Decorating & Design
December 14, 2020
See How An Edwardian Home Got A Sustainable Holiday Makeover
This Christmas is going to be a little different. With vacation and party plans on hold, and extended family get-togethers held over Zoom, many of us will be leaning in to the comforts of home like never before. This is especially true for designer Alison Milne: her home’s Scandinavian-inspired hygge makes it an ideal setting for cocooning with her nearest and dearest, including husband Zack and children Tate, 5, and Oona, 2.
The family lives in a 120-year-old, three-storey brick Edwardian in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighborhood. “My vision for this house was different from any other project I had worked on because it began with an emotional connection rather than an aesthetic direction,” says Alison, the principal and owner of design firm and contemporary art gallery Alison Milne Co. When redesigning the 2,400-square-foot, four-bedroom house, she prioritized the creation of comforting, nostalgic and playful spaces. Rooms were filled with light yet grounded by organic materials.
Alison’s design decisions were also made with an eye to sustainability and longevity. “I wanted to create a space where you don’t have to think about efficiency and quality, you just feel it every day,” she says. “Sustainable building to me meant creating a home that would protect its dwellers through the decades and get even better with age.” When it’s time to layer festive flourishes into rooms for the season, her decorations lean toward sustainability, too. “My approach to holiday decorating is exactly the same as everything I do in design,” says Alison. “I want to know the makers, I support emerging talent, and I carefully collect pieces that are timeless, made with love and can be passed down or reused.”
Scroll down to tour this sustainable Christmas sanctuary in the city.
Alison renovated her Toronto home with authenticity and sustainability in mind, which meant holding on to unique features like the original — and somewhat temperamental — front door. “We kept elements that evoked the history of the house and used them as the foundation, then brought the rest up to this moment in time in a Japaneseand Scandi-inspired style.”
A few steps down from the entry is a family room with a comfy sofa and striking art from Alison’s gallery.
The dining area and family room are open to the kitchen, creating a convivial gathering space.
“Art is the emotion of our home and really sets the tone for each room,” says Alison. The large piece in the dining room is by Alexander Jowett.
The kitchen and dining area are designed to gracefully stand up to another century of use with sturdy (and sustainably sourced) Douglas fir flooring and “leathered” marble kitchen counters that will weather stains with aplomb.
Alison with Tate (left) and Oona. Building a gingerbread house is one of their favorite holiday traditions.
Alison creates her own line of reusable gift wrap by dying Belgian linen with turmeric, avocado pits and blackberries. “The colors are unique, and we end up with wraps that double as hand towels,” she says.
During the holidays, Alison makes hand-poured soy candles in reclaimed glass jars. “We use a large wood wick so you can hear it crackle, then add a few drops of our favorite essential oils.”
“Remember in the 1980s and ’90s, when everyone had a formal living room but no one ever used it?” says Alison. “We were nervous to put this room in the house, but it turned out to provide the most joy.” In keeping with the home’s Edwardian spirit, the designer selected windows with leading that reflect the original design and kept the original fireplace and mantel intact.
Dried rosemary and lavender from the garden add greenery to Alison’s handmade “ice cozies.”
Alison’s minimalist decorating style emphasizes quality over quantity, combining new pieces by small-scale makers and antiques like this vintage curiosity cabinet.
Warm, organic surfaces such as the custom marble sink and copper faucet balance the powder room’s cream, teal and white color scheme.
Soft black lambswool accents provide a contrast to the guest bedroom’s natural flooring and pale linens.
White tones and pale wood in the principal bathroom help create a soothing atmosphere. “I bake in the kitchen, do yoga in the basement and bathe and meditate in our principal suite,” says Alison.
Oona’s bedroom is decorated in a mixture of vintage heirlooms, Scandinavian modern furniture and custom art.
Donna Griffith
House & Home December 2020
Alison Milne