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House tour: Colourful open-concept home

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Wall-to-wall windows make this open-concept family room feel all the more expansive. Author: Michael Graydon

House Tours

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Maintaining order in a colourful open-concept home with four young kids might sound impossible, but decorator Jennifer Reid makes it look easy.

Can a home with four young kids feel clutter-free? Can open concept design also be cozy? Decorator Jennifer Reid says yes to all the above, and the new 3,000- square-foot house she and her husband, contractor Chad Kulchyski, built in midtown Toronto proves it.

“Chad wanted something modern,” says Jennifer. “I wanted light, bright and clean, yet built for family living – approachable, easy to maintain and durable.” With four children ranging from three to 11 years old, it’s no surprise that these were the priorities for this work-from-home mom. The main floor’s open-concept layout, itself a hallmark of modern design, was the starting point. Beyond the oversized foyer with tons of storage to keep the kids’ sports gear and backpacks organized, the entire rear of the house is a huge informal family room/kitchen/dining room, where furnishings and built-ins define various areas, making each one cozy but not claustrophobic. “We really live in that one space together – even if we’re doing different things – so it’s conducive to family living,” says Jennifer.

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House tour: Colourful open-concept home

The entryway and the family

Homeowners Jennifer Reid and Chad Kulchyski’s four children – Ben, 9, Kate, 7, Allyson, 3, and Devon, 11 – sit on a bench that seems to float in the entryway. Artwork that was picked up at a consignment store announces the home’s colour palette.

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Open-concept family room

Ten-foot-high ceilings and wall-to-wall windows amplify the expansiveness of the open-concept family room. Bright colours draw the eye to the cozy grouping of a sofa and chairs, where there’s plenty of seating but still lots of room for movement.

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Rustic fireplace

The same stone that’s used on the home’s exterior fronts a corner fireplace between the living and dining areas. “It feels rustic and carries in so well from the outside, matching the hardwood floors and the grey sofa,” says Jennifer. “Plus, the stone has such a warm feel.”

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Kitchen island

The kitchen’s massive island divides the space into cooking and living zones, and its heated surface stays warm to the touch – a feature everyone loves.

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

White cabinetry

Ultra-sleek kitchen cabinetry in white, wood and navy establishes the kitchen’s modern profile and reinforces the home’s palette.

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

The dining table

The heavy reclaimed-wood base of the dining table is lightened by its glass top, preserving the airy feel Jennifer loves. It’s fitting that the white pendant lights float like clouds above.

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Staircase design

The all-white staircase, only accented with wood accents and glass, add to the home's open concept look and feel.

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Artwork that sets the mood

“I just wanted it to feel easy,” says Jennifer of the soft blue and grey colour palette in the master bedroom. Artwork sets the mood. “It’s just where one wants to be,” she says. “On the beach.”

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

House tour: Colourful open-concept home

Stylish home office

Jennifer tucked her home office into the family room so she can cook, work and watch the kids all at the same time.

Image by: Style at Home By: Kahleen Dore Source: Michael Graydon; styling by Ann Marie Favot

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House Tours

House tour: Colourful open-concept home