By Adriana Ermter
Photography by Valerie Wilcox
Marble has been a staple design element in homes for centuries, even millennia. Throughout our homes, we use marble on kitchen countertops, entryway floors, bathroom vanities, and fireplace mantels. Yet for Robin Nadel, designer and co-founder of Wise Nadel Design Inc. in Toronto, the use of marble is also an art form, and the inspiration behind her latest interior design project. “Marble was my muse,” Nadel says. “I used it in every room of the home intentionally, as art to make the interior unique.”
The transitional-style home in Lytton Park was designed by architect Lorne Rose and built by Tischler Custom Homes. This neighbourhood is sought after for its wide, tree-lined streets, proximity to private schools, and family-friendly amenities. The 6,000-square-foot, three-storey home connects well with the community’s blend of new and established architecture. Its buff brick exterior, mansard roof, and portico are a nod to French elegance. “The clients are a dynamic couple with a young family,” says Nadel. “They came from a classically designed and decorated home and wanted this one to be edgier, but timeless, with a European sensibility. That’s why I focused on marble. It was an appropriate material to use because it’s classic; it creates a sense of life and movement while also serving as a focal point that anchors the room. It’s luxe but not flashy and it complements both my clients’ personalities and the way in which they live.
This marble tour-de-force begins in the foyer, where French Blue de Savoie floors, banded in Nero Marquina, stretch beneath a large marble archway. A gold-framed mirror, white paneled walls, and transitional light fixtures complete the elegant look. Continuing into the dining room, white oak floors in a chevron pattern contrast with deep blue sculptural chairs. The adjoining wine cellar is visible behind a metal and glass wall, showcasing the clients’ wine collection and a back-lit white onyx accent wall. A Midnight Crystal quartzite fireplace wall and a smoked-glass chandelier finish the look of this eye-catching entertaining space.
“MARBLE WAS MY MUSE. I USED IT IN EVERY ROOM OF THE HOME INTENTIONALLY, AS ART TO MAKE THE INTERIOR UNIQUE”
As we follow the stunning oak floors into the open-concept kitchen and family room, we are struck by a large slab of book-matched Nero Luna marble that frames the fireplace, flanked on each side by arched niches. Each niche is home to a piece of contemporary art, inserting a punch of colour into the space. “The couple brought their art with them along with a remarkable Brigitte Bardot piece,” says Nadel. “The paintings, combined with the fireplace’s black and white marble, stand in contrast to the otherwise classic and neutral palette of greys and whites. These colourful and dramatic elements bring this family room to life.”
Turning our attention to the Parisian-inspired kitchen, we can be forgiven for initially looking past the Sub-Zero panelled refrigerator, Miele dishwasher, and Wolf gas range, as the marble once again steals the show. Calacatta Super White clads the counters, waterfall island, and backsplash, providing high contrast for the teal bar stools and black and brass La Cornue-inspired range hood. And behind the open brass wall-hung étagère, we find a grey and blush-pink Dover White marble slab that brings an immediate smile to our designer’s face. “We call it the Gwyneth Paltrow marble,” says Nadel. “The moment I saw it on her bar, featured in Architectural Digest, I knew I had to use it.”
In the main-floor powder room, the Calacatta marble vanity echoes the chicness of custom-made mirrors and moody teal wallpaper. Nearby, the study is a serene space with linen inset in a shallow coffered ceiling; drapes and cushions in fabrics that borrow from men’s suiting and ties; and a striking Emerald Green marble fireplace that acts as a foil for it all. In fact, these artistic marble installations delight throughout both the home’s upper and lower levels, at times in the most unexpected places. Even upstairs, tucked away at the top of a secluded stairwell, we find a private dressing room. And there, among the wall-to-wall closets, full of designer shoes and purses, is a sublime Lilac marble island at the centre of it all. “Every room in the house was envisioned with my clients in mind,” says Nadel. “They’re authentic, well-travelled, and very fashionable. We have not only created a backdrop for their dynamic life, but we’ve also curated a collage of marble moments.”
