The kitchen, although renovated 20 years ago, looks up-to-date and modern. A wall was removed between the original kitchen and dining room to create an open-concept space. The kitchen was redesigned to create better function with separate areas, so two or more people can easily work there. It incorporates handy features, such as pot drawers, a pantry and rollout shelves. The off-white cabinets; dark-stained furniture-style island; Travertine floors; with tiles of various sizes; and honed Carrera marble countertops are finishes of timeless appeal.
The old powder room had a large window that ate up valuable wall space in a room that didn’t need a view. The window was closed off to allow for more wall space, and to allow for a larger vanity with plenty of storage.
The hallway used to have doorways and arches, and looked dark and narrow. They were removed to create a larger, brighter space with pot lights and durable Travertine flooring, and plenty of storage space in off-white cabinets.
The master bedroom has a newer, inexpensive design element in the stick-and-peel wallpaper that adds to a feature wall and can be removed easily in future. A new light fixture was added recently, replacing a dark, heavy bronze one, in a simple and inexpensive update to the room’s look.
The large backyard is divided half and half between the pool area and the grass area and gardens. The yard was a blank canvas when the Martins bought the house. They spent time at the rear of the property, envisioning different possibilities, before coming up with a plan and starting the work.
The large backyard is divided half and half between the pool area and the grass area and gardens. The yard was a blank canvas when the Martins bought the house. They spent time at the rear of the property, envisioning different possibilities, before coming up with a plan and starting the work.
The most recent renovation is the basement, where a suite, with new bathroom and flooring, has been created. Although the Martins won’t use it as a secondary suite, it will add value to their home should they decide to sell in future.
The most recent renovation is the basement, where a suite, with new bathroom and flooring, has been created. Although the Martins won’t use it as a secondary suite, it will add value to their home should they decide to sell in future.
As the owner of a home staging/decorating business , Susan Crema-Martin stages homes where the look lasts only until the house sells. For her own home in East Gwillimbury, she and husband, Michael, took a long-term approach, thoughtfully planning renovations and executing them in stages over two decades. As a result, the 1998 home they purchased 22 years ago has timeless appeal, with older and newer improvements blending seamlessly.
“It’s always good practice when you buy a property, to wait, live in it and feel it (before making major changes),” Crema-Martin says. The improvements she and Michael have made over time, starting with the kitchen, and, recently, to the basement, were planned to maximize function and flow. She’s “not a trendy designer person” and her home reflects traditional transitional style, combining classic style and modern elegance.
Over the years, improvements have been carried out to make the kitchen the hub of the home, update bathrooms for their son and daughter, accommodate her staging business inventory, and create flow to the backyard oasis with its deck, pool, hot tub and lush gardens.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Function has been the priority for each reno, such as creating direct access from the outdoor hot tub through the tiled floor laundry room to the powder room. Now that Crema-Martin’s business inventory is stored at another site, the basement has been transformed into a secondary suite, adding value to the home if the Martins ever decide to sell.
Crema-Martin’s family is Italian, and her visits to Italy influenced her love for timeless design. That’s why her kitchen cabinetry is off-white, a colour that never goes out of style, and her kitchen countertops are honed marble, a stone that’s been desirable for centuries. Although some people shy away from marble because they fear it’s too soft, Crema-Martin points out that Italy’s historic piazzas are paved with marble that has endured for centuries. Many of the furnishings in the home are mid-century modern.
It is possible to add updated or fun touches to a home without breaking the bank, says Crema-Martin. The master bedroom in her family home got a minor refresh with a feature wall created with boldly patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper, and a new light fixture.
The Martins’ home was featured in June on the CFUW Aurora/Newmarket ɫɫ & Garden Tour, and Crema-Martin was amused when several people complimented the “new” kitchen reno, when it’s actually 20 years old.
Even though their two kids are grown and living elsewhere, the empty-nester Martins have no plans to move elsewhere, Crema-Martin says. “We love our house. It’s open. It’s bright. It’s our happy place.”
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