Decorating & Design
March 28, 2022
Organized Family Homes That Make Tidying Up Look Effortless
With piles of toys, stacks of homework and a seemingly endless collection of shoes at the front door, it can feel as if keeping an organized family home is the ultimate feat. But if we’ve learned anything from Marie Kondo, everything has its place. These organized family homes have mastered the art of smart storage, while still keeping a relaxed, lived-in vibe.
Scroll down and get inspired to tackle your tidying!
A Colorful Toronto Bungalow
Carlo Colacci, co-founder and president of Drake General Store, has been known to bring his work home with him — at least when it comes to The Drake Hotel’s signature style. “We like fun fabrics and colors, and interesting materials,” he says of the west end Toronto home that he shares with his family of five. That design philosophy plays out in one-of-a-kind furniture, quirky tile and an eye-catching palette of dusky pinks and bright blues, with plenty of natural texture for balance. Carlo, his wife, Laura, and their three kids, twins Serafina and Milo, and Luna (far right), eat most of their meals at the kitchen island.
The mantel is kept clear in the living room so the focus stays on the oversized coffee table (which offers lots of room) and punchy sofas. A shelving unit has an airy look.
A stained glass window doubles as art and obscures a brick wall in the streamlined dining room.
This petite workspace proves you don’t need a huge space to work. An arched nook in the hallway between the entrance and kitchen could also serve as a bar: it’s all about maxing out the usable space available.
Closed storage is built into a niche against the stairway (and doubles as a bench), keeping the entry uncluttered and functional.
In a powder room, petite fixtures save space and create a ton of impact. Tiled wainscotting is hard wearing and easy to clean.
The laundry room contains a hidden broom closet and foldout ironing board, plus heated floors to make working down there a bit nicer. A niche built under the counter offers room to stash laundry hampers.
A Luxe Muskoka Cottage
Cory and Catherine DeFrancisco, their sons, Charlie, 9, and Chase, 7, and dogs, Eddie and Wrigley are Canadian expats who live in L.A. “Coming from Los Angeles, with the ocean, it’s so different; I love the Canadian lushness and burst of green that happens in May and June,” says Cory, the principal designer of Muskoka Living, a luxury furniture brand with showrooms in Muskoka, Toronto and Los Angeles. “There’s something about the air when you get here. It’s so fresh; you get the best sleeps.”
Sleek storage is built right into the living room with a bank of cabinets (perfect for storing board games and concealing the TV) to not distract from the fireplace.
Slipcovered chairs make it easy to deal with spills.
Plenty of storage keeps this Muskoka kitchen organized. A butler’s pantry is tucked to the left of the range hood and panel-ready fridges have a symmetrical, orderly look.
A neutral palette creates a calming effect in a bedroom. Even though it’s a casual retreat, tucking the blanket and layering the coverlets is a serene way to dress a bed.
The bathroom is gloriously simple, with lots of space around the tub for bathing children. Tall built-in storage accommodates lots of towels and toiletries.
In this porch, white accent tables for holding drinks can easily be reconfigured and give a lighter-than-air effect.
A Renovated Calgary Home With Clever Storage
Designer Nyla Free, her husband Cory, and their daughters Ava, 19, and Mya, 14, and their Frenchie, Lola, in their newly renovated family home in Southwest Calgary.
This living room was streamlined by centring the fireplace and adding a new concrete surround. Floating shelves inset into a niche don’t eat up floorspace and offer plenty of room for display while trays on the coffee table help organize accessories.
Compact chairs with no armrests tuck in neatly beside each other in this dining room.
A banquette can seat many kids and doesn’t create a crisscross tangle of chair legs for a visually cleaner look.
Extending the narrow cabinets up the ceiling in this Calgary home maxes out storage. Choosing a calming color like this pale blue amps up the serene effect.
Think of unexpected places for popular features like a coffee bar, not every kitchen has room for one. In a walk-in closet, a splurgy indulgence like the coffee bar is offset with budget Ikea cabinets.
A Classic Family New Build
Suzanne Cowan and Andrew Clark have a blended family of four children and two dogs. Interior designer Meghan Carter shares ideas to layer personality into a new-build home. See how she transformed this stark space into a design-worthy haven with just a few simple changes.
A stain resistant table seats 10, making clean up a stress-free affair.
A generous kitchen banquette can sit a bunch of kids, and maxes out a corner.
The solution for an organized kitchen? Tons of storage. But it doesn’t have to be boring. Here, the cabinets are painted in two different colors and feature ribbed glass, plus there is open shelving for display.
Maximizing space and keeping clutter to a minimum was key to creating a calm, relaxing vibe in the long, narrow bedroom. Sconces set from the ceiling means they don’t take up valuable real estate on the side tables, while a window seat is an alternative to a lounge chair, to relax.
