Designer Alyssa Papa revamps her 1950s Toronto home with classic style and a bit of edge.

Some house hunters might see a 1950s-era house that’s undergone a lacklustre 1990s reno as a red flag, but designer Alyssa Papa saw it as a green light. “I fell for the home’s symmetry, large front windows and charm,” she says. “I knew I could tap into its potential.” Alyssa and husband Robert snapped up the 1,200-square-foot space in 2020 and lived in it for a year before its revamp. “I took that time to solidify how I wanted the house to flow and look,” she says. Her considered approach was layered: whole-hog renovations to net a fresher, easy-to- navigate layout, and decor choices to amp up the design.

“It now feels classic and not too trendy, but still with some bold verve,” says Alyssa. Since moving in, she and Robert had their first child, Charlotte, who’s now two-and-a-half. Alyssa says, “I love that we don’t have a large house. It’s a home that works beautifully for our small family.”

Dramatic entrance

The front hall is an instant shot of drama. “I chose dark walls because I wanted the entry to have impact the moment you walked in,” says designer Alyssa Papa. Custom-cut grey marble floor tiles layer in pattern, while the wood stairs reference the oak floors throughout the main floor. “I decided on a simple railing design that didn’t feel too heavy for the small entry.”

Comfort zones

FIREPLACE, Surfaceworx. ARTWORK (above fireplace), Amy Berlin. SOFA, Cocoon Furnishings. Light blue SOFA CUSHION, Zara Home. ART LIGHT, Elte.

The living room’s neutral tones and natural fabrics feel calm and welcoming. “It’s where we spend most of our time,” Alyssa says. “I maximized seating to allow for many zones at one time, whether we’re watching TV, Charlotte is playing with her toys, or just reading a book on the swivel chairs.”

Cozy corner 

This end of the living area has a decidedly lounge-like feel. “It’s a spot to relax with a tea or cocktail,” says Alyssa. “I invested in framed custom broadloom for the entire room to bring all the different zones together.” The scale and colours of the artwork lend some optical intrigue.

Warm glow

The dining room’s earthy colours and soft drapes are a warm backdrop to the snazzy lighting. “The dim light from the brass chandelier at night creates such an elegant and flattering setting,” says Alyssa. She custom-designed the round table to offset the angles of the square room.

Modern elegance

CABINETRY, Elite Kitchens. PAINT, London Clay 244 (wall cabinets), Mole’s Breath 276 (bar sink cabinets), Farrow & Ball. SUBWAY TILE, Saltillo Imports. COUNTERTOPS, Ciot. SCONCES, GR Shop. ISLAND LIGHT, Allied Maker. STOOLS, EQ3. KNOBS, Elte. FAUCETS, POT FILLER, House of Rohl. APPLIANCES, Caplan’s Appliances.

Alyssa maximized the kitchen’s small footprint with a butler’s pantry and loads of storage in the island drawers. “I also didn’t put the sink facing the window – a design rule to follow. It allows for better flow because the walkway isn’t interrupted when loading the dishwasher. This layout also highlights the symmetry of the French doors, a detail that’s important to me.” Panelling conceals appliances so the space feels like an elegant extension of the adjacent living room. The mix of grey marble and warm browns furthers the effect.

 

“I knew I wanted to avoid a white kitchen or anything trendy. And I didn’t want any pot lights.”

Small wonder 

“The powder room is accessed off our kitchen. Obviously not ideal, so I designed it to make people forget it was next to a kitchen,” says Alyssa. It brims with bespoke touches, including rift-cut oak panelled walls, a marble-topped vanity and ceiling speakers. “The mirror was a lucky find, as I was looking for something tall and thin. I love contrasting its bronze with the polished nickel.”

Pretty sweet

Custom BED, Alyssa Papa Studio. Lewis & Wood’s Jasper Peony WALLPAPER, Kravet. BEDDING, THROW, Au Lit. LAMP, Elte. TABLE, Cocoon Furnishings. RUG, CB2.

“The wallpaper in Charlotte’s room is quite bold, so I designed a much simpler bed,” says Alyssa. It’s covered in linen and the headboard’s soft curve is a pleasant contrast to the angles from the roofline. She added a cool grey rug as a dynamic counterpoint to the warm ivory bed linen, which features a playful scalloped edge in Charlotte’s favourite colour: purple.

 

“I fell in love with the wallpaper in my daughter’s bedroom. Every night at bedtime, she tries to find as many butterflies as she can and it makes me so happy.”

 

ENDURING CLASSICS

WALLPAPER, Vinyl Glam Grass, Phillip Jeffries. MIRROR, CB2. VANITY, Elite Kitchens. VANITY PAINT, Kid Gloves CSP-175, Benjamin Moore. CURTAIN FABRIC, Kravet.

“In Charlotte’s bathroom, I made design choices that are durable and classic, like a large vanity she can use as she gets older. This space will grow with her and last for many years,” Alyssa says. The sunny café curtain is pure fun, and the marble subway floor tiles are a nod to the classic brief. Vinyl wallpaper imparts texture, while shaded sconces enhance the room’s timeless appeal.

 

“I wanted Charlotte’s bathroom to feel really pretty for getting ready in the mornings or evening bathtime.”

 

Calming effect

WALL PAINT, Eider Down 7014, Sherwin-Williams. ART, Absolutely Inc. NIGHTSTAND, Crate & Barrel. LAMP, Carriage House Interiors.
Vintage RUG, Etsy.

The primary bedroom continues the home’s calm colour palette, while the decor softens the angles. “The rooflines are so charming, but I had to be careful of where to place things,” Alyssa says. “I chose to hang the art lower and work with the angles in the room, not against them.” Large-scale lamps and a tall headboard help create a sense of height.

Walk-in ease

VANITY PAINT, Elephant’s Breath 229, Farrow & Ball. TILES, Saltillo Imports. MIRROR, Cocoon Furnishings. SCONCES, Elte. PLUMBING FIXTURES, House of Rohl. COUNTERTOP, Ciot. TOILET, Taps Bath.

“There’s no tub in our ensuite bathroom,” says Alyssa. “I purposely designed a shower only and framed it with marble.” Marble extends to the shower’s subway tiles and the heated floors, which feature honed marble in a herringbone pattern. “The brass mirror is a nice complement to the polished- nickel fixtures and lighting, and the vanity is floating so it doesn’t feel too heavy in the room.”

Recommended

13 Designer-Approved Tips For Inviting Personality Into A Small Kitchen

By: Kathleen Dore , Samantha Pynn

Two designer friends share their expert recipe for transforming a kitchen from scratch.

Read More

Recommended

Inside An Inviting Vancouver Bungalow With A Soothing Palette

By: Christy Wright

Designer Ami McKay reimagines a dated Vancouver bungalow as an inviting, bright home with modern appeal.

Read More