styleNorth

Who? Sean Ward and Stephen Fillmore
What? Owned, 3,000 sq. ft. terraced house
Where? Old Cabbagetown, Toronto

I knew Sean and Stephen’s house would be fabulous just based on Sean’s work as Creative Associate at Elliot & Ward, a well-styled Toronto consignment shop. But when I requested a tour, Sean demurred saying their home was likely “too traditional” for styleNorth. I assured him that I’m open to every style of decoration as long as it’s well done.

Now that I’ve been for a visit, I can confirm that the couple’s home in Toronto’s Old Cabbagetown neighbourhood isn’t just well done, it’s superb! Beautifully styled with a lifetime’s worth of fine furnishings, the historic, Queen Ann-style townhouse is spacious yet cozy and beautifully bright.

From the beveled-glass front door you can see all the way down a long, front hall through the kitchen to the backyard beyond. The traditional furnishings are tempered with glorious modern artworks and enough tribal kilims and ikats to balance the silks and toiles. The couple also loves leopard print, which is boldly deployed on the main staircase and used to update a pair of neo-classical side chairs in the dining room.

Stephen, who now works for Crate & Barrel at the company’s Canadian headquarters in Toronto, says that Sean is responsible for most of the decorating decisions: “I have input but this is really his thing,” he says.

Sean, above right, has no formal training in interior decoration but he was clearly born with an intuitive understanding of colour, scale and symmetry. I absolutely love their home; it takes a real knack to marry Second Empire sophistication with casual country elements and still make the whole thing cohesive. I can’t believe they’ve done all this in just four years!

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Describe your style: Traditional and comfortable, we tend to lean towards classic design.
Favorite element? Large eat-in kitchen that leads out to the garden.
Proudest moment? Leaving careers that were no longer fulfilling and now doing something we both love and look forward to each day.
Best find? A sterling silver salver worth a small fortune scored on eBay for $120.
Biggest indulgence? Antique English porcelain.
Best advice? Buy quality, it lasts forever. Comfort and function should always be a priority
Dream sources? 1stdibs.com is amazing. So are Crate & Barrel and Elliott & Ward!

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