In the principal suite, a dressing room features grasscloth-clad closet doors and a custom radiator cover designed with built-in shoe storage is a beautiful way to stash clothes and accessories.
In Malcolm’s room, an entire wall is clad in cork to create an ever-changing personal art gallery and conceals an electrical panel.
A dreamy Showhouse Designed For Family Living
The $7-million showhome created for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in 2021 wasn’t designed for a specific family, but it’s definitely a family home. Designer Sarah Baeumler created everything in the sprawling 11,000-square-foot residence in King City, Ontario, with kids in mind (she is the mother of four and knows the challenges of keeping a busy household running smoothly). There are lots of inspiring ideas for family homes to be found within this dreamy space.
“This entire home is a reflection of the past year and the changes that many of us have had to make in our lives,” says Sarah, who included a private office with a powder room, a designated homework zone and a bedroom suite on the main floor with wider doorways for wheelchair access. “We view our homes now as classrooms for our children, places of work and a refuge from the outside world.”
In the punchy dining room, a console is low key but plays a key role in storing extra dishes and seasonal items.
There’s plenty of open storage opportunities in the kitchen that make essentials easy to grab. Indoor-outdoor counter stools tuck under the counter of the spacious Caesarstone island, which offers a ton of space for meal prep or doing homework.
A separate beverage centre (far left) keeps everyday wines and sodas close at hand. A mix of open and closed storage offers lots of options: a dark cabinet makes white dishware pop.
In the family room, oversized furniture is great for cuddling up. An airy side table keeps the feeling breezy and a large, low coffee table offers necessary display space without cluttering the sight lines.
A designated craft and homework zone on the lower level is at the top of many parents’ wish lists these days. This organized work area makes supplies easy to grab, but still looks beautiful and inspiring.
This space is mudroom goals. Slim cabinets prove you don’t have to fill a whole wall to get the results you need, and there’s still plenty of room for a generous bench that sits atop cubbies for shoes.
A European-Inspired Family Home
The home of Lisa and Philip is a constant reminder of time spent abroad. “Philip and I did a tour of Europe three years ago and fell in love with the clean lines and homey feeling of Scandinavian interiors,” says Lisa. The couple — who are accountants and have two daughters, Ava, 13, Grace, 10, and a golden retriever named Ollie — was also inspired by a hotel in Warsaw, Poland, that combined traditional and modern styles with a high-contrast palette.
The cloakroom resembles a restaurant hotel room with black wallpaper and custom metalwork. A long rack keeps coats organized while the bench is handy for pulling on boots.
Sectional sofas are a popular choice for families because they make use of every inch of seating and offer a more streamlined alternative to multiple chairs or sofas.
Discrete hardware makes banks of cabinets look quiet, especially in open concept spaces. Lavish, hardworking items like a range hood with special materials creates an attractive focal point when viewed from the dining table.
A buffet in the dining room not only holds dishes, but serves as a display surface. To keep the sight lines clutter free in this dining room, only a few select objets appear on the console and dining table.
A geometric backsplash proves functional spaces like laundry rooms can be fun. Functional slim drawers can be used to lay out delicate items.
Styling shelves in an office makes it easier to stay focused in the home office.
Careful planning created a space for everything in the couple’s walk-in closet, with taller shelf space for boots and an island for delicates and accessories.
Dedicated space for ties creates a library-like system as the ties are color coded.
Instead of a free-standing bar, this built-in beauty takes things up a notch. A wine fridge is set into the cabinet counters and a row of glossy black uppers offer streamlined storage. A floating shelf shows off wine glasses.
Blue-black tile and gold accents look five-star hotel-worthy in the guest bathroom. Towels are tucked in under the vanity for a neat look while drawers keep toiletries out of sight.
A Minimalist One-Bedroom Apartment
Vancouver blogger Alison Mazurek of 600sqft.com and her family of four live in 600 square feet of space. Her Mount Pleasant home, which she shares with her husband, Trevor, and their children, Theo, 7, and Mae, 4, is filled with savvy storage solutions. “Many Vancouverites can’t afford a traditional home anymore,” says Alison. “This is our reality — we’re all living in apartments or creative small-living situations — so how are we going to do it comfortably and sustainably?”
“This Italian wall bed, where Trevor and I sleep, was an investment, but it’s allowed us to stay in our one-bedroom home,” she says. “The matte lacquer finish blends nicely with the kitchen cabinets.”
“I had a 15-inch-deep console made that holds all our tech and cables,” says Alison. “At the end of the day, everything goes back in the console so there’s no visual reminder of work during family time.”
“Tidying is a part of living with kids, even if you live in a big space,” says Alison. “A small space is quick to clean up, but it’s also easy to get cluttered. Everything here has a dedicated spot. I used to own way too many cotton bins, and the kids would dump everything out because they didn’t remember what was in them. Now, they have a bin each under their beds and a shelving unit so they can see their toys or display a favorite art project.”
