By Charlotte Bushnell-Boates
Photography by Alex Lukey
When the owners of this exceptionally well-positioned residence in the Niagara Gorge sought to bring the mid-century home into today’s era, they turned to Jane Lockhart Design. Looking to preserve the character of the spectacular architecture, Jane Lockhart Design worked alongside the original architect who constructed the home in the 1960s, Wayne Murray of Chapman Murray Associates Architects, Inc.
The result: a jaw-dropping home that appears to elegantly float atop the Niagara River. The renovations deeply respected the original character of the mid-century architecture, while bringing it into today’s world through a cohesive interior update. What began as a kitchen renovation evolved into an extensive project that encompassed the entire home, including new flooring, adjusted ceiling heights, custom millwork and furniture, and more.
“What’s unusual for the Niagara River Gorge area is a home with this 1960s low modern feel, and the homeowners wanted to preserve that,” says Jane Lockhart of Jane Lockhart Design. “They wanted to highlight the river views even more and make sure that the interiors matched what we have today—to make it airy, modern, plush and with updated services.”
“A jaw-dropping home that appears to elegantly float atop the Niagara River.”
The renovation has maximized the river views throughout the home, creating an elevated space that’s strikingly elegant and beautifully integrated with the outdoor surroundings. New floor-to-ceiling windows admit ample natural light and further emphasize the views.
A custom floor-to-ceiling glass-walled fireplace creates a stunning centrepiece for the living area. Encased in glass and separating the living and dining rooms, the fireplace adds ambience and functionality, all without obstructing vantage points to the river. The stone base of the fireplace artfully mirrors a stone wall outside the property that dates to the 1800s, further highlighting the indoor and outdoor connection. “The homeowners had a vision that they really wanted the home to maintain its warmth and not become ultramodern and cold,” explains Lockhart. “There’s lots of wood and stone throughout the interior to help emphasize this. With the fireplace, it helps the interiors feel warm and comfortable, while at the same time ensuring we weren’t designing anything that took away from the view.”
The spectacular location of the home was considered during every stage of the renovation, down to the details. Take the residence’s servery and kitchen storage area, where antique mirrors were added to the backs of the cabinets to reflect the natural surroundings, ensuring exceptional views at all times and in as many spaces as possible. Working alongside Chapman Murray Associates Architects, Inc., Lockhart ensured that any updates were carefully planned to respect the charming mid-century architecture. The custom millwork, added by Jane Lockhart Design, Estate Interiors and Thorpe Concepts Ltd., provides a thoughtful homage to the original architecture and an elevated, elegant feel. Further nods to the era’s design are dotted throughout the residence, including large square handles on the bathroom cabinets and vertical design in the bathroom vanity’s mirror.
Beyond the interiors, the garden and outdoor areas of the home were also entirely transformed. “The homeowner loves gardens and landscapes,” Lockhart says. “With that in mind, the home boasts a beautiful cascade of outdoor landscaping right to the property’s edge.” Multiple levels of descending garden beds and lounge areas provide a beautiful and layered look to the exterior space. The outdoor seating areas and comfortable, modern furniture are positioned to take in the sprawling river views, while the lower level of the home features sliding doors to create an expansive indoor-outdoor living experience.
Lockhart also carefully considered furnishings for the home to provide both comfort and practicality. In the living room, a custom-made sectional sofa offers varied back heights to minimize obstruction to the river view. The kitchen’s eat-in dining nook was also designed with the landscape in mind. “We chose to have a bench in addition to chairs around an oval table, which allows the architecture to be free,” says Lockhart. “I love how nothing interferes with the view; the window is so big that you can see fully out of the property and onto a beautiful tree that was preserved, while also feeling cozy and comfortable.”
“The home is beautifully integrated with the outdoors. It’s not too ultramodern. Instead, it’s graceful, comfortable and simply timeless.”
Materials such as white oak and natural stone connect the interiors with the landscape, creating a sense of flow and cohesion. Intended to be timeless and elegant, soft fabrics and gentle curves enhance the living spaces with warmth and approachability. Throughout, the residence’s colour palette—creamy beiges, warm taupes and contrasting charcoal—adds both lightness and visual depth.
Lockhart explains that this home is a celebration of both mid-century architecture and contemporary design—all while keeping the client’s exceptional vision at the forefront. “The home is beautifully integrated with the outdoors,” she says. “It’s not too ultramodern. Instead, it’s graceful, comfortable and simply timeless.”