In the height of the pandemic, I found myself cottage shopping with my twin sister Kath.  Probably not the best time to buy in a peak market, but there we were dreaming and scheming.  Kath was the buyer, but of course I wanted in on the action.  What designer doesn't want a chance to get their hands on a cottage, let alone design one from scratch with someone who shares the same DNA? My sister wanted to buy in Haliburton, and she had seen some great cottages, but nothing quite fit the bill.  Looking back, I think she was holding out for her be ..read more

Sofas are often the largest piece of furniture, so they can quickly set the tone for a room's design, telling us if the room is for lounging, entertaining, or perhaps for both.  And because sofas are expensive, deciding on which one to buy can be daunting.  How do you choose the right one?  We’re here to help you figure that out.  Let’s get started, shall we? SOFA STYLE & FUNCTION It all starts with having a vision.  What do you want the overall look and feel to be, and how do you want the room to function?  For example, when ..read more

Happy Spring!  This new season always feels like a great time to refresh.  So on that note, we are excited to share an epic 'before & after’ of a Principal Bedroom in the Beaches.  As designers, we are addicted to transformation - and boy, have we got a doozy to share.   Our clients came to us in hopes of turning their bedroom into a peaceful oasis - the kind of room they could sneak away to early in the evening and enjoy time together.  Like a lot of couples who spent 25+ years raising their kids (they have four!) and putting heaps of energy and money i ..read more

We are excited to finally share images of our beloved Oxford House - Stephanie and Emily's first Griffin Houghton collaboration.  While the two partners have been working side by side for years now, this was the first project they tackled together, dividing and conquering to create a home in true English country style in the heart of downtown Toronto.  Being hired during Covid meant endless delays in the project, but the silver lining was time - lots of it (it took over three years to complete).  Steph and Emily used this time to their advantage and sourced far and wide for the ..read more

At the start of every year, the design world kicks things off with trend predictions - what's in and what's out.  Over here at Griffin Houghton we don’t pay too much attention to these forecasts, but instead, we like to lean on our collective viewpoints and share (at our weekly meetings) what we're seeing out there that we like and what we don’t.  They're usually pretty lively discussions as we debate everything from colour combinations, styles of furniture, millwork details, pattern mixing and so on... We thought you might like to see what we're loving these days.  So, each des ..read more

When our clients Janet and Brian reached out to say they were finally ready to renovate their kitchen, we were thrilled for them.  With busy careers, they had been putting off the inevitable disruption of a kitchen renovation; and considering how much Janet loves to cook, it was not an easy choice to wait.  When they were ready, they entrusted Griffin Houghton to help make the new kitchen not only beautiful, but the renovation as seamless as possible. Their home is perched at the top of an idyllic ravine setting in North Toronto, so one of the first things we discussed was the ..read more

Who doesn't love a great before and after?  After quite literally years of delays (thanks to Covid-19), we're thrilled to finally share the story behind our recently completely third floor transformation in the east end of Toronto. On the heels of raising two active kids in a colourful family home in the Beaches, our clients Laura and Rob were ready to turn their third floor into a serene and private bedroom/bathroom retreat they could call their own.  They had been living in their house for over 16 years and renovated pretty much every inch of it, but never got around to ..read more

When your client of many years calls to ask if you would help them decorate their new property in Florida, you JUMP at the opportunity.  You get over the very real issue of not having access to any trades or showrooms in the region by forming a partnership with a local interior designer and bingo - the perfect team is formed! Chomping at the bit to create something completely different from their Toronto digs, our client gave us full reign to go for it.  We were excited by the idea of creating a breezy, colourful and whimsical space they could relax in so we started b ..read more

Anyone who has embarked on a large decorating or renovation project knows that it can often take longer than anticipated and be more expensive.  In the end though, the finished product is always worth the wait.  Therein lies the question - how do you define finished? At Griffin Houghton, a home is simply not finished until there is art hung on the walls.   And because art is often one of the last items purchased, it can be overlooked due to renovation and budget fatigue.  Below are two great examples of rooms that just wouldn't be as beautiful without the art ..read more

More and more people are gravitating towards the lure of small spaces that force us to simplify how we live. We often hear from clients who have downsized, how liberated they are in their new homes. When designed with intention, a small space can show that less can be more. Steph proved this when she was called in by her ex-husband, Glen, to tackle the renovation of his +1,000 square foot loft located in a 110-year-old historic building in the heart of Riverdale. Not only is the loft now beautifully composed; it works extremely hard to make every inch count. And we were absolutely thrilled to ..read more