home is pride

Living Large

in Half the SpaceWith the help of designer Jeffrey Fisher, one couple sliced their square footage in half – without sacrificing an inch of style.By Karen K i r K | Des i gn eD By Jef f rey f isher hom ePhotograPhy By PauL C h m ieLow ieC

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the mcCabes’ warm and welcoming entrance foyer introduces the home’s soft, neutral palette in the elegant wallpaper. muted tones of blue, grey-green and cream are inspired by the breathtaking natural landscape of the area.

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home is pride DeCor

When designers Jeffrey and Deborah Fisher first met Don and

Joan McCabe (top left) the McCabes had just sold the 5,000-

square-foot home that they had lived in for the past 30 years and

were anticipating their move to the active and picturesque

community of Collingwood, Ont. The McCabes had purchased a

2,400-square-foot townhome in a new development called The

Shipyards, built on the shores of Georgian Bay, overlooking nearby

ski hills and surrounded by bike and walking trails. The McCabes’

decision to make this transition was as much about downsizing

their home as it was about upsizing their lifestyle. With six months

to spend with the designers planning the furnishing and decor of

their new smaller home, the McCabes were able to take three

large primary rooms from their old home – the kitchen, dining

room and living room – and fit them into one comfortable space in

the new home. The new great room, with its casual, neutral

palette, meets all their needs for living a simpler, more relaxed

lifestyle. Here are the stunning results of the McCabes’ transition

to a new space and long-anticipated fresh start.

A New Style for A freSH StArtIn their old home, Don and Joan’s style was traditional, but in their new home they’ve mixed pieces they brought from the old house with new purchases to create a modern, transitional look.

Transitional decorating represents a kind of compromise between contemporary and traditional decor; a halfway point in which the subtle elegance of contemporary styles meets the comfort and familiarity of traditional styles. The combination of contemporary and traditional is fast becoming the decorating style of choice for those who are ready for a fresh start.

starting point: for the mcCabes, deciding what to keep or toss was no small feat.

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home is pride DeCor

• This large arched window with patio doors fills the room with natural light. sheers accented with stationary side drapery panels in linen and velvet stripes are hung above the half moon window and extend wall to wall, creating privacy without blocking out light.

• a beautiful transitional-style chandelier makes a statement suspended from the tall cathedral ceiling and helps to fill the “dead space.”

• two new armless upholstered chairs sit on either side of the antique desk. the chairs are lightweight enough to be easily moved about the room for additional seating when entertaining.

• The two floral sofas from the former living room (page 102) were too large and outdated for the new smaller living room, so they were donated to family members. now, four upholstered chairs, arranged in a conversational setting, comfortably seat just as many people as the sofas would have, while using less space.

• a treasured gift from friends and brought from their old house, the antique writing desk (right), adds a familiar and personal touch. here it takes on a new role as a credenza, updated with a modern lamp. an original painting by Canadian artist andrea ross adds a stunning visual feature to the room.

everything old is new (and useful) again.

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• oversize sculptural pendant lights hanging over the kitchen island offer additional lighting for the open space. all lights are set on separate switches and dimmers to conserve energy and offer various lighting options.

• For casual day-to-day dining alone or with a few friends, the ample (eight feet long and four feet wide) granite island sits six comfortably on leather-upholstered barstools.

• Two artful drinks tables nestle between each pair of chairs, complementing the 25-year-old brass-and-glass coffee table and defining the mcCabes’ new transitional style.

• The drop-leaf table can easily be moved into the room and extended in front of the fireplace for more formal dining occasions.

• the unique pine mirror that once hung over the mcCabes’ brick mantel (page 102)takes on a whole new look hung with two other mirrors of similar shape above the new fireplace.

• roman blinds dress the small windows on either side of the fireplace. they’ve been placed about 18 to 20 inches above the window casing to visually align with the tall window treatment on the adjacent wall.

home is pride DeCor

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assess anD evaLuateBy sarah Jane s iLva

• Fitting perfectly between the kitchen cabinets and the fireplace, an antique drop-leaf table from Joan’s mother acts as a console when not in use as a dining table. the dining chairs have been reupholstered in coordinating fabrics.

get organiZeDStorAge SolutioNS• Clear plastic stackable bins with or without wheels are great for moving and storing, and come in many sizes. (See Home Matters, page 110, for three great storage bins.)• Label all boxes and bins by room.• Buy or rent a small dolly or cart to move heavy boxes from room to room.

MoviNg dAy cHeckliSt• Make sure both your origin and destination locations are ready; arrange for street parking, loading docks and elevators if needed.• Take all of your valuables (e.g., jewelry, artwork) and any personal and important

documents with you, and make appropriate arrangements for your pets.• Move large furniture items into your new home first.• Place furniture in the rooms according to the plan you made earlier.• Put labelled storage boxes into their respective rooms and then begin unpacking.• Start with the bathroom – it’s the room most likely to be needed first.• Organize your space as you unpack.• Use closet and cupboard storage solutions; home improvement centres sell storage racks that will allow you to take advantage of every square inch of available storage space.

The biggest challenge when downsizing is deciding what to keep for the new house and how to part with the rest. Here are some tips.

wHAt to keep• Prioritize items that are already a part of your lifestyle.• Go through the most cluttered rooms first – and don’t forget closets and cupboards.• Measure your furniture.• Get floor plans with the dimensions of your new space; the location of doors and windows may affect furniture placement. • Use a home design software program to help you visualize a preliminary floor plan.

good riddANce• Give away sentimental items to those who will appreciate them.• Auction off high-end pieces, have a yard sale or sell them on eBay.• Recycle (freecycle.ca) or donate to charity (goodwill.org).• Arrange for a pickup of your unwanted items with the Salvation Army.

Not Sure?• Bring in a friend or professional designer if you’re having a tough time deciding what to keep and what to chuck.• Store items for a certain amount of time (say, six months), and if you haven’t needed the item by then sell it or give it away.

MoviN’ oN up for more tips on stress-free moving, and to find out how to see the McCabes’ exciting move with Jeffrey fisher on CTV’s “Canada AM,” visit canadian living.com/march.

for shopping information, see page 148