4 min readBeauty isn’t always enough—rooms have to be used. When Sabrina Albanese was brought in to rework a 1934 French Canadian heritage home in Ontario, the issue wasn’t aesthetics but relevance. Though the historic stone facade still conveyed old-world grandeur, a 2007 renovation had left the house out of sync with the way its owners lived. “Before, the rooms were beautiful but very fancy,” Albanese says. “There was a formal sitting room that was never used—everyone was scared to go in it.”
The homeowners, a sociable couple with teenage children, wanted something looser and more welcoming—a home where guests could relax, kids could spread out, and entertaining felt natural rather than staged. In the kitchen, richly veined marble, white oak and mahogany cabinetry, and a soapstone sink create a dynamic yet livable backdrop for real life. Designed around multiple stations, the space allows several people to move through it at once without getting in each other’s way. Sports are central to the family’s time together, so even the often-hidden TV takes pride of place above the breakfast area bar.
Nearby, the once-formal sitting room is a dramatic bar wrapped in high-gloss African mahogany with intricate detailing. It’s now the first room guests encounter, and the one the adults stay in the longest. Downstairs, the basement is an elevated hangout for the boys and their parents’ after-hours crowd, designed so teenage energy (and competition) doesn’t spill into the rest of the house.
Albanese continued to take cues from hospitality design throughout the rest of the home: A former library now functions as an office, with a small game table for taking breaks from work; bedroom furniture is custom-tailored for proportion and comfort; and a barely-there powder room delivers the home’s most impactful wallcovering. “I truly feel like they’re using the whole space now,” Albanese says.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Sabrina Albanese
Location: Ontario, Canada
The Space: A comprehensive redesign of a 1934 French Canadian heritage home for a family of four.
BILLIARDS ROOM
A lower level built for game nights, sports, and good company.
Designed as much for watching as for playing, the luxe game room centers on a custom tufted leather banquette that keeps everyone part of the action, whether the focus is the Brunswick Billiards table or the game on TV. Wrapped in Canaletto walnut paneling and finished with a Farrow & Ball Etruscan Red ceiling, the room was designed to feel every bit as considered as the spaces upstairs—with just a little more competition.
BAR LOUNGE
Where happy hour begins the moment you walk in.
A multitude of seating vignettes—from barstools and lounge chairs to a card table beneath a Murano flush mount—invite guests to stay long after the first drink is poured. “Everybody wants to come in here,” says Albanese. Custom lounge chairs, African mahogany paneling, and bespoke rugs from The Rug Company reinforce the room’s hospitality-inspired atmosphere.
KITCHEN
A gut renovation traded contemporary finishes for unmistakable French character.
“It’s an old-looking kitchen, but modern in the way it’s made,” says Albanese, describing the room’s European-inspired aesthetic. Dramatic Calacatta Viola marble, a powder blue Lacanche range, and warm brass detailing prove a hardworking kitchen can embrace color without sacrificing function.
Elsewhere, practical decisions quietly improve everyday life: open shelving and glass-front cabinets keep frequently used pieces within reach, while an elevated wall oven makes transferring hot dishes from countertop to appliance far easier than a traditional under-counter model.
BREAKFAST ROOM
An elegant space primed for casual entertaining.
Once opened to the kitchen, the breakfast nook became the family's everyday dining space, centered on a bespoke Hinoki marble table with fluted wood legs. A custom buffet keeps serving essentials close at hand, but the TV is one thing the family never wanted tucked away. “We thought about hiding the TV,” says Albanese, “but it just didn't make any sense.”
STUDY
A den-like retreat where the family comes together at a quieter pace.
A former library, this lounge is now layered with soft upholstery and tactile finishes—from the cowhide ottoman to plush Minotti seating—to create a room designed for reading, working, and the occasional unintended nap.
FAMILY ROOM
Vaulted ceilings lend a sense of grandeur to this otherwise relaxed gathering space.
Connected to the kitchen, the family room was designed for daily downtime, from morning coffee to evening TV. A Minotti sectional anchors the space, while Marjorie Skouras beaded chandeliers—retained from the home's earlier renovation—bring an unexpected burst of color to one of the family's favorite gathering spots.
PATIO
Mediterranean-inspired mosaics and brick paving transform the backyard into a destination all its own.
Rather than decorating the courtyard, Albanese rebuilt it around a feeling. Looking to Mediterranean gardens for inspiration, she centered the space on a fountain imported from Italy, surrounded by custom blue-and-white mosaic paving and vintage and RH planters overflowing with herbs and seasonal perennials.
Beneath the covered patio, she steered the homeowners away from one oversized dining table in favor of two Tommy Bahama Home pedestal tables. The seating capacity stayed the same, but the experience became far more intimate.
About the Designer
Founded in 2013, Sabrina Albanese Interiors is a Toronto-based design studio known for creating layered, personality-driven homes deeply rooted in the way people live. Drawing on Albanese's background in fashion, art, and extensive travel, each project balances historic references with expressive color, rich materiality, and custom details that feel both timeless and unexpected. The studio works throughout Canada and the United States on residential and commercial projects, with an emphasis on spaces that invite gathering, comfort, and everyday use.