A Vibrant Multigenerational Home
Dr. Radha Kohly wanted a home that honored her South Asian heritage, but also accommodated her husband, Dr. Rajeev Muni, and their children Krishan, 12, Roshan, 9, Anjali, 7, Ishaan, 3, and her mother, Gita, as well as visiting friends and relatives. The end result is a family home filled with color, pattern and hardworking spaces.
A secret mirrored closet off the home’s entryway is a smart way to keep jackets, shoes and bags out of sight.
There’s a spot for everyone at the custom 14-foot-long dining room table (including extended family). Mismatched beetle chairs are an unexpected touch.
Dotted wallpaper from Drop It Modern is a playful backdrop for this kids’ homework and hangout space. The crisp white built-ins display beloved books and other meaningful objects (there’s even a ladder if someone needs to reach the top shelves).
Ishaan and Roshan’s bedroom was designed to grow with them. Colorful patterned wallpaper on the ceiling brings a fun vibe to the space.
A Sweet Suburban Custom Build
When Maple Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson and baking pro Jenna Hutchinson needed more space for their baby, Lilah, 2, they decided to build their dream home from the ground up. The mix of modern style and vintage flair creates a lived-in feel, while easy-care quartz counters, washable fabrics and engineered white oak flooring throughout, stand up to a growing family.
Kid-friendly elements, like hardworking rugs and flooring, durable fabrics and soft furniture, make the living room ideal for life with little ones.
The French bistro-inspired kitchen’s 14-foot-long island is the go-to hangout spot for cooking and entertaining. “It had to be beautiful, functional and a showpiece, given Jenna’s baking career,” says designer Jaclyn Peters.
What would a family home be without an organized laundry room? It makes folding and ironing a breeze.
Lilah’s nursery is pretty in pink (which is perfect because the couple is expecting another daughter). The vintage-style mirror adds a wonderful patina to the sweet space.
A White & Wood Edwardian Home
How do you make a white and wood palette work for family life? The renovated home of style-savvy couple Sonya and Stacey Weisberg and their kids, Pearson, 6, and Poppy, 4, proves just how stylish and functional it can be. “We live with a lot of patina — our marble countertops tell many stories of late nights and fun moments, and our unlacquered finishes shine and dull over time,” says Sonya. “We want our family and friends to feel comfortable.”
A large white and wood bookshelf showcases the family’s collection of beloved books, ceramics and art prints. Plus, exposed wood beams add interest to the white ceiling.
In the dining room, a chevron-laid floor injects European flair and compliments the old-fashioned fireplace. Synthetic fabric covers the seats to keep things kid-friendly. “I can wipe away tomato sauce from our dining room chairs in one swipe,” says Sonya with a laugh.
At first glance, it’s hard to tell this is a children’s bedroom (the brick wall screams New York brownstone sophistication), but treasured stuffies and playful touches keep the neutral space feeling youthful.
How sweet is the kids’ play room? Piles of colorful pillows, poufs and toys (and a little ladder) are youthful without feeling kitschy.
A Layered, Antique-Filled Home
Designer Hali MacDonald and her husband, NHL player Andrew MacDonald, knew exactly what they wanted for their dream home: the airy lightness of contemporary design and the lived-in comfort of an old world country property. They brought their vision to life, combining kid-friendly elements for their children Mason, 5, and Sage, 2, and fun features for the adults, too (like an aboveground wine cellar). “The dings and marks that happen along the way add to the story of our time in the house and the wonderful memories we’ve made,” says Hali.
The mudroom has plenty of built-in and open storage to hold everything a young family will need.
“I always treat the ceiling as a fifth wall,” says Hali, who used tongue-and-groove panelling and wooden beams to add warmth to the family room. “We chose a lot of natural materials such as wood, stone and metal that have been used in home-building for centuries; they add so much character and warmth to a space,” she adds.
The kitchen design strikes the perfect balance between old and new, combining wooden beams and antiqued brass hardware with vintage Calacatta marble counters and light cabinets. The custom vent hood “became the object we designed the whole kitchen around,” says Hali. “I love that it brought an industrial vibe to a more traditional kitchen.”
Sage’s bedroom features soft surfaces and pale colors, accented by pretty wallpaper and a brass ceiling fixture.
A Calming Craftsman-Style House
The most important thing for Paul and Jenneh Kearns (who share the space with their two kids Brooklyn, 8, and Jacob, 4) when renovating their Vancouver home was for it to feel modern, minimalist and uncomplicated. “The openness of the main floor and all the natural light coming in is so calming,” says Jenneh. “It makes the house feel peaceful even when energy levels are high.”
