Adele and Nick Morganelli first moved into their house in 1984 with their three daughters, aged three, four and five. Since then, they have worked to transform their house into the home of their dreams. "Our kids would never want us to move," Adele begins. "They grew up here and they don't want to see their house sold. And we love our area. We live in a crescent, we have 1.2 acres, a beautiful pool and yard. I'd never move."
Instead, they've done a lot of work to put their own stamp on the house. "If the previous owners came by today they wouldn't recognize the house," Adele continues. While the only major renovation was the kitchen addition, designed by their daughter Nicole Romanelli and completed two years ago by Bill Diggon and Phoenix Wood Products, the home looks nothing like it did when they moved in. "We've done a lot of decorating over the years. Every seven years or so I'd change another room," Adele explains. Each room represents a bit of the family's changing personality, and the result is nothing short of stunning.
Entering the home, family and friends are greeted in a spacious foyer. Expanded in the renovation, the space combines clean modern lines with smooth romantic finishes, setting the tone for the rest of the home, where modern and traditional weave together seamlessly. From the foyer, visitors have a view into the grand kitchen, living room and modern stairway.
In many ways, the foyer is a room unto itself. Often neglected in interior design, the keen attention to detail in this home ensured that the space was both inviting and aesthetically pleasing. The modern colour scheme of black and off-white is softened with the finishing touches, including smooth, sculptural stools, and crystal lamp and accessories. The black and white striped stair runner adds depth to the custom designed stainless steel railings, made by Nick, and the white stairway, which leads to the family's private living spaces, including a newly appointed nursery for the Morganellis' young grandchildren.
The living room, though formal in its adornments, is also warm and welcoming. Deep chocolate browns, neutral walls and splashes of bold red create visual interest. And here again, the Morganellis' appreciation of clean modern lines is juxtaposed against more traditional finishes. The two chocolate brown loveseats, for example, are a modern take on traditional lines, and are given visual interest from pops of red in the throw cushions.
From the living room, one has views opening up into the adjacent dining room, where the colour scheme is repeated, and beyond into the new kitchen. A very intimate space, the dining room features a round
glass table and four large parsons-inspired chairs. The hexagonal carpet— a unique twist on a more traditional oval, circular or rectangular area rug—adds another dimension of interest to the space. "Our original dining room was small, but we worked to open up the space in the addition," explains Adele. "Now there are two wide doorways to the dining room, lending the room some much needed openness and space." The main floor is completed by the newly appointed kitchen. In 2008, in order to suit the demands of a growing family, the Morganellis designed their dream kitchen with Romanelli. The result: a 560-square-foot addition and an 1,100-square-foot renovation, and it's all they had hoped for, and more. "I love my kitchen now," Adele enthuses. "I love the feel of it." For anyone who likes to entertain—drawing family and friends together in the kitchen, the hub of the home—the Morganellis' kitchen is a dream come true. "My family is growing. I have two sons-in-law and two grandchildren. The space is ideal."
Open and airy, the kitchen is bathed in natural light and provides those inside views of the deck, pool area and sprawling backyard. From soaring cherry cabinetry to the glass and marble tile backsplash, and from the built-in entertainment system and custom designed table, the kitchen is perfectly tailored to the Morganellis' entertaining needs. "Christmas is no problem now," Adele says. "I have both ovens going and all six burners too; it's great!"
Beyond the stove, the kitchen was built with the Morganellis' growing family in mind. The nine-foot island is perfect for both preparing meals and gathering for a light snack. The coffee bar, nestled close to the dining room, is equipped with all the necessities to make entertaining a snap. And the table—custom designed and built for the space—is big enough to seat all the Morganellis.
Thinking about all the work they've put into their home so far— including two bathroom renovations currently underway, Adele can't help but laugh. "With all the money we've spent, we could have built a new home, but I can't imagine living anywhere else." For her, living through the renovations is perhaps the most amazing feat. "The biggest challenge of the renovation was living through it—knocking down walls, plaster and drywall dust everywhere. It was terrible at the time, but worth it for the end result," reflects Adele. For the Morganellis, their house is so much more than some walls and rooms. It's a home—one that is ideally suited to welcome their family back home, to enjoy time together. NMI
