHEN