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One afternoon three years ago, Jacqui Liberty and her husband, Bruno Roldan, toured a house that was for sale in Caledon, Ont., a 60-minute drive northwest of Toronto. Jacqui, the potter behind Soft Fire Ceramics, and Bruno, an entrepreneur, preferred greenery over the grind, and the large property and country setting captured their imagination as soon as they turned into the driveway. “The house had a beautiful river rock chimney, arched windows and a swoopy roofline,” says Jacqui, describing the roof details characteristic of Craftsman architecture.
After seeing the inside, it didn’t take long before the couple made an offer and bought the place. The two-storey, 3,500-square-foot house had all the space they were after, but the finishes, especially the circa-2008 orange kitchen, needed updating. Jacqui and Bruno weren’t fussed by a big reno project — creating an inviting family home for their twin five-year-old daughters would be well worth it. “We’d been looking for land or a house to renovate,” says Jacqui. “We wanted something we could make our own and had a strong vision for it.”
Having previously renovated Jacqui and Bruno’s basement in their former home, designer Tiffany Leigh was the perfect one to tackle the renovation. Together with Matt King of Kingsgate Construction, Tiffany and her team embarked on a full gut. “We were inspired by the original river rock fireplace and wanted to capture that countryside aesthetic throughout the house,” she says.
Though the general footprint of the house remained the same, the project was down-to-the studs. “We moved walls and doorways, changed windows, made a powder room larger and added a new bathroom by popping out a dormer window,” says the designer. The kitchen was also reconfigured, a new staircase designed and an in-law suite added over the garage.
Scroll down for a look inside this country house!
New cedar shakes and wood siding are a quiet statement. The river rock chimney is original to the house. “We wanted to modernize the exterior and quiet it down so that it would blend with the surroundings,” says Tiffany.
Hooks, baskets and a bench have country charm in the foyer. Vertical tongue-and-groove panelling also appears in the mudroom and powder room.
On one side of the mudroom is a shower for Diego, the family’s bernedoodle, which is as elegant as one for humans. “We use it a lot,” says Jacqui. “We live in the country, and it’s a necessity with a big dog.”
The jumping-off point for the overall palette came from Jacqui’s ceramics — mugs, plates, tiles and other small-batch stoneware in natural hues such as putty, green and black. Designer and client were immediately on the same page: Tiffany shares Jacqui’s affection for all things earthy and moody. “Olive green is the signature color for my brand, and I’m always dressed in olive,” says Tiffany with a laugh.
The gathering spot is the country kitchen. Tiffany reworked the layout and closed off a stair railing to create an arched alcove for the range and wall-mounted pot filler. Shaker-style cabinets are painted in a muddy olive, which complements brass flourishes in the lighting and hardware.“The cabinets are a lovely green that reads like a neutral,” says Tiffany. “The color has earthy undertones, so it’s not overpowering.” Dramatically veined Calacatta Gold marble appears on the island counter and back wall of the alcove, while durable quartz is reserved for the exterior surfaces. “Lights illuminate the area, so the Calacatta Gold marble backsplash gets a shining moment at night,” says Tiffany.
Accordion doors reveal a coffee station. The coffee machine is plumbed into the wall for Bruno, the family barista.
Tiffany added a second sink with an integrated drainboard beneath the windows.
Every room features casual yet considered moments — a long banquette overlooks the backyard, a licorice-black lounge and wine cellar are darker adult spaces, the bedrooms are cozy and layered, and beautiful bathrooms boast weighty brass hardware, serious stone and stellar vanities.
An archway frames the entrance to the den.
Blue-black walls create a moody vibe.
A built-in desk and bookcase in a corner of the den.
In the bright living room, Tiffany removed a bulkhead and borrowed stone from the exterior to extend the chimney breast to the ceiling. “The room gets lots of natural sunlight, but has a cozy cabin vibe,” she says
With the view through the arched window, the principal bedroom feels like you’re in a tree house.
The twins’ bedroom has plenty of charm. “We embraced the quirks,” says Tiffany of the slanted ceiling. Painted tongue-and-groove panelling and patterned wallpaper give the space character.
The loft in the kids’ bedroom is fun for supervised playtime; the millwork just below has space for hanging storage, shelves and drawers.
The girls’ bathroom has scalloped light fixtures and a sage vanity with channelled drawer fronts.
The lower-level wine cellar and lounge. Tiffany chose dark finishes and accessories.
Today, the house has an elevated, English country vibe. “We were influenced by British design,” says designer Tiffany Leigh, pictured on the front porch of the renovated house.
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