Decorating & Design
May 3, 2021
Before & After: A Well-Travelled Couple Overhauls A Tudor Revival House
“I can’t tell you how many people people walk by, stop and point,” says Shelagh Kellam of her freshly painted black and white house. Amid the stately red brick houses of Toronto’s Rosedale neighborhood, the high-contrast Tudor makes a serious style statement: a tuxedo among business suits. Shelagh had tried the look once before, back when she and husband Richard Kellam transformed a 1930s clapboard house in Akron, Ohio. It was just one of seven major renovations they’ve taken on over 25 years, as Richard’s career in consumer goods moved them and their four children, Darragh, Pierce, Kieran and Brendan, around the world.
With the children now grown and starting their own families, the couple was thinking about downsizing from their expansive family home (featured in H&H’s December 2011 issue) when fate came calling. A knock at the door from a prospective buyer led to a sale; soon after came the phone call from a friend, tipping them off to a house on the market just two blocks away. Initially skeptical, Shelagh says once she stepped inside, the deal was done.
Here, she shares her thoughts on renovating, design lessons learned and the intangible qualities that make a house a home. Scroll down!
“When I walked in, I was amazed by the proportions,” says Shelagh (left). “I could see all the way to the large window at the back and there was such a substantial foyer and a generous vestibule. I thought, I can do a lot with this. It was love at first sight.”
“We’ve lived in the U.K., and this room reminds me of an English sitting room,” says Shelagh of her formal living room, with its tailored furniture, textured rugs and hits of brass and glossy black. “Using the same palette throughout created a feeling of calm and extended the space,” she adds.
In the kitchen, Shelagh chose recessed-panel cabinets and honed Carrara marble for the perimeter counters and backsplash.
The Nero Marquina marble on the fireplace surround in the main-floor family room also appears on the kitchen island.
A banquette upholstered in vinyl fabric offers a perfect view of the backyard. “The previous owners had a glass table and two chairs there, and it just seemed awkward,” says Shelagh. “Now, we sit there all the time, overlooking the garden. The boys come over and they set up with their laptops. It’s a great use of space.”
The painting in the dining room, William’s Light, is by Shelagh’s sister, New York artist Elizabeth (Betsy) Higgins.
Pink and gray hues create a soft, serene vibe in the principal bedroom.
Two armchairs are positioned to capture the south-facing light.
In the bathrooms, Carrara marble is used on the floors, walls and counters.
“The biggest takeaway for us was that the basement was an untapped resource,” says Shelagh. “Most of it was in its 1907 dungeon-esque state.” The basement was underpinned and dug out to achieve an eight-foot ceiling height and now includes a family room and bar, a bedroom, gaming room with the best free solitaire setup we’ve ever seen and two full bathrooms.
In their son Brendan’s room, guitars on the wall are a fun alternative to art.
Richard and son Pierce share a drink at the bar in the new basement family room.
In the vestibule, the original front door from 1907 was carefully restored with a new frame, glazing and hardware.
The house exterior was transformed with a crisp palette of black and white. “We wanted the outside to reflect what you see inside,” says Shelagh.
The backyard is designed for cooking and entertaining. “It feels like an extension of the house,” says Shelagh. The black Weber barbecue was Richard’s find.
There’s also an outdoor shower and a saltwater swimming pool.
Alex Lukey
House & Home April 2021