Designer Ali Budd Brings Bespoke Comfort to a Midtown Home
The House of Ali-featured home channels the designer’s ethos of “beautifully functional and functionally beautiful” design
While Ali Budd has designed numerous luxury residential projects around the globe, her Toronto studio might be the perfect jumping off point when considering her powerhouse portfolio. The boutique design firm, set in the city’s Castlefrank District, is a juggernaut of a space—an office that eschews polite neutrals in favour of leopard-print wallpaper, veined marble walls and a custom-made striped desk. It’s clear that Ali excels at elevating the prosaic with personality. “My team and I have a guiding philosophy to make things beautifully functional and functionally beautiful,” she says. It’s an ethos that extends to her new show, House of Ali—which streams exclusively on HGTV in Canada—as well as her latest project.
In the entryway, a pair of sleek twin stools and a custom console table creates a polished, curated moment. Mirror, RH.
The 5,800-square-foot abode, home to a couple with two teenage daughters, presented a blank canvas that Ali was eager to transform. “When I first saw the house, it had great potential but lacked personality,” she says. “My vision was to create a home that was both luxurious and inviting. The family wanted distinct spaces for each member to enjoy, while also having areas that would foster togetherness. Glamour was key, but it needed to be balanced with functionality and comfort.”
Mixed materials (including a hammered brass vent hood and Calacatta Viola stone) offer a contrasting look without clashing. Bar stools, Simon James; pendant, 1st Dibs.
A kitchen table topped in Calacatta Viola stone matches the kitchen island.
Gucci wallpaper makes a marvellous statement in the main-floor powder room. Mirror, Made Goods; sconce, Kelly Wrestler.
Dining table chairs, RH; light fixture, Gabriel Scott.
Arches distinguish a pathway between the kitchen and dining room.
Ali galvanized her glam vision with a carefully selected mix of colours, textures and materials. Bold design features vivify the space, yet are nicely tempered by practical elements. This is a home where traditional herringbone floors mix with riotous floral fabrics and wallpaper; where a hot-pink-carpeted home theatre co-mingles with a serenely neutral TV room; where a dramatic custom-made four-poster bed gets softened by curvy furnishings. While sophisticated, it’s also supremely functional. The dining room table and chairs, for instance, have a sculptural presence and feel like works of art, yet are comfy, welcoming and practical for family dinners.
On-trend sentiments in the House of Ali home include curvy mirror frames and reeded fabrications.
The kitchen may be the home’s masterclass in dovetailing timeless with modern. Ali says, “It’s a striking combination of metallic gold, dramatically veined countertops and warm wood tones. This mix is bold, yet harmonious, making it both a visual focal point and a highly functional area for the family.” Suiting the family’s needs was a driving force in this project and it netted an unexpected addition that Ali says is her favourite aspect of the house: the glam room. “It was inspired by the wife’s former nail business and is a spot where she and her daughters can get ready, paint their nails and spend time together. It’s a beautiful blend of personal history and stylish design.”
A bespoke upholstered wall and bed makes a statement in the principal bedroom. Sconces, Natali Page; nightstands, RH; bench, Crate & Barrel; area rug, Mellah.
The principal ensuite design aims for a calm and collected style.
Reeded wood wall panels add a dash of warmth to the bathroom.
A glam room in the House of Ali-featured home does not surrender to minimalism. Mirror lighting, Hudson Valley Lighting; stools, Interlude Home; sofa, Eicholtz.
Ali Budd’s design, while never reliant on trends, is constantly evolving but if there is one signature to everything she does, it’s embodying each space with the essence of those who live in it. “Every corner of this home reflects the family’s unique personalities and provides spaces they can all enjoy together or individually.” It’s lavish and livable and, most importantly, a home that could only belong to the people who live there.