H&H East Coast Editor Kelvin Browne loves the ocean, sailing and life on the East Coast, so settling down with his husband in Chester, Nova Scotia, was a natural fit. Describing his style as eclectic, the former Director of the Gardiner Museum has a passion for collecting and preserving — a love that’s evident throughout his charming home. “Most of the things in this house have been with us for quite a long time,” he says. Join Kelvin as he takes us inside his East Coast home, where a thoughtful mix of antiques, treasured collections and modern updates creates a warm, character-filled space.
From keeping ingredients fresh to making cleanup easier, smart appliances make summer entertaining a breeze
You know summer has truly arrived when the boundaries of the home dissolve and life seamlessly transitions between indoor and outdoor living. With sliding doors wide open, the kitchen becomes the ultimate transition zone, a bustling hub where guests drift freely, drinks are topped up, and vibrant food platters move between the countertops and the sunlit patio.
Whether it’s an impromptu weekend lunch or a lively evening gathering under the stars, summer living relies on a space that can keep up, and a kitchen that acts as the main centre of attraction.
Flexible pull-out drawers organize drinks and entertaining essentials.
Courtesy ofWhirlpoolⓇ Canada
Courtesy ofWhirlpoolⓇ Canada
As people move back and forth between the deck and the island, the Whirlpool® French Door Refrigeratorservesas the perfect hosting hub. Designed with a sleek, counter-depth profile, it integrates beautifully with your kitchen layout to maintain a continuous, uninhibited line that opens up your hosting space while the interior is purposefully built to keep patio-ready drinks chilling right alongside fresh artisan platters. Dedicated storage zones, including EasyView Drawers and Prep & Store Bins*, keep your ingredients beautifully organized and instantly accessible. The EasyReach Zone and adjustable divider make it effortless to grab taller items like crisp bottles of wine and pitchers of infused lemonade, while a dedicated Pizza Pocket keeps late-night favorites neatly stored upright.
Air Cooking Technology simplifies meal preparation, whether it’s a casual family dinner or hosting outdoors.
Courtesy of WhirlpoolⓇ Canada
The Whirlpool® Smart Electric Range with Air Cooking Technologyacts as the culinary engine that beautifully bridges indoor kitchen prep and outdoor entertaining. This advanced convection system takes the stress out of complex menus, allowing you to transition from crisping up artisanal flatbreads with No Preheat Air Fry during cocktail hour, to utilizing Air Roast for flawlessly finished mains. Because the system delivers exceptionally even, golden results, your menu looks entirely chef-prepared, giving you more time to raise a glass on the patio while the kitchen takes care of itself.
No more scrubbing: the range’s WipeClean™ Coating makes cleanup easy.
Courtesy of WhirlpoolⓇ Canada
When hosting a gorgeous backyard party, a great host never lets you see the ‘behind-the-scenes’ work. This means that cleaning up is always discreet. If a sauce spills during final prep, the WipeClean™ Coating helps clear it up with just water and a quick wipe, keeping your kitchen clean and letting you instantly get back to the conversation outside. Keep your focus exactly where it belongs: on your guests.
With AI Intelligent Wash and the Spin&Load Rack, the dishwasher makes post-entertaining cleanup more manageable.
Courtesy ofWhirlpoolⓇ Canada
By nightfall, you know the party is a success. There’s stacks of plates, serving bowls, and a sea of glassware. Leave it to the Whirlpool® Dishwasher with Spin&Load Rack and AI Intelligent Washto tackle.It features the market’s first and only 360-degree rotating lower rack, an exclusive innovation that spins entirely to allow easy access to load and unload without bending or reaching over stuck corners – to quickly clear away awkward, oversized serving platters. The intelligent sensors automatically adjust to the soil level and load size of your dinnerware, and the quiet, one-hour Quick Wash swiftly refreshes glassware while the night is still young.
Courtesy ofWhirlpoolⓇ Canada
Discover the Whirlpool® appliances that help make summer entertaining easier.
This Saskatoon ensuite and dressing room are accented by chandeliers and bespoke elements that are fit for a fashionista.
The custom-built home caters to its homeowners, who frequently entertain. “Don’t limit your bathroom to just tile, plumbing and lighting,” says designer Curtis Elmy. “Layer in wallpaper, drapes, levels of lighting and crown moulding.”
Unique solutions include racks for long formal gowns and dowels for the owner’s scarf collection. And under glass in the dressing room island are special jewelry pieces on display. The designers dissuaded the clients from installing a corner tub, instead opting for a freestanding version that makes the bathroom feel more open, especially with glass enclosing two sides of the shower. “That change alone gives the space so much,” says designer Trevor Ciona. “The depth of the glass makes it luxurious, and it serves a purpose — unlike clear glass, smoked glass disguises water spots.”
The designers:
Curtis Elmy and Trevor Ciona, Atmosphere Interior Design
Style goal:
A rich, boutique-like bathroom and dressing room with custom storage solutions to accommodate gowns and jewelry
The dark, rift-cut white oak vanity has a furniture like look; faux shagreen mirror frames are from a local art framer. An integrated bench spans the smoked glass shower enclosure, where step lights used on the wall act as night-lights.
What they did:
Designed a large dressing room with a central island to house accessories.
Used smoked glass for the steam shower enclosure.
Created a floating makeup table in front of a mirror.
Designed custom storage, including a closet for formal gowns.
Had linen-look vinyl wallpaper applied to the millwork doors.
Biggest Challenges:
Integrating the makeup table. “Counter heights are typically 36 inches, but makeup stations are generally 30 inches,” says Curtis. “We placed a floating makeup station between the vanities so it’s unique, with a mirror behind to make it more of a focal point.”
“Don’t limit your bathroom to just tile, plumbing and lighting,” – designer Curtis Elmy
An integrated bench spans the smoked glass shower enclosure, where step lights used on the wall act as night-lights.
How long did the project take?
The house took 2 years to build
Size:
237 sq.ft., plus a 160-sq.ft. dressing room
Custom elements:
Steam shower enclosure.
Dressing room island with jewelry display case, mirrors, makeup station, cabinets
An armoire-like linen closet (far left) has faux drawer fronts; the entire door swings open so the steamer can roll out.
The island has a retail-like jewelry cabinet display with inset lighting while gowns are stored behind clear glass-fronted doors (far right).
Atmosphere Interior Design’s Advice:
Freestanding tubs make a space look more airy and open; you could also opt for a tub deck to make it easier to enter and exit.
Add subtle textured vinyl with wallpaper that looks like grasscloth.
Shop framing stores for mirror frames — they have a wide variety of materials.
Subtle LED step lighting in the shower provides ambience and safety at night
Don’t be intimidated by custom millwork: it’s long-lasting and makes your house special.
“This succulent salmon is topped with a fragrant compound butter, then gently roasted until it barely flakes apart.” — Shea McGee
Ingredients
Serves 6
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsp honey
3 garlic cloves
1 small shallot
2 tbsp fresh dill, plus more for serving
1″ knob fresh ginger
3 lb. slab Atlantic salmon, boneless and skinless
1½ lbs. fresh asparagus
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 lemon, for serving
Directions
Make Salmon and Asparagus
Preheat oven to 325°F. In small bowl, add butter and honey. Finely mince garlic, shallot and dill, then grate ginger and add everything to butter. Use metal spoon to stir and mash ingredients into compound butter and set aside.
Pat salmon dry and place on 13″ x 18″ sheet pan. Nestle asparagus next to salmon — the sheet pan will be very full. Generously season salmon fillet with at least 2 tsp of salt, then use remaining salt to season asparagus. Dollop butter over salmon.
Bake salmon and asparagus for 25 to 30 minutes, or until internal temperature of salmon reaches 135°F to 140°F. Fish will flake apart effortlessly and look matte across top.
Remove salmon and asparagus from oven and spread aromatics left behind from melted butter evenly over fish. Transfer salmon and asparagus to platter. There will be a significant amount of butter left behind in the pan, which you can spoon over salmon, if you like. Thinly slice lemon, arrange slices on top of salmon, and serve.
“Supple butter lettuce, vibrant snap peas and velvety avocado are layered beneath a light buttermilk chive dressing.” — Shea McGee
Ingredients
Serves 6
Buttermilk Chive Dressing
½ cup buttermilk
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp kosher salt
½ cup minced fresh chives
Salad
1 head butter lettuce
¼ lb. snap peas
1 avocado
2 tbsp roasted sunflower seeds
Directions
Make Dressing
In jar or bowl, add buttermilk, sour cream, lemon juice, salt and chives, and whisk to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Make Salad and Assemble
Gently pull leaves off head of butter lettuce, then wash and pat dry. Arrange leaves in bowl or on platter. Halve snap peas by slicing them down centre seam, then slice avocado. Arrange peas and avocado over lettuce.
Just before serving, drizzle salad with dressing and sprinkle with sunflower seeds.
Believe it or not, there was a time when Shea McGee only knew how to make salad and cookies.
Now, with the designer’s debut cookbook and popular online cooking series — both titled Around the Table — developing recipes has become second nature. In the moments between running her design firm, Studio McGee, and lifestyle brand, McGee and Co., Shea hosts friends and family for dinner at her Salt Lake City home. Her passion for both home and food led her on this creative journey to becoming a cookbook author.
Around the Table: Tables & Traditions for Gathering by Shea McGee. Harper Horizon, 2026, $60.
In the book, Shea shares recipes that are comforting, classic and refined — much like her style. We especially love the Spring Fête chapter, a celebration of the season’s bounty of fresh herbs and produce. The menu we’re featuring here balances flavour, beauty and ease with dishes such as Melt-in-your-mouth Salmon with Asparagus, which is baked on a single sheet pan, crispy Lemony Smashed Potatoes, and delicate Butter Lettuce Salad with avocado and snap peas. Shea’s Basil Garlic Knots are a perfect complement to the meal, and her towering Four-layer Southern Coconut Cake is spectacular. “The meals I love to cook are thoughtful but unfussy, detailed yet comfortable, and inviting by nature,” says Shea.
She sets her table with natural textures, vibrant florals, pastel blues and rich grassy greens. For her, it’s about creating a visual where people feel welcome. “I believe beauty belongs in every part of our lives,” says Shea. “It should be in the homes we design, the meals we serve and the moments we create around the table.”
For this table setting, Shea started with a botanical tablecloth, then layered in woven chargers, blue napkins tied with ribbon, silver pieces, etched glassware and fresh florals.
Filled with approachable yet refined recipes, Around the Table marks an impressive first release. For your next gathering, get inspired by Shea’s impeccable taste in all things beautiful.
“Just bake two cake layers, then slice in half horizontally to create an impressive centerpiece with an optimal cake-to-frosting ratio.” — Shea McGee
Ingredients
Serves 12
Coconut Cake
6 egg whites
1½ cups granulated sugar, divided
2½ cups cake flour, fluffed, scooped and levelled
1/3 cup coconut cream pudding mix
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
2/3 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
¾ cup sour cream
1¼ cups full-fat coconut milk
1/8 tsp coconut extract
Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 eight-oz. block full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
3½ cups powdered sugar
½ tsp kosher salt
3 tbsp coconut cream pudding mix
2 tbsp full-fat coconut milk
¼ tsp coconut extract
4 cups sweetened coconut flakes, for assembly
Directions
Make Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of two 8″ cake pans with butter. Line bottom of each greased pan with round of parchment paper and set aside.
In bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, add egg whites. Whip on medium speed for 9 to 10 minutes until stiff peaks form, slowly adding ¾ cup of sugar as it whips. Transfer whipped egg whites to separate bowl.
Wash and dry bowl of stand mixer, then add flour, pudding mix, salt, baking powder, baking soda and remaining ¾ cup of sugar. Quickly whisk by hand.
Fit mixer with paddle attachment and add coconut oil to flour mixture. Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until mixture looks crumbly. Add sour cream and mix for another 30 seconds. Batter will look like wet biscuit dough.
Finally, add coconut milk and coconut extract and mix for another 1 to 2 minutes on medium speed, until batter is silky. Gently fold half of egg whites into batter, then add remaining egg whites and continue to fold until batter is smooth but still aerated. Be careful not to overmix.
Divide cake batter between prepared pans. Bake for 32 to 35 minutes, or until cake springs back when gently pressed and toothpick comes out of centre with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely, then gently remove cakes from pans. Cakes will be very moist, so handle them with care.
Whip Frosting
In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add butter and cream cheese. Whip on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes, or until mixture is fully combined and lighter in colour.
Add powdered sugar, salt and pudding mix. Starting on low speed and increasing to medium speed, whip frosting for 3 to 4 minutes, until pale and aerated. Add coconut milk and coconut extract, then whip for another to 2 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use, leaving frosting at room temperature for about 60 minutes before using.
Assemble Cake
Slice each 8″ cake round in half horizontally to create two layers. Apply small dollop of frosting to centre of cake stand and place first cake round. Top cake layer with scant ½ cup of frosting and ½ cup of coconut flakes. Stack next cake layer on top of frosting, and continue frosting and adding coconut flakes until all four layers are complete. Cake is extremely moist, so be gentle with layers to avoid any breaks.
Frost outside of cake using remaining frosting, then press remaining coconut flakes around cake. Slice and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers in airtight container or covered with plastic wrap. Bring to room temperature before serving.
“Crispy yet fluffy, this is the ultimate combination of a fried potato and a mashed potato.” — Shea McGee
Ingredients
Serves 8
3 lbs. baby Yukon Gold potatoes
1/3 cup kosher salt, plus more for serving
1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 lemon
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup assorted fresh herbs such as dill, chives, mint, basil or cilantro
Directions
Make Potatoes
Place 13″ x 18″ sheet pan in oven and preheat to 400°F. Bring large pot of water to a boil, then add potatoes and salt. Boil for 20 to 25 minutes, until potatoes are very tender and give no resistance when pierced with fork. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
In small bowl, add Parmigiano- Reggiano. Zest lemon into bowl and mix to combine. Using bottom of glass or measuring cup, gently smash each potato on cutting board.
Remove preheated pan from oven and drizzle it with half of oil. Set potatoes on pan and coat them with remaining oil.
Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano and lemon zest all over tops of potatoes and transfer to oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until edges and bottoms of potatoes are golden.
Arrange potatoes on platter. Roughly chop assorted herbs, then sprinkle them over potatoes. Season with salt, to taste, and serve.
Set on a 100-acre property in Caledon, this modern farmhouse pairs traditional architecture with modern minimalist interior design. Indiana limestone, board-and-batten siding and barrel-vaulted ceilings inspired by old churches give the home a timeless feel. “The brief I got from the homeowners was that they wanted a house that felt like it had always been there, with materials that patinated,” says designer Nathalie Thorel of Interior Affairs. The backyard is made for entertaining, with a pool, outdoor kitchen and plenty of space for dining, lounging and taking in the views.
Designer Denise Roy has a knack for making big decisions look easy.
Since 2021, she’s left a career in PR to launch Denise Roy Design, renovated her family’s vacation property in The Blue Mountains, Ont., and reworked the Victorian she shares with her husband, real-estate agent Rahim Jaffer, their daughter Juliette and her sister, Céline, who arrived earlier this year.
The three-bedroom, 1,755-square-foot house on Toronto’s west side was already in good shape when they bought it. “Everything was functioning just fine,” says Denise. The changes were less about fixing problems and more a matter of making the house feel personal and right for their family.
They began with a two-month-long reno that included the main bathroom, second-level flooring, kitchen and behind-the-wall upgrades, with trade work done by Terranova Developments. “It made sense to tackle some of the trade-heavy work early on, before we were actually living in the space, while we had the momentum and tolerance for disruption,” says Denise.
Chunky naps in the living room surrounded by relaxed seating and a thoughtfully curated gallery wall. A TV is installed amongst the art.
Denise’s decision to move from PR into design full time didn’t happen with a bang. “It was a quiet realization that kept getting louder,” she says. “I was trying to picture myself returning to my work in PR, and I just didn’t feel aligned anymore.” By contrast, long days knee-deep in renovations, whether for her own home or her clients’, leave her feeling nothing but energized.
In the kitchen, inky black cabinets and a white backsplash create contrast and drama while brass accents and hardwood floors add warmth.
Denise and Chunky heading in from the garden. The breakfast nook and kitchen are flooded with natural light.
In the kitchen, she recouped some costs by keeping the existing cabinets and painting them black. She also swapped the original black counters for white quartz. “Technically, the palette remained the same, but we inverted it,” says Denise. “By doing that, the entire mood shifted.” She also updated the flooring: natural white oak engineered hardwood was laid over the original circa-1890 boards that had become too worn to keep.
Enveloped in woodsy wallpaper, the breakfast nook feels vibrant yet serene. A red poster depicting the work of Alexander Calder adds a pop of colour while neutral benches, chairs and an understated rug ground the space.
Denise’s design style is layered and deeply personal. In her own home, she’s taken the traditional Victorian elements and mixed them with mid-century and collector pieces, creating a calm environment with surprising twists. Unexpected moments appear in the breakfast nook with Sandberg Wallpaper’s Pine pattern and CW Stockwell’s Martinique in the powder room.
Abstract contemporary wall art fits seamlessly alongside a more traditional painting that came from an estate sale.
At the heart of the home is the dining room, where a vintage stone table is paired with six comfortable vintage chairs that Denise found on Facebook Marketplace. “I wanted it to be a table that you can spend a long time around. It’s a point of pride for me that we can host a dinner party and people linger at the table for hours,” she says with a smile.
The powder room is wrapped in vibrant leafy wallpaper and showcases a hand-drawn portrait of Chunky above the toilet.
On the upstairs landing, a linen cabinet set beneath a deep blue ceiling displays a vintage bust.
Smaller spaces are the perfect place to take risks: on the second-floor stair landing, a vintage bust sits next to a playful contemporary table lamp and, in the front entry, an asymmetrical mirror complements a Kashan runner. Here, old and new work in tandem, creating expressive spaces throughout.
The play loft embraces colour and imagination with cheerful bunting, a fun circular rug, and a miniature dining set and kitchen.
The nursery is painted pale blue. A velvet-upholstered glider sits atop a soft Moroccan rug, making the space calm and cosy.
The house also reflects the realities of family life. In the loft playroom, neutral anchor pieces combine with accessories and toys in brighter colours. “Children’s spaces don’t need to be loud to be joyful,” says Denise. A checkered Moroccan stair runner, installed with help from a neighbour when the designer was eight months pregnant, has become one of her favourite features. “The runner makes me smile, even when I’m schlepping the umpteenth load of laundry up the stairs,” she says.
The peaceful guest bedroom features earthy pink walls and a striking vintage portrait. Denise made the upholstered headboard herself. The door leads to the playroom upstairs.
The main bathroom’s floating walnut vanity grounds playful terrazzo on the walls and floor, an effective balance of classic materials and dynamic patterns.
The bathroom was the first room they renovated, for practical and emotional reasons. “It’s a space we use constantly and, for me, it’s a sanctuary,” she says. The room was gutted, with only the tub remaining, and new terrazzo slabs on both the walls and floor became the defining feature, creating a graphic, immersive effect. The bathroom also delivered the biggest budget shock. Mid-renovation, Denise discovered that she needed an additional slab of terrazzo. “A little miscalculation turned into a big surprise,” she says.
Designer Denise Roy and her husband, Rahim Jaffer, with daughter Juliette and Chunky, the family dog.