CITYHOME 2014: Cheerful Hintonburg home boasts bright pops of colour
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CITYHOME 2014: Cheerful Hintonburg home boasts bright pops of colour
BY Sarah Brown
POSTED November 11, 2014 9:45 am

This article originally appeared as “Orange Crush” in CityHome 2014.

By SARAH BROWN

The family is fearless when it comes to colour, but countered the intensity of the yellow cabinetry with warm walnut accents. Photography by PhotoluxStudio.com - Christian Lalonde
The family is fearless when it comes to colour, but countered the intensity of the yellow cabinetry with warm walnut accents. Photography by PhotoluxStudio.com – Christian Lalonde

The homeowners, physician Jolanda Turley and professor Robert Stacey, were dedicated to living close to downtown in a neighbourhood that would allow them to bike virtually everywhere. They were also committed to designing a lively house in which they could experiment with colour and have fun as they raised their two young sons. And so the couple teamed up with designer Paul Kariouk to envisage a vibrant home on a modest lot in Hintonburg.

The Dutch heritage of homeowner Jolanda Turley inspired the cheery orange on the exterior. The family wanted their home to be bright both on the outside and within. Photography by PhotoluxStudio.com - Christian Lalonde
The Dutch heritage of homeowner Jolanda Turley inspired the cheery orange on the exterior. The family wanted their home to be bright both on the outside and within. Photography by PhotoluxStudio.com – Christian Lalonde

“This couple is fearless,” enthuses Kariouk as he discusses their modernist orange-clad dwelling. “It will only get more colourful as the family inhabits the space and makes it their own.” (The completion of the house in the spring of 2013 coincided with a one-year sabbatical in Europe for the family, so a lucky renter has enjoyed it this past year.)

Because the lot is just 30 feet wide, Kariouk knew he would have to design a long, slim house. Neighbouring houses on both sides are very close, so the placement of windows was restricted. “The challenge was to make a long, potentially dark space into a light, bright one,” says Kariouk.

This wall, which separates the kitchen and living room areas from the master bedroom and study, will likely be repainted in another lively hue once the family moves in. Photography by PhotoluxStudio.com - Christian Lalonde
This wall, which separates the kitchen and living room areas from the master bedroom and study, will likely be repainted in another lively hue once the family moves in. Photography by PhotoluxStudio.com – Christian Lalonde

At the front of the house, expansive accordion windows on the main and lower levels allow light and breezes to flow through, while the back wall boasts slightly smaller windows. In the centre, generous skylights let the daylight spill through to illuminate the heart of the home. And then there is the colour — the joyful orange exterior gives way to hits of vibrant yellow within. “The family wanted the house to be bright, both outside and in,” explains Kariouk. “They’re already planning for more colour.” (more…)