3 min readWildflowers. Fresh air. Open spaces. Who doesn't dream of living off the land in a bucolic paradise? “My clients made that fantasy a reality,” Toronto-area interior designer Ashley Montgomery says. The young couple relocated from the city to what she calls a “country lot with tons of acreage” in Stouffville, Ontario, an hour north of Toronto. “They wanted to live farm-to-table, and for their house to reflect that lifestyle,” Montgomery explains.
The duo enlisted her help in reworking their 4,000-square-foot, circa 2015 home to blend form and function. It had to be beautiful, yes—one of the homeowners formerly worked in fashion and loves color, pattern, and textiles. But it also had to stand up against the day-to-day realities of country living. Think muddy boots, garden tools, and dogs and cats. “Nothing could be too fussy or precious,” Montgomery says of the modern three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath farmstead. To create a practical home that would feel “crisp, clean, light, and bright,” the designer started with a base of warm white paint, layering in blues, greens, and yellows. In the kitchen, she installed white oak open shelves against a backdrop of hand-painted terra-cotta tile. The aesthetic skews more refined than rustic, with thoughtful details including reclaimed wood on the kitchen hood, pