An antiques-filled landmark near Toronto transports enchanted visitors to a faraway destination: the English countryside. Built in the 1850s by John Maus, Maus Park House utilizes stones from local Canadian quarries. The dwelling is a splendid example of Scottish Baronial architecture.



Porch

Even now that the job is complete, designer Susan Burns still gets a thrill talking about Maus Park House. The 1850 Georgian-style structure is owned by connoisseur Douglas Stocks, president of the Canadian Antique Dealers Association. It not only has great bones, it has great stones, and revealing their beauty meant painstakingly removing layers of lathe and plaster.



Solarium

In the solarium, the shutters and door frame were painted a gentle green to complement the stones' neutral palette, while dining chairs are slip-covered in raspberry toile.



Sideboard

"In winter the house stays warm," Susan explains, "and in summer it's always cool, because those walls are a foot thick." The effect is indeed breathtaking: reminiscent of an Old World chateau, and a perfect backdrop for the high-end antique furniture that Stocks purveys.



Keeping Room

The Paris, Ontario, house may be filled with museum-quality furnishings, but it's hardly intimidating. In fact, every room exemplifies an inviting aura of lived-in comfort, marrying historic charm with modern conveniences.



Dining Room

And if something catches your fancy-whether a brass chandelier or a canopy bed-chances are it, or something like it, is available at Maus Park Antiques, the shop that Stocks owns, situated in a nearby barn.



Kitchen Island

Hanging from the original tin ceiling, a Pottery Barn rack holds kitchen essentials: garlic bulbs, antique copper vessels, and cookware by All-Clad. Kitchen stools are slip-covered in white cotton duck. The work island's sides match the shaker-style wainscoting original to the house.



Kitchen Chalkboard

For jotting reminders, Susan repurposed a vintage frame with maisonette board, coating it with chalkboard paint from Home Depot.



Cabinets

Flanking the La Cornue stove are custom cabinets topped with honed marble. The Viking range hood and the custom backsplash are both stainless steel.



Guest Bedroom

In the guest bedroom, the window frame echoes the canopy slats of a period bedstead, while antique linens combine beautifully with a quilt and throw from Restoration Hardware.



Bathroom Fireplace

Formerly a bathroom with its own fireplace, the master bathroom is now a haven of light and warmth. An Italian demilune table and a French-style armchair add glamour. The atmosphere is scented by rosemary topiaries.




Text: Lily Harvey