A designer’s own 10,000-square-foot home in Ontario proves that manor-style elegance isn’t just for the elite—by focusing on reclaimed materials, intentional imperfection, and flexible spaces, she created a residence that feels historically rich yet perfectly suited for a family with young children. The key is blending authentic architectural details with a relaxed, lived-in philosophy.
The desire for a home with soul, history, and character is driving many homeowners to look beyond contemporary trends. The latest frontier? A new build that feels like it’s been gathering patina for centuries. Designer Hali MacDonald’s personal project on a lakefront property southwest of Toronto is a masterclass in this approach, creating a 10,000-square-foot house that visually references iconic English manors like William Morris’s Kelmscott Manor while serving the practical needs of a family with two young children.
This isn’t about slapping on traditional details. It’s a ground-up architectural strategy that marries the warmth of the English Arts and Crafts movement—with its emphasis on craftsmanship, natural materials, and irregularity—with the flexible, durable requirements of modern family life. The result is a home that feels both grand and intimate, formal yet completely livable.
The Blueprint: Core Design Principles for a “Lived-In” Manor
MacDonald’s collaboration with architects Gren Weis and Geoffrey Roche of Gren Weis Design Studio spanned 18 months, focusing on a floor plan that creates the illusion of deep, masonry-like walls, a hallmark of genuine European heritage homes. The design avoids the coldness of new construction through three interconnected strategies:
- Reclaimed & Antique Materials: The home is layered with salvaged elements, most notably an 18th-century fireplace mantel sourced from Dutch salvage company ’t Achterhuis. Even its broken fragment, replicated after a theft, adds to the authentic story of age and repair.
- Belgian & European Design Influence: MacDonald cites Belgian antiques dealer Axel Vervoordt as a major inspiration, embracing his philosophy of blending simplicity with strong architectural elements. This manifests in deep archways, curved plaster walls, and a pervasive sense of imperfection.
- Patina Over Perfection: From Belgian oak floors tumbled to look worn to hand-hewn beams, every surface prioritizes a sense of history. MacDonald’s attitude is telling: “We very much live in our home. Life happens; you notice the first few stains or scratches, then it becomes part of the story.”
Room-by-Room: How Architectural Details Create Atmosphere
The home’s narrative unfolds through a series of carefully composed spaces, each using texture, light, and material to evoke mood while serving a function.
The entry immediately sets the tone with a graphic, curved stairwell. Belgian oak planks with a tumbled finish underfoot and an antique tapestry on a hammered iron rod welcome guests with a sense of collected history, not a showroom display.
The formal living room uses textural walls and an array of mixed silhouettes—from a modern chandelier to classic rocking chairs—to achieve a relaxed, “collected-over-time” feel. The variety prevents the space from feeling stale or overly themed.
The multipurpose den tackles a common challenge: a vast room with 15-foot ceilings. MacDonald grounded it with custom built-ins, a forward-pushed marble fireplace, and intimate seating vignettes. The space seamlessly incorporates a homework area and a hidden bar, proving that grand scale can coexist with cozy functionality.
A secondary sitting room originally intended as a playroom now serves as a mother’s retreat, anchored by a curved sofa that adds softness and framed by a gallery wall of antique botanical prints. It’s a perfect example of adaptable space that evolves with the family’s needs.
In the kitchen, a rich oak island topped with Calacatta Verde marble provides the heritage anchor. Hand-hewn beams with pendant lights add rustic texture, while the cabinetry and fixtures maintain a sophisticated, durable calm.
Even the pantry gets deliberate design treatment. Two-tone cabinetry and limewash walls create a casual, playful counterpoint to the kitchen’s formality, and an oval opening borrows light from the adjacent sitting room—a clever trick for small, windowless spaces.
The breakfast nook is a masterclass in British sensibility. A soapstone-clad coffee bar painted in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe, paired with grasscloth walls and chairs upholstered in durable outdoor fabric, creates a sun-drenched, hard-wearing morning hub.
Children’s spaces are designed to grow. The daughter’s room uses a sophisticated ocher silk drapery (her favorite color) as a starting point, with a desk niche for evolving hobbies. The adjoining bath features a standout blush stone that ties the palette together without being saccharine.
The primary bath achieves spa-like serenity with tumbled limestone, Calacatta Borghini floors, and a natural bronze freestanding tub. Gauzy custom drapes provide privacy while maintaining a connection to the garden views, using the same principle of blending indoor and outdoor that defines the entire home.
Fast Facts: The Project at a Glance
- Designer: Hali MacDonald, Hali MacDonald Interiors
- Architect: Gren Weis Design Studio
- Location: Lakefront town southwest of Toronto, Canada
- Size: 10,000 square feet
- Layout: Five bedrooms, five bathrooms, three powder rooms
- Key Influences: English Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris’s Kelmscott Manor, Axel Vervoordt’s wabi-sabi aesthetic
- Signature Materials: Reclaimed 18th-century mantel, Belgian oak, Calacatta Verde marble, Farrow & Ball paints, limewash plaster, hand-hewn beams
How to Apply These Strategies in Any Home
You don’t need a 10,000-square-foot lot to adopt this philosophy. The core lessons are scalable:
- Start with One Reclaimed Statement Piece. An antique fireplace, a salvaged door, or even a set of vintage stained glass can anchor a room and instantly convey depth. Source from local salvage yards or dealers like ’t Achterhuis for authenticity.
- Embrace Mixed Silhouettes. Avoid matching furniture sets. Combine different eras and styles—a modern sofa with a traditional armchair, a contemporary light fixture with a rustic table. This creates a more relaxed, personal environment that feels accumulated over time.
- Use Texture to Add Depth. If new construction feels flat, introduce textural wall finishes like limewash, plaster, or grasscloth. The den’s moody palette and the pantry’s two-tone cabinetry show how color and material can transform vast or small spaces respectively.
- Design for Multi-Use from the Start. The den’s integrated work-and-entertain zone is a blueprint for today’s flexible living. Consider a window seat with storage, a guest room that doubles as a playroom, or a kitchen nook that serves as a homework station.
- Accept and Plan for Imperfection. Choose fabrics and finishes that hide wear—like the outdoor fabric on breakfast nook chairs. Select paints and stones with inherent variation. This mindset shift from pristine to practical is the ultimate luxury.
The genius of MacDonald’s home is that it rejects the “museum” approach to historic style. Instead, it’s a blueprint for a residence that enriches daily life with beauty that only improves with use. It’s proof that the most desirable luxury isn’t flawless newness, but a rich narrative you can see, touch, and live within every day.
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