Toronto homeowner Shannon of 8foot6 started her website to document the long process of renovating her cellar. But the magic of blogging occurred, and she ended up sharing more than just the details of the cellar project. She also brought us upstairs to discuss her everyday home jobs, the increase of her design style and her serendipitous classic shopping ventures. I check in to 8foot6 often for Shannon’s new spin on home layout. After this excursion, I predict you’re going to be checking frequently as well, if just to discover more about the changes in her toddler son’s bedroom and also the arrival of a new baby in a few weeks.
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Starting in the cellar, the first idea was to turn the space into a media space. The biggest barrier was the reduced 6′-4″ ceiling. Underpinning increased the height to 8′-6″. It took 20 weeks of effort — 5 months for its heavy construction (digging and pouring new foundation) and 15 weeks for the endings.
In a last stroke of imagination, Shannon determined that organic timber vertical slats used as railings along the staircase would make a nice transition to the cellar. The classic Shaker-style chairs below subtly mimic the slats.
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Heated concrete floors and lots of white paint help the underground space feel airy and light. Although decorated in a minimalist design, the space, which is employed as a media room (complete with projector and screen) and a playroom, is nowhere near complete. Half the fun of checking to the website is to observe the minor changes continually happening.
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Shannon had space in the space for an open-concept laundry and storage room, a little bar area and a walk in shower/wet room. Aren’t you jealous of that amazing storage?!
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Shannon and her husband had a designer come in to help with the first furniture choice and art in the remainder of the home. The dining room and living room were her most significant projects. The designer offered her top five choices concerning couch, coffee table, dining room table, dining room chairs, light fixture and sideboard. Some things were love-at-first-sight, but in other cases it took months to find just the ideal piece. Both loved working with a professional designer since she educated them about style, shared all her secrets and was willing to continue going back to the drawing board to capture their preferences perfectly. After the rooms were finished, Shannon was ready to infuse them with her own sensibilities and make them feel staged and more lived in.
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The art over the mantel, found in the prior photo, is an oil painting by David Gillanders. The coffee table is just one of Shannon’s treasured pieces. It’s a 1960s first Danish rosewood table by Sven Ellekaer. The barn-board mirror was made by Shannon’s dad while she was in university. The designer wished to replace this mirror with a white-framed one, however, Shannon wisely insisted on maintaining it. The leather slipper chairs in the living room were pieces Shannon instantly knew were right. With those options place, the designer picked the caramel color for the chairs and helped choose the carpet and art to pull the room together.
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The dining room chairs were a style option that Shannon and her husband instantly were attracted to. The credenza-like sideboard has also turned into one of Shannon’s favourite furniture pieces in the house.
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The sideboard, found here in another perspective of the dining room, is a customized piece that was made from classic printer towels and stained almost black. It has a fairly Asian vibe which works with every thing else in the space. The rocking horse adds a bit of warmth and playfulness to an otherwise serious room.
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The magnificent charcoal drawing in the dining room was done by Olexander Wlasenko. Entitled Claudia in Car, it was a work the programmer and Shannon’s husband insisted . Shannon relented ONLY if the artist can create the first quite-small bit big enough to fill the wall. The artist was pleased to oblige. Lesson learned: Don’t hesitate to request modifications.
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The kitchen table vignette was selected by the designer and enthusiastically approved by Shannon and her husband. The glass table, S chairs and Mooi light fixture would be the first thing you see when you enter the front door. You also get a peek of Shannon’s brilliant antique Pyrex dish set that is displayed on the shelves behind the table. It not only adds unique fun to the space, it also increases by the month.
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The slate counters in the kitchen, found here, complement the white Shaker-front cabinets. Shannon was warned by the architect before installing the patina-prone slate which”If you live with something amazing, you have to anticipate it to take on personality over time.” A vibrant striped carpet is a new addition which adds texture and warmth to the polished concrete floor.
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The Asian theme in the foyer was a conscious design choice. The entry table was originally a faded crimson that Shannon painted a glossy black. The silver color of this West Elm chair works well with the present color scheme. Although the designer’s first pick was a ghost seat, Shannon wanted something more considerable against all the white wainscoting and stuck to her guns.
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The tiny powder room received a dose of sophisticated glamour with an inexpensive light fixture which was modified to mount closer to the ceiling. The same marble tiles which were utilized on the ground were cut down to make wainscoting. The artful photo completes the restricted composition.
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The office is 1 room in the house that is 100% Shannon. The book collection displayed by color arrangement (I do exactly the same thing!) And the milk glass set around the perimeter make the space feel relaxed but not messy.
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The desk in the office is from Pottery Barn Kids. It was the sole real desk her husband could discover that fit in the small one-bedroom condo he previously possessed. Shannon attempted a bigger table in the space before downsizing back to the charming option.
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The white tallboy dresser is a favourite bit in the room. It had been picked up by Craigslist, and it was just upon bringing it home which Shannon found an awful smell she simply could not get rid of. Painting it white was the only means to find a literal new start with the piece.
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Shannon’s latest project has been outdoor landscaping and remodeling. The work has generated several zones: the deck couch, the pathway, the barbecue area and gardens, the pea gravel patio with bonfire bowl and dining , an enclosed railing, and bud for running around and playing . Cedar was selected for the deck, table, arbor, and fencing; there was simply no comparison between it and pressure-treated timber.
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Shannon is a master of implementing just the ideal quantity of color to what would otherwise be a bland, monochromatic arrangement. Whenever these white outdoor pillows just weren’t doing it for her, then she cleverly added a triangle theme with potato stamps for a easy and successful DIY project.
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The ginormous cedar table and seats were custom built to fit the scale of this space. Situated on pea gravel and flanked by bentwood chairs, the outdoor dining area is rustic, charming and simply begging for a massive al fresco dinner party.
Next: More inspiring home excursions
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