House Tours
Handmade Holiday Decor And Handcrafted Furnishings Bring Cheerful Charm To A Farmhouse
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
House Tours
Handmade Holiday Decor And Handcrafted Furnishings Bring Cheerful Charm To A Farmhouse
Husband-and-wife design duo Shannon and Patrick Cian of Cian Design describe their signature style – honeyed wood tones and creamy whites – as quietly modern. Spare yet warm, it’s a look that melds graciously with historic spaces, such as their clients’ late-1800s farmhouse nestled in an equestrian setting northwest of Toronto. “When the time came to decorate their home for Christmas, natural winter elements, such as cedar boughs and eucalyptus, came to mind,” says Shannon. This led to a creative collaboration with Darlene Rupke, owner of Petal Academy. The result is a holiday-ready home that celebrates nature and the beauty of all things handmade.
Set the Scene
A garland-making kit from Darlene Rupke’s Petal Academy was used to decorate the hallway banister in this home designed by Shannon and Patrick Cian. The Cians’ son Lenny, 2, approves of the vintage scooter that doubles as holiday decor. A dough bowl filled with aromatic pinecones sits atop the entryway’s tile floor with its inlaid brass horse. Outside, a handmade wreath on the front door (opposite) shares space with cast-iron urns filled with dogwood, cedar, boxwood, grasses, magnolia and grapevines.
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Design, Shannon and Patrick Cian, Cian Design. GARLAND KIT, Petal Academy. Half-moon table, 3 Lil Pigs. Antique dough bowl on pedestal, Chateau High Low. SCOOTER and WAGON, Galt Toys. PENNY TILE (entryway floor), Cesario & Co. exterior door paint, Soot 2129-20, Benjamin Moore. WREATH and URN DISPLAYS, Seasons Floral Studio. EXTERIOR, Kingscape Landscape Construction Group.
Pared-Back Flair
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Nothing in the home is glitzy or visually busy, not even the holiday decor. “All the holiday decorations are natural. The tree doesn’t even have lights,” says Shannon, who brought in Darlene to get the home holiday ready. “Her company offers the most amazing DIY holiday decorating floral kits.” In fact, Darlene’s kits were used to make the woodland centrepiece on the coffee table and the wreath over the hearth, too. Vintage cross-country skis and handmade gift toppers add informal charm.
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
CHAIRS, SOFA, Elte Mkt. rug, Benisouk. CHAndelier, Royal Lighting. COFFEE TABLE, Pavilion. TREE KIT, CENTrePIECE KIT, Petal Academy. Tartan pillows, Willow Lane Interiors. Vintage skis, Chateau High Low. Recycled kraft paper, Amazon. Hemp ribbon, HomeSense.
Natural Style
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Eucalyptus and pinecones adorn a crescent-shaped wreath over the custom fireplace, which was crafted by a local carpenter. “Its design was inspired by a fireplace in a nearby one-room schoolhouse,” says Shannon. On one side, vintage Coca-Cola crates are topped with holiday greenery; on the other, a cocktail bar is at the ready. “That’s where all the action happens,” says Patrick. The stockings (which are hung by the chimney with care!) are hand-stitched from upcycled wool sweaters.
WREATH KIT, Petal Academy. Black fireplace surround and white hearth TILEs, Cesario & Co. Handcrafted wood FIREPLACE, Smithias Contracting.
“For the holiday decorating, we wanted everything to be handmade, homemade, and fragrant with the scents of cedar and pine.” – Shannon Cian
Natural Style
Eucalyptus and pinecones adorn a crescent-shaped wreath over the custom fireplace, which was crafted by a local carpenter. “Its design was inspired by
a fireplace in a nearby
one-room schoolhouse,” says Shannon. On one side, vintage Coca-Cola crates are topped with holiday greenery; on the other, a cocktail bar is at the ready. “That’s where all the action happens,” says Patrick. The stockings (which are hung by the chimney with care!) are hand-stitched from upcycled wool sweaters.
WREATH KIT, Petal Academy. Black fireplace surround and white hearth TILEs, Cesario & Co. Handcrafted wood FIREPLACE, Smithias Contracting.
Family Fun
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Christmastime is crafting time, so both Shannon and Darlene pulled in their kids to help get the job done! “Darlene’s holiday floral kits are so fun, even the kids love doing them,” says Shannon, seated with son Ozzy (shown, left). They’re joined by Darlene and her son, J.D. (shown, right). “To create enough room for an eat-in kitchen, we added a caned bench and oval table,” says Shannon, who hired a local carpenter to custom-make the roomy pedestal table. The modern pendant, classic bistro chairs and variety of framed art make an eclectic mix.
TABLE, Smithias Contracting. DINING CHAIRS, Crate and Barrel. BENCH, Casa Chic. PENDANT, Robinson Lighting & Bath.
Merry & Bright
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Light blue-grey Shaker-style cabinetry befits a farmhouse kitchen, “but we broke with tradition with the lighting,” says Shannon. The marble-topped baker’s table is a space-saving take on an island. Nature-inspired Christmas decor includes a vase of red winter berries and a bowl of orange slices arranged atop pine boughs. The open shelves are propped with antique Christmas postcards and vintage cookie tins – delights to admire while taking in the aroma of local bake-at-home cinnamon buns.
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
BAKER’S TABLE, OPEN SHELVES, Smithias Contracting. Range, Caplan’s Appliances. PENDANTS, Mobilia. CABINETRY, Cortina Kitchens. CABINETRY paint, Night Mist 1569, Benjamin Moore. Marble tile backsplash, Tile Shoppe. Brass hardware, Handle This. cinnamon bun kit, Eat My Buns. VillageVintageUA antique pot, Etsy. Teak bowl, Zenporium.
Soft Touch
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
“The primary bedroom’s vibe is soft and monochromatic,” says Shannon. Snowy mornings cast fresh light across bedding that includes a luxurious fur-style throw, and holiday greens infuse the room with their woodland fragrance. Beneath a modern chandelier sits a barnwood bench and chalk-painted bedside tables. Says Shannon: “The sisal rug has a metallic fleck. I call it ‘organic with a touch of sparkle.’”
HEADBOARD, Amazon. lamp, HomeSense. Rug, West Elm.CHANDELIER, Royal Lighting. BENCH, Smithias Contracting. throw, Elte. PILLOWS, Simons. FLORAL DISPLAYS, Seasons Floral Studio.
Season of Light
“Refurbishing an old dresser into a vanity is a lot of work, but it can result in a signature piece that’s totally unique to that house.” – Shannon Cian
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
“We added glass transoms over all the home’s doorways,” says Patrick. “They allow for beautiful natural light.” Vintage-inspired sconces cast a glow on the vanity’s holiday-themed greens. “This former dresser was one of our favourite projects,” says Shannon. “We completely rebuilt the drawers out of maple and fitted them with soft-close slides.” Brass hardware and marble finishes are dressy and timeless.
MIRROR, Renwil. SCONCES, Robinson Lighting & Bath. SHELF, Anthropologie. Brass Hardware, Handle This. bird prints, Chateau High Low.
Giving Thanks
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
The handcrafted wood tree is designed to encourage gratefulness. “Each day leading up to Christmas, the clients’ children think of one thing to be thankful for, then they jot it on a chalkboard-painted birch disc,” says Shannon. The thoughtful accent brightens a corner near a sculptural spiral staircase, which leads to a loft annexed from the home’s original attic.
Gratitude ADVENT TREE, Smithias Contracting. PENDANT, Robinson Lighting & Bath.
Do Drop In
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
“Anyone with kids knows it’s crucial to be able to drop stuff at the door, so we added custom-made entry hall cubbies with hooks and storage,” says Shannon. The bench is a great place to perch during boot-wearing season. The all-weather porcelain floor holds up well to family foot traffic, and behind the double doors is a huge closet.
Porcelain tile, Cesario & Co. Wood stool, Casa Chic. Arched mirror, Mobilia. pendant, West Elm.
Snow Swing
Photography, Valerie Wilcox
Suspended from the porch’s white cedar ceiling is a custom-made swing. “The views from here are beautiful year-round,” says Shannon. The swing decor changes seasonally. At this time of year, a jolly ’Tis the Season pillow fits the bill, as do wreaths fashioned from grapevines and rustic milk cans overflowing with cedar boughs.
porch swing, Black Wolf Creations. MILK CANS, 3 Lil Pigs. front pORCH, Kingscape Landscape Construction Group.
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