Monica Brown and Mike Levy knew exactly what they wanted in a new property. For Brown, it was performance; for Levy, details and aesthetics. Together they communicated their dreams to Bayview Design and Cedar Hill Custom Homes to make a home that would feel and look exactly right for their family. The result is a contemporary and updated home with sleek finishes, durable stuff, clean-lined furniture and a beautiful backyard oasis.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Monica Brown, Mike Levy, son Grayson and Weimaraner Luca
Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms on the main level; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom on the lower level

The living room’s cathedral ceiling attracts visitors in at the entry. The fireplace, flanked by shuttered windows, is clad in ledge stone rock. A pair of dark leather sofas have adjustable backs for added comfort. Two white Barcelona chairs round out the seating area.

Laurie Christopher and Susan Oliver out of urbanescape helped with the property’s color palette. “Gray is complicated and beautiful, it will not go out of fashion, and you can add color for it,” says Brown.

In the dining area, three oversized wall mirrors visually expand the space. Charcoal gray upholstered linen chairs match the marble tabletop. “I enjoy the fact that the kitchen is not visible from this distance,” Brown says.

A rectangular sheer-fabric ceiling fixture out of Twin Bridge Lighting adds ambience, plus a contemporary white sideboard offers display and storage space. Dark hardwood floors from Palazzi Flooring runs throughout the primary floor of the home.

The kitchen cabinets have a warm, rich glow that works beautifully with all the granite counters. Stainless Appliances, hardware and contemporary backless bar stools add shine. The couple worked with Mylen to design their distance.

Two sinks and a huge island increase the kitchen’s performance. French doors with a transom open to the yard.

Interior doors: Home Hardware

The couple wanted the indoor-outdoor flow of their home to be eloquent. “We needed a home where we’d never have to leave,” says Brown. Adam Allison of Leaf Garden Design helped them create this relaxing outdoor space.

A seating area near the gas fireplace is where the household cozies up and relaxes together on warmer evenings. Beech trees add soft color over the fence line.

A graceful waterfall flows to the pool. The sound makes the family feel like they’re on vacation in their own backyard. Washington Pools installed the rectangular clean-lined concrete pool with a bullnose finish.

Removable, flexible fencing to the pool out of Guardian Pool Fencing is now saved. When needed, it’s installed by slipping the fence posts to sunken stainless cups in the concrete surround.

Rocks and pebbles keep the indoor shade palette. Water flows from a massive rock placed across the fence in this arrangement.

Concrete slabs laid in pebbles form a path from the storage area in the side of the house to the pool area. Lighting is subtly installed in the pathway and throughout the backyard to highlight plantings.

Back indoors, the master bedroom brings the outside in with colorful greenery in the art over the bed. The home has a split bedroom design — that the master suite is located on one side of the living area, while the third and second bedrooms and bathroom are located on the opposite side.

The master bathroom features a clean-lined tub under the shuttered window along with a walk-in cupboard.

Two Ikea mirrored medicine cabinets are hung side by side over the floating vanity to get a clutter-free cosmetic. Brown and Levy prefer to mix investment pieces with budget-friendly things for an affordable but luxury appearance.

Ieteke

In Grayson’s area, lively patterned bedding and accessories are added to brighten up the soft gray walls and drapery. Ikea cabinets provide storage, and stickers match the car-patterned bedding.

This main floor full bathroom is located between the second and third bedrooms. Similar to the other bathrooms, the aesthetic is kept minimal and contemporary. The heavy burden of the stone tiling made installation challenging in this toilet. Each of the toilet tiling is out of Toronto’s Tile Shoppe.

The downstairs lounge is a comfortably carpeted space utilized to amuse friends. “We love to come home to our little harbor. It reflects us and what we prefer to perform,” says Brown. The doorway leads to two guest bedrooms and a third bathroom.

An extra-wide sliding door, arranged from The Sliding Door Company, provides entry to Levy’s sports space from the couch. The couple plans to install a large-screen TV in this area.

Another broad sliding door in the lounge leads into a playroom for Grayson. A third sliding door leads to the weight and exercise room, once more allowing the household to be at home for a lot of their activities.

See related