My Houzz: Color and Fun Behind a Victorian Facade
After living in a loft on the east side of Toronto for a number of years, Andrea Van Leeuwen and Daniel Habashi were eager to move back west to be closer to friends and family. They came out on top in a bidding war for an 1880s Victorian townhouse in the Dundas West neighborhood. Its spot on a quiet side street — just steps from Trinity Bellwoods Park, a local landmark — was perfect for the family of four. The house had been recently renovated when they moved in, and they’ve since filled it with an eclectic collection of midcentury furnishings and bold contemporary art that reflect their love of clean, open spaces and color.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrea Van Leeuwen, Daniel Habashi and their 2 sons
Location: Dundas West/Trinity Bellwoods neighborhood of Toronto
Size: 2,000 square feet (186 square meters); 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Built in: 1880s
From the street the townhouse blends in with the rest of the neighborhood, with its classic redbrick facade so common to Toronto, thanks to the former lake bed it sits on. The series of terraced, gray stone planters that line the front steps are filled with a subtle variety of grasses and shrubs, a traditional landscaping approach that defers to the existing streetscape.
Belying the traditional exterior, the remodeled interiors provided the couple with a great base for their expanding collection of bold midcentury designs and pieces in bright colors. The sofa and blue armchair were both purchased at the Sunday Antiques Show, located in the landmark St. Lawrence Market. The sofa, marked as “free sofa with purchase of chair for $199,” had a hole in it that discouraged other buyers. The couple reupholstered it with gray and turquoise fabric they found at The Wool House on nearby Queen Street West.
Leftover fabric from the sofa was later used on the midcentury rocking chair they found at The White Monkey, a vintage shop in Ottawa. Fabric, they’ve found, is a surefire way to tie together two pieces of furniture that may not otherwise relate to each other. The map on the right depicts the nearby Trinity Bellwoods Park; it was hand drawn by local artist Marlena Zuber, seen here.
Check out more of this feature on Houzz.
My Houzz: Color and Fun Behind a Victorian Facade
