In the world…
of interior design, the term ‘harmony’ is often used to describe a perceived flow or synchronicity between similar forms, colors, and textures. Ashley Botten, a Toronto-based interior designer whose dynamic studio also produces bespoke furniture pieces, offers a slightly different perspective on creating spaces with strong visual cohesion. She maintains that rooms should immerse people in sensual experiences thanks to “a blend of differences that create layers that feel united.” For this reason, her practice eschews repetition and instead embraces a more free-spirited approach that incorporates a tapestry of design choices, all set within the boundaries of a clean, modern aesthetic.
A recent…
residential example illustrating this branch of sophisticated eclecticism is an elegant Georgian-style family home in Toronto, which Ashley Botten Design has completely refurbished and expanded with kitchen and bedroom extensions.
Blending classic sophistication with contemporary flair, this home offers warmth and freshness in one clean sweep. Original details such as cornices, crown moldings, and authentic French doors with Cremone bolts have been expertly restored in rooms that are now elegantly adorned with a mix of iconic mid-century designs, Ashley Botten Design pieces, and treasured family heirlooms.
In the main…
living room, sash windows have been transformed into objects of beauty thanks to long linen curtains that soften natural light for a diffused effect. Their generous dimensions are enhanced by a softly curving cream Christophe Delcourt sofa, which serves as a grounding focal point in the room. As Ashley Botten explains: “A silhouette for a window is equally important as the window itself [achieved by] accenting the window’s anatomy to preserve the flow of light into a space.”
A celebration of simple yet impactful forms, the living room also features glass globe wall lights, floating marble shelves, a stone coffee table by Brazilian designer Simone Costes, locally made ceramics sourced from the Toronto-based art gallery Vessels & Sticks, and an ABS-studio mantelpiece crafted from limestone, designed to “echo the geometry of the room’s traditional door casings and moldings.”
Small details…
matter here: the colored ceramic bricks on the mantelpiece are produced by Ashley Botten Design in collaboration with Canadian-born artist Alissa Coe. Handcrafted in Italy, their rectangular shape reflects the exact geometry of traditional clay bricks, symbolizing the studio’s core directive of connecting classic design principles with sharp modernist ingenuity.
A wall of…
smoked white oak with integrated folding doors separates the lounge from a casual dining room, where the family’s vintage Eero Saarinen tulip chairs are paired with an oval dining table by Yabu Pushelberg and accented by an Apparatus Cloud Chandelier. Decorative accessories include a knurled ceramic vase by American maker Caroline Blackburn (from Vessels & Sticks), an oversized bronze fruit bowl by the Parisian brand Collection Particulière, and ABS’s tall copper vase, whose patina promises to change over time. Earthy and organic in spirit, these items complement the brushed, custom oil-finished smoked oak floors, creating a tactile partnership that evokes a connection to the natural world.
The kitchen…
features a strict linear composition that brings sophistication to the heart of the home. The design team has chosen to contrast the soft tones of smoked white oak in the cabinetry and flooring with heavily veined white marble on the countertops, backsplash, and oven hood, creating a durable and aesthetic look that will stand the test of time. This design extends to the kitchen’s connecting mudroom, which boasts a rustic terracotta floor adorned with octagonal tiles from Spain.
More unusual…
is a natural wood-clad walk-in closet that exudes the refined look of a private reading room or office. Luxurious yet understated, it features a central storage island with a soft cream leather top and raw linen Roman blinds. Sleek and minimalist, this room has just one dramatic accent: an ornamental teal tassel by well-known Los Angeles-based jeweler Lisa Eisner. Crafted from horsehair dipped in vibrant ‘Yves Klein’ blue dye, it serves as an important symbol of Ashley Botten Design’s love of individuality and inventiveness, reflected in the firm’s methodology and artisanal craftsmanship.
Gently applied…
throughout the home, this creative streak finds expression in unusual furniture pieces, one-of-a-kind objets d’art, handles and fixtures in a mix of shapes and metals, and daring spatial arrangements—along with light, which Ashley Botten uses to create dynamic atmospheres. “Our studio loves to diffuse natural light with fabric window shades. Their semi-translucency adds layers of softness and creates beautiful shadow effects,” explains Botten, whose interiors are often described as ‘experiential’—and for good reason. Keen to preserve the heritage assets of a home, she adopts a gentle approach to newness and reinvention that combines intellectual rigor with a love of thought-provoking artistry.
A firm believer in the “less is more” philosophy, Botten succinctly describes this “dream” project on home turf: “Our design approach was carefully curated to strike a sensitive balance between traditional detailing and a contemporary mood of casual warmth, comfort, and simplicity.” You couldn’t say it better than that.
Tap the look…
Design: Ashley Botten Design
Photography: Patrick Biller
