Chez Lamacraft

[Lisa Blundell]

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

I have rudely coerced us an invitation to the lovely Lamacraft mansion because I have been dying to see their home. These are the people on the two acres in mid-town Toronto in the gorgeous parkland like area called Wychwood Park. It's an old artist settlement - 100 years? The home is 100 years old anyway. This is a beautiful family with four children so we have an affinity for one another. Although poor Leigh is still in the tunnel of baby. Their four are between 2-7. That's tough. Yet she still manages to be the most lady-like looking woman I've ever met. So the house was divine, the decor, fabrics, furnishings, artwork I couldn't stop touching and asking. Such gorgeous things. I touched too much and her Christmas decoration encircling the chandelier in the dining room came tumbling down. I avoided eye contact with Ian. The Varkeys were there too.

Su Laine Varkey says, 'they're so fucking civilised, I'm terrified I'm going to fart when I'm there.'

I like Su.

This house is everyone's dream home. It's beautiful but also uber cosy. The whole house is like one great big architectural feather pillow. From the tremendous front door mud room area which is so sensible and worth Scott's sacrificing a portion of his patio to the cause.

 

Then down in the basement is the ultimate for any Man of the House. The Man-Cave. It's Scott's place. It's not his study, oh no, that would be too stereotypical. It's where he goes at 4.30am (did I menion he's driven?) every work day. He goes downstairs to his Man-cave, he can turn on the news, his espresso machine is there, he changes cos it's kinda like his walk in robe too and his great big gorgeous man ensuite is there. It's a set-up designed with perfection. The kids playroom is next door and that's every mum's dream. It's got built-in's, baskets with labels, wooden toys, no tv, and it's un-tidy which shows they're completely normal people.

 

Then there's the gym with plasma screen off the wine cellar but I can't tell you anymore it's just too awesome. And this is just the basement!!

 

Leigh collects Santas so my Mum would have been in seventh heaven. Bev doesn't mind a Santa although her collection is at a grand total of 1 I think but it's a really good one. And Leigh's are also beautiful traditional ones.

 

So dinner was, naturally, superb and Scott cooked salmon for us on the barbie. Can you believe it? In minus 10.

But their yard is so gorgeous. They have every tree wrapped in pea lights. And they have a snow maker so they make a full-on luge run for winter. They're very nice people and we had a great night at their house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[su laine varkey]

OK, I'm not sure those were my EXACT words (you quoted me saying something 'uncivilized' about farting?) but I was secretly very relieved that it was you that dismantled Leigh's lovely chandelier decoration and not me! xx