Instead of a traditional staircase, designer Stephanie Brown chose white oak slats to create a Scandi-style design moment leading into the crisp white and wood kitchen. Flat-front cabinetry and ample counter space keep the family hub sleek and simple.
This savvy storage system makes a case for open shelving because the homeowners can showcase their most cherished items and hang their house coats and shoes in the hidden compartment next to the patio door.
Every family home needs a place for serenity and relaxation for the parents. Piles of pillows and throw blankets would make anyone with children want to fall into bed at the end of a long day of playing. Plus, storage baskets under the side tables keep books, beauty products and extra chargers out of sight.
Less is more in this high-contrast principal bathroom, where a dramatic marble backsplash with white veining is all Jenneh needed to make a statement. A Scandi-inspired wooden tray forces the couple to keep only the essentials on display.
An Old-Meets-New Historical Home
There’s never a dull moment at the Cooper’s house with four children and a dog running around. Homeowners Adam and Sarah needed a space that could withstand the wear and tear of their boys Josh, 14, Ben, 11, Noah, 9, Sam, 6, and the family’s goldendoodle, Yossi.
“By selectively stripping back and simplifying rather than totally gutting the place, we created a livable home that would survive kids, a dog, hockey equipment and everyday life, while still feeling true to the history of the house,” says designer and family friend Arren Williams. This sentiment couldn’t be more true in the sophisticated living room.
In the kitchen, a generous island is perfect for making the boys’ lunches and hosting dinner parties. “Blue, the family’s favorite color (Go, Leafs!), was just the ticket for the island cabinetry, which, through careful space planning, we managed to size at a spacious 17-and-a-half feet long,” says Arren.
Thanks to a royal blue dresser, bedding and arcade game artwork, Noah and Sam’s bedroom is hard to grow out of. They wanted a space where they could celebrate their love for the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, who’s colors just so happen to be — you guessed it — blue and white.
Filled with quirk and youthful energy, Noah and Sam’s bathroom boasts an oversized vanity to keep essentials tucked away and an Eames Hang-It-All rack (reflected in the mirror), which is both practical and playful.
An Entertaining-Friendly Hangout
Creating a space that works for throwing dinner parties and raising two small children seems like an impossible feat, but homeowners Marissa and Moez Kassam — pictured in the entryway with one of their daughters, Madeleine — prove it’s easier than you think.
Designer Montana Burnett took a pared-back approach to the living room with a white, cream and black palette, paired with rattan accents. A low coffee table and tons of floor space are ideal for playing with toys or coloring.
“They use it for breakfasts and dinners on a daily basis, and the space moonlights as a bar during parties,” says Montana of the informal dining area. Banquettes are a must-have for maximizing space (plus, they’re plenty chic, too)!
A nursery doesn’t have to be swathed in color to feel youthful. Montana added plenty of stuffed animals, rattan accessories and electric pink tassels for a hit of color to daughter Mila’s nursery.
When the little ones are off to bed, Marissa and Moez can soak their stresses away in the curvaceous tub, punctuated with an artful light fixture. Everything has a home — from soaps to hair dryers — thanks to an array of baskets dotted around the space.
A Personality-Packed City Space
Former model-turned-interior decorator Quinn Cooper’s style is equally fun and functional. “I wanted a home where the girls felt like they could go into every room and touch everything,” says Quinn, pictured here with her husband, Mike, and their daughters, Ryan, 5, and Cleo, 3.
“It took a long time to find the pink sofas for the living room,” says Quinn. “I wanted something light and easy in the first room you see when you walk in the house.” The space sets the tone for the rest of the home, and the coffee table can be moved for the girls’ spontaneous dance parties.
The 12-foot-long kitchen island is wrapped in Neolith, while white lacquered cabinets and subway tile act as a clean slate. Quinn and Mike can keep an eye on Ryan and Cleo while the adults cook dinner.
How sweet is Ryan’s bedroom? A bunk bed is an easy way to make young ones feel grown up, while whimsical animal motifs and toys keep the space feeling age appropriate.
In the principal bedroom, a gray coverlet and braided wool rug not only amp up the cozy factor but are also easy to clean if an accidental coffee spill happens during breakfast in bed.
A 1940s Ranch-Style Home
It’s no surprise homeowners Niamh Tallon and Ciaran Goojha and their children, Amelia, 10, and Zachary, 5, wanted their new home to embody a beachy feel — after all, their slice of heaven is tucked away in the seaside community of Eagle Harbour, B.C. “It’s changed our lives,” says Niamh about the renovation. “We love to entertain and there’s always a small community around, so it’s the perfect house for that, but it’s also a calm oasis when it’s just the four of us.”
An open-concept living/kitchen area feels like a breath of fresh air with crisp white accents and natural elements, like the stone fireplace. “We light a fire every week during the colder months,” says Niamh. “We’ll often sit on the hearth with people gathered round and have a cocktail by the fire.”