Does downsizing have to be a dirty word? TOM founding partner Kate Stuart certainly doesn’t think so. When it came time for her longtime clients to leave their colonial revival house on a tree-lined boulevard for a penthouse condo packed with potential, Kate was enlisted to create a new canvas for their old favourite furnishings.
This couple had somewhat conflicting agendas: she loves change, and he wants everything to stay the same. The client’s years of experience as a top real estate pro had yielded the perfect place in an established downtown building… which was pretty tough for even her change-resistant husband to turn down. So the work of sorting out which beloved pieces would fit the new plan and what was “not wanted on the voyage” began.
Good bones, lots of square footage and magnificent views would be the foundation for an extensive renovation that included knocking down several walls to open up space. This top-floor unit even included a wood burning fireplace! The principal suite was gutted to create a much better bathroom, as well as his and hers closets. Believe it or not, a sauna was removed (a throw-back notion of luxury courtesy of the building’s 1980s pedigree) to allow for a more modern moment in the form of a roomy curbless walk-in shower.
Downsizing out of their former home was the big challenge. A daunting inventory of very good furniture, antiques and artwork had to be addressed. The most cherished pieces would, of course, find a home in the penthouse condo, while the rest would be passed along to their adult children, or donated to the well-known school established by the husband’s family. In the end, nearly every surface in the condo was redone. The exception? The fireplace mantel in the living room, but even that got a fresh coat of paint!
And just to make a complex project even more complicated, the entire endeavour was undertaken during the pandemic. “We ended up using more than we expected from the old house inventory; mostly out of necessity because of supply chain issues,” says Kate. “It was an important reminder for me that there is such value in investing in good, timeless furniture. Its handsome lines and solid construction got a second life with a change in fabric schemes and throw cushions. My clients, who through our many years working together have become friends, are really happy with the result. Even the husband is coming around slowly. He’s only 86, so there’s plenty of time!”
Creative: Kate Stuart
