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Tongue-and-groove wainscotting was installed by Richard up the staircase and through the upper hall. Although it wasn’t an original architectural feature, it was uncovered in places elsewhere in the house, so the Littles felt it would be an appropriate addition. Original pine plank hardwoord floors were revealed and refinished in a rich brown stain.
Happily, Michael’s keen eye for older pieces that need just a lick of paint or a slipcover to make them sing found plenty of furniture sitting in the Littles’ Toronto basement. Many items were repurposed for the farmhouse, including a teal velvet sofa that was the first large piece of furniture the couple bought after they were married. “Cheryl had written it off as hopelessly dated,” recalls Michael, “but I assured her it was actually very on-trend right now. It’s a good-quality piece, and the construction is really solid.” Quite a few items throughout the house have a similar provenance, which enabled everything to come together on budget.
