topic Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE in Home

VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Oznell — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:53:34 GMT

Here's another house, from designer Meredith Heron. This one's a Queen Anne Revival, in Toronto (I think.) Her clients gave her certain watchwords--things they wanted-- for the renovation and design of this house:

1) "more is more"; 2) "Chinoiserie" (mostly blue and white china), 3) "animal print"; and 4) "sparkle".

Living room already shows some of their requests-- 'sparkle' in the rococo Federal-esque-type mirror, and the gilt lamps, 'animal print' on the toss pillow. Meredith Heron always throws in something slightly eccentric, like the oversize aircraft photo, love. She custom designed the rug.

Beautiful ceiling and delicate chandelier--

She brings the deep sapphire blues, cream and yellow of the living room, into the dining room, but in different proportions. And there's the chinoiserie the clients requested:

So glad they kept the dreamy architecture, moldings and ceiling medallions, etc. As you can see, Meredith Heron pays meticulous attention to details. Stunning deep blue lacquered walls:

I bet this millwork is new, yet it goes so well in the house:

This sumptuous velvet banquette is in a den or music room, complete with piano and cat--

Pretty bathroom-- love the coastal art!

This library must be on an upper floor-- looks like it is tucked under the eaves. Cozy.

END OF TORONTO HOUSE

Meredith is an original, and frankly, to me, much more interesting than so many "young-ish" designers out there now. Many of them lean into cliche-- either too-frilly, cloying and froo-froo grandmillenialism, or at the opposite pole, barren and deprived minimalism. But Meredith Heron goes her own way. And designs beautiful rugs, an off-shoot of her interior design work. In addition to the custom rug she did for the Toronto house, here are a few others of hers:

Here's a loosely Greek key design rug she did --

One client wanted a new rug, but one that registered as "traditional" in flavor, so here's Meredith's design for them--

More abstract rugs from her collection.

And all the rugs are hand-knotted.

Here's a sampler of a few rooms she's done in other houses. Fanciful pendant lights, soft blue, and a curved island in a kitchen.

Her entrance halls have a certain 'intrigue'.

Love the blue and pink in this living room, the toile type curtains--

...and it has a gorgeous curved window where she plays up the pink, through the throw pillows...

Even a tiny bedroom vignette bursts with punchy, nimbly combined color.

I always find her a breath of fresh air.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Love my grandkids — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 01:01:43 GMT

@Oznell The ONLY thing I like in this whole place is the cat. Don't like one single other thing. Not to my taste at all. I usually find at least 1 or 2 elements I like but not now.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Bookplate — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 01:14:56 GMT

@Love my grandkids wrote:
@Oznell The ONLY thing I like in this whole place is the cat. Don't like one single other thing. Not to my taste at all. I usually find at least 1 or 2 elements I like but not now.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

mspatmac — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 01:22:38 GMT

@Oznell

Love the blue island and that's it!

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

MoJoV — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 02:29:53 GMT

I like the kitchen alot. And the art in the entryway is fantastic. That curved window seat is beautiful. It looks as though she added drapes to close off the entire area. That's a unique touch. But that bathtub...if I managed to get into it I would never be able to get out of it. I see alot of that type:step stool needed?

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Trailrun23 — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 02:42:29 GMT

I love chinoiserie; also love the shelves in the living room and the blue island in the kitchen. I like lots of the details but not where they are used. The bathroom is boring to me. I'll take the kitty!

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

DSD2 — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 03:49:46 GMT

Love everything about the kitchen, especially the shade of blue and the pretty, interesting lamps.

There were many elements throughout that I liked including all the sofas, especially the rich green banquette and camel sofa, most of the rugs, the "clover" chair in the hall.

I'm surprised but I really like the chair the sweet cat is sitting on and the gold table next to it. It really works where she placed it.

Thank you for another marvelous post @Oznell

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Lilysmom1 — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 07:48:25 GMT

@Oznell , The only thing I would skip is the airplane picture. I love the architecture, beautiful woodwork, side tables, the built in cabinetry...I could move in and feel right at home. Love your posts. It is interesting to see how others try combos Inwoukd never think of.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

QVCisFun — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 09:56:39 GMT

I think I like those Manicotti-pasta-shaped lamps. The second photo of the same living room looks less gilt-ridden.

Pretty green velvet banquette. Clever adaptation of traffic cones to make little round-top tables. Like the mercury ball and the light blue vase in the toile curtain room.

Love the cat.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

PINKdogWOOD — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 12:09:17 GMT

Nothing here I even remotely like including the cat. What's vintage here? Nothing I see is vintage or my interreptation of vintage. I wouldn't take it or even consider living here if you gave it to me.

I like Toronto though.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Sakuya — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:12:30 GMT

I like the crown molding. The decorating style is not me but I believe is perfect for the client's wishes.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

wilma — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 17:33:00 GMT

There's not much I like in the first house, but it looks like the designer fulfilled her client's wishes. Some of the architectural details are nice. I like the library space but not the colors or furnishings used.

I like the Greek key rug in the second set of photos. I also like the kitchen but not the light fixtures. The curved window and seating area is nice, as well as the built-ins in the living room.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Oznell — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 20:58:08 GMT

@PINKdogWOOD , the Toronto house is vintage. It's a Queen Anne Revival. I wish they had shown the exterior, as it would probably be a treat to see-- they can be pretty ornate.

It was gratifying that they kept many of the original architectural elements too-- hearth, deep crown molding, ornate ceiling in living room, ceiling medallions, arched door frames with the "keystone" detail, and on and on.

As for decor-- it's eclectic, with a mix of modern, traditional, and some Art Deco and Art Deco-influenced elements.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Puzzle Piece — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 21:04:39 GMT

It's not appealing to me at all. Quite awful. Someone should get their money back.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

PINKdogWOOD — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 11:25:52 GMT

@Oznell Call it what you will, there is nothing in this place that looks good, blends together in stule nor colors. Not my style, nothing I would have here.

You will not talk me into any of it - to each her own as they say.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Oznell — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 12:03:28 GMT

Oh, no, @PINKdogWOOD , I'd never presume to try to talk anyone into the things I enjoy about design.

Responding to your comment about lack of any vintage, I just wanted to factually point out the vintage, and, non-vintage elements in this specific house.

I don't think any of us who post pictures expect agreement on aspects of desigh. For me, the fun is in generating interesting discussion, even very disparate views, which this one definitely did.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

stevieb — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 17:08:46 GMT

The house looks like a nice one and there are a few elements, a very few, I can admire, but overall, her aesthetic is not mine and her designs are, to me, a train wreck. The use of blue and white, the blue patterned rug and the turquoise table being used as a nightstand all appeal, most of the rest of it borders on being cringe worthy.

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

ECBG — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:38:53 GMT

Ms. Heron certainly has an eye for pleasing interiors. The fireplace surround in the first house was beautiful as many of the other areas were. I just didn't care for the airplace print.

All of the other areas were so visually rich!

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

Sooner — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:22:12 GMT

To me it is an awful, tasteless mish-mash. It looks like someone went through a design store room and just said "Clear it out and give it to me."

Perhaps someone who was not feeling up to par that day. Haven't you had days like that? Just get it done, and a week later said "Good grief what have I done?"

Then tried to sell the idea . . .

Re: VINTAGE TORONTO HOUSE

DREAMON — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 01:13:15 GMT

I like the Kitchen but would replace the light fixtures.