Houzz Tour: 8 Weeks to Gorgeous Modern Eclectic Style

No sooner had interior designer Shirley Meisels finished a complete renovation for a family of four when the parents discovered they were expecting twins. After the babies were born, the family of six quickly outgrew their home. They'd had their fill of the inconveniences of the extensive renovating process and didn't want to repeat it for a while, so they found a house with great bones that needed only a quick facelift.

"The idea was that we would tackle more extensive work like remodeling the kitchen and baths in a few years," Meisels says. "All in all the new home had a nice feel, but the finishes needed some updating." In eight weeks (the painting process took the most time), fresh paint, restained floors, new hardware and light fixtures as well as new decor gave the house a cohesive, comfortable feel, and it was move-in ready for the family.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with 4 kids (age 9, age 7 and 3-year-old twins)
Location: Midtown Toronto
Size: 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms

First up was unifying the spaces, which had been opened up in the 1990s but lacked cohesiveness. The floors were cherry-colored oak except in the kitchen, where they were light pine. Meisels restained all the floors a uniform brownish-gray tone. She also had the house painted white and changed the brass door hardware to crisp black.

Pops of purple turn up around the first floor. In the foyer it's introduced via an overdyed antique rug by Elte. Meisels also commissioned the painting and the custom bench.

Chandelier: Crown Minor, Jehs and Laub


"I like eclectic mixes the best," Meisels says. "This to me feels the most natural, as if things were collected over time and not installed by a designer from a showroom in two months."

She commissioned a custom chandelier to serve as a striking focal point and an art piece. She used a dining room table and chairs that the clients already owned. "I dipped the chairs in black paint to give them a modern edge and accessorized with bold hits of color for unexpected hits of brightness," she says. An oversize mirror bounces light around.


BEFORE: The previous kitchen was too traditional for the homeowners' tastes, but the open layout, black granite counters and open shelving were versatile and modern enough to keep for the new look. "The open shelving is a great way to utilize a wall for storage which might otherwise be dedicated only to the windows — huge runs of shelving hold dishes, vases and more," the designer says.


AFTER: Meisels had the windows painted in Benjamin Moore's Wrought Iron and added a stunning light fixture and backsplash. Clear glass items on the shelves in front of the windows allow sunlight to filter through.

"Changing a backsplash is usually pretty simple and contained without having to spend a lot of time and money, and new handles on cabinets and doors make a big difference," she says. "Updated appliances in a tired kitchen are worth the splurge!"



Custom walnut cabinets provide a workstation as well as storage. "I wanted it to feel like a stand-alone piece that was harmonious with the rest of the house ... almost like furniture," she says. The piece will work with the current kitchen if the owners decide to leave it as is, and also with a more modern style if they renovate later.

Kitchen table: Paola Navone


The house has two other family room and den spaces, so Meisels went formal with the living room, which is just off the foyer. She painted the oak fireplace surround black for a modern edge.

The Juju hat was something she'd selected for her clients' former home, and it made the move with ease, adding another dash of purple. "I love using Juju hats, as they add a hint of texture and color, and the sculptural effect is a nice relief from all of the artwork and white walls," she says.

Sofa: Raleigh, Design Within Reach; cocktail table: Spindle, West Elm


A Park lounge chair and ottoman add another splash of purple. Meisels began the vintage glass collection for the homeowners during the previous project; the existing glass display shelves in the living room seem to have been made for it.

Artwork: Canvas



"I wanted the master bedroom to feel dramatic and sexy," Meisels says. "This wallpapered accent wall is a great background for a simple, low modern bed."

Wallpaper: Elitis; pillow fabric: Missoni; bed: Bensen


Iconic midcentury modern pieces — a Jens Risom desk and Saarinen Executive Chair — create an unobtrusive writing area in the master bedroom.

Lamp: Ventana Tripod Desk Lamp, Jonathan Adler


The homeowner's young son is a big Star Wars fan who has earned an impressive number of hockey trophies. "We are Canadian, after all," Meisels says.

She had commissioned the custom dresser for the master bedroom in the clients' former home, but it's better suited for the boy's room now.

Wallpaper: Woods, Cole & Son


This is the third-floor bedroom of one of the daughters. "I love a black wall in a bright room. I think it makes the colors and whites feel brighter and crisper in contrast," Meisels says.

Accent wall paint: Black, Benjamin Moore


This is the eldest daughter's room. "She would have had the entire room dressed in pink if she'd had her druthers. She was tough, but I convinced my little client to allow me to add small hits of other colors and white," Meisels says.

She had the headboard custom made. The light fixture is a vintage find, and the eye-popping floral wallpaper is Tokyo Dahlia from Designer's Guild.

"This particular couple is edgy and modern and was willing to take risks," Meisels says. "I really like how spare this house is while still feeling warm; each piece was carefully chosen to be functional and beautiful." The family is so pleased with their quick fixes that they are happy to wait awhile before tackling the bathrooms and the kitchen.

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