We knew when this lovely lady agreed for us to use her home as our “Feature Home” in this edition, we would be in for a treat. Margaret Pherson, owner of A Touch of Class by Mags located in downtown Orangeville, did not disappoint us.
When Margaret started to search for a new home, she knew what she wanted. She needed space for her children, friends, family, and for entertaining. So, it would be no surprise that it took several months to find the perfect home, which was nothing like perfect. The home that chose her, needed much TLC, but she loved it from the moment she walked through the door, and of all people, she could transform the space into something really special.
Fast forward 3 years later and here it is, her dream home, and it is spectacular!
What I found most interesting about how Margaret went about finishing this featured space of living, dining, and family rooms was that Margaret sourced pieces from all over. “I love to hunt for unique bargains”, begins Margaret. “From the Salvation Army, to garage sales, to the Restore Store, if I can find it, and then refinish it, I’m happy.” If you have visited A Touch of Class by Mags, you could see all the unique home décor that has been specifically chosen by Margaret herself. That’s why with this home having great bones, she knew she could put her stamp on it.
The kitchen. The former kitchen was a small narrow alley kitchen. Renovating this space would give this house 2 doorways, and a small pantry wall, so they could gain an additional 6 feet. This immediately opened up the space, allowing the main floor to flow perfectly.
The stunning quartz countertop boasts 11×5 feet of space, and gives the family lots of space to entertain and gather. The colour was chosen to bring some warmth into the space. As you can see, Margaret has put her style of elegance and warmth into the kitchen, and pulled it all together with the gorgeous stone wall, the backsplash behind the oven, and finished it with the storage area which wraps around to the dining room.
When you first walk into the entry way of this home, there is another stone wall (finished the same as the kitchen) which pulls you into the space easily, and is simply gorgeous. The stone walls also accentuate the dark flooring, which boldly stands out amongst all of the warm, light colours Margaret chose to finish the space with. “I had dark colours in my last home, so I wanted this to be different, and I wanted to ensure that when it comes to resale, it would be easy for a buyer to see themselves here.
The design is elegant, mixed with some vintage, some modern, and a touch of farmhouse. She has accomplished all of that perfectly.
The other clever designer touch Margaret has put her signature on is the lighting. It’s soft and warm throughout with spotlights installed to set the perfect mood. Her pendant lighting is subtle, yet modern, and the light over the dining room table suits the large space without imposing itself.
The harvest table that Margaret found at the Restore store. I would tell you the bargain price she paid …. but you can only Imagine. Paired with luxurious seating (which was also a deal), the room is gorgeous.
It is clear that Margaret has an “eye” and that’s why her design business, as well as her retail store are always in demand.
The space really opened up when a window and a wall at the back of the house were removed and a large patio door was installed. The space is on a rural property and the views were being hidden. She also painted out the orange brick of the fireplace, to bring it back to life, and into this century.
The grand piano sits perfectly just to the side of the dining room. This gorgeous beauty Margaret sourced for free. Yes, that’s right – free. “A client of mine was downsizing and wanted the piano gone. So, I told him I would buy it from him, and he simply said it’s yours for free.” Margaret has refurbishing plans for it, and it will be painted in a matte black. It looks as though it was meant for this space. Karma makes great things happen, and this lovely lady deserves just that!
By finishing off the spaces with elegant jute rugs throughout, this main floor is just the beginning of the home of her dreams. A place to gather, share great memories, and make new ones too.
WRITTEN BY: KELLI M. MADDOCKS | PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL SPEARS
RESOURCES: A TOUCH OF CLASS BY MAGS, ORANGEVILLE
