French Country Home

Clients:

FRENCH
COUNTRY
HOME

A TIMELESS RENDITION OF TRADITIONAL FRENCH COUNTRY CHARM

The inspiration experienced during our travels through Normandy and Burgundy informed the creative process behind this body of work. We called it the French Country Home because even the most utilitarian country houses and farmhouses carried a quaint charm, and that rural French character was reinterpreted here in an elegantly updated, sprawling format by Principal Designer Jesse Sahlani.

CHARMING CHARCTER
CAPTURED IN SKETCHED
FORM

The initial sketches of this unique family compound spoke volumes about the character that Jesse sought to capture. This sketched body of work tells a story, especially when looking at in-progress renditions of the footprint, massing, and exterior proportions as a whole. The fact that this character comes through without considerations like materiality, the lush gardens and lake that surround it, or the mature treeline speaks to the importance of perfecting the proportions in the sketching phase before moving on to the next step.

He typically creates perspective sketches for details he believes are essential to the character he is trying to capture through his artistic process. In this case, he put specific focus on the chimney and the glass hallway connection, detailing the profiles and proportions he was intent on seeing through. Based on the 3D models, he nailed it, creating a contemporary rendition of a French chimney that will charmingly characterize the front entrance courtyard.

NOBLE MATERIALS THAT FURTHER
THE DESIRED TRADITIONAL CHARM

The residence blends single- and double-storey proportions, with lower rooflines connecting gables. The palette is soft: limewashed brick, white windows, and a cedar shake roof create depth while remaining subtle enough to highlight the home’s proportions. Jesse’s approach was emotional. He wanted the front to feel warm, welcoming, and quaint, almost masking the scale of the home behind it.

The front facade is an Easter egg hunt of unique exterior details as a result. An example of a compositional element is the proportions of the gables, and the repetition of them throughout the facade adds to the old-world, traditional character of this family compound, where each serves as a home to a uniquely proportioned space with vaulted ceiling details. The impact of these architectural forms is most felt in the front courtyard, where the main home, garage wing, and tennis lounge surround you with architectural intention.

A LONG, WINDING DRIVEWAY
WITH INTRICATE GARDENS
TO MATCH

The shot on the left puts the expansive scale of the tree-lined driveway, as well as the gardens that line it, into perspective. The lot this home is set on is 100 feet wide by almost 600 feet deep, with a tree-lined driveway that sits nearly 400 feet behind the front gates. As a result, the front yard is one expansive courtyard made for both garden lovers and family fun.

A SECLUDED COURTYARD
SURROUNDED BY NOBLE
MATERIALS

The front garden walls are a specific feature that we felt truly captured the quaint countryside warmth Jesse sought in every aspect of this sprawling estate. They not only feature the same stone texture as the rest of the structure but also create a front courtyard that feels warmly inviting, especially when framed by the contrast of the lush planting plans and water features he designed for this area. Noble materials are at the core of everything Jesse did, as the hue and patina of these natural materials are the single largest characterizing factor throughout the facade. The patina of each of these materials will change over time, creating a natural palette that feels connected to and blended within its setting.

A STABLE-STYLE GUEST
SUITE AND GARAGE
COURTYARD

I wanted to draw specific attention to the facade of the garage, where the roofline and dormers are at a lower elevation than the gable peaks, making the noble materials Jesse specified feel more tangible when you arrive in the front courtyard. I also wanted to point out that the garage door openings feature the same radius as the windows and other masonry garden archway features throughout. Jesse intentionally used these repeating proportions to blend the garage doors into the facade, allowing the proportion, noble materials, and surrounding gardens to be front and centre.

PLANTING PLANS THAT ARE
THE EQUIVALENT OF AN
INTERIOR DESIGN PLAN

He developed an expansive landscape design plan that was meant to be immersive from the minute a guest steps foot on the grounds. Part of this intention required him to incorporate a range of different “garden rooms” that feature various plant species, sculpture, topiary, and distinct stylistic intentions, as if it were one of his interior design projects. The amenities in question include a full-size tennis court, a courtside lounge, a fire pit courtyard, and water features throughout, all connected by sprawling pea gravel pathways.

From a “decor” perspective, the exterior lighting plan plays an integral role, utilizing lamp posts, tree canopy lighting, and pathway lighting that connects the amenities. Notably, Jesse incorporated Staddle Stones into the driveway design plan, a characterizing design feature of the manors of both the French and English countrysides. The simple yet impactful proportional profile of these limestone sculptures is far more meaningful, in our eyes, than the functional use they once served in the context of manors past.

A REAR FACADE DESIGNED TO CREATE CONNECTION BETWEEN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SPACES

The rear facade was designed compositionally to frame views of the surrounding lake while characterizing the outdoor amenity spaces. With that end result in mind, Jesse sculpted the footprint of the home to reflect his desired proportions and his vision for a micro-resort made for family fun. The result is a raised pool deck enveloped by the continuation of the “T”-shaped footprint, surrounding gardens, the matching aesthetic of auxiliary structures, and views of the water.

THE ROLE OF INTENTIONAL
PLANNING WITHIN THE CONTEXT
OF A “MICRO-RESORT”

The composition of the footprint and the master planning of this lot were informed by a sun and wind path study. This detailed approach resulted in an indoor–outdoor connection that feels more like an extension of the living room. Symmetry between the placement of exterior amenities, gardens, and interior spaces within the home allowed Jesse to frame meaningful views, creating visual connections between all elements of his multidisciplinary process.

During the day, you see lush greenery, carefully placed outdoor furniture, and a pool featuring unique mosaics. At night, the exterior lighting plan adds to the ambience that Jesse’s indirect interior fixtures seek to establish, creating a calm environment for family time.

Tudor Country Home

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TIMELESS DESIGN IS FOUND IN PROPORTIONS, AND PROPORTIONS ARE FOUND IN SKETCHING

Location & Hours

Office:

1315 Lawrence Avenue East, Unit #510, Toronto, M3A 3R3, Canada

Hours:

Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Sun: Closed

Contact

Office Directory

+1 (416) 720 6151 [email protected]

Sales

+1 416-720-6151 [email protected]

John-Luke Sahlani

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TIMELESS DESIGN IS FOUND IN PROPORTIONS, AND PROPORTIONS ARE FOUND IN SKETCHING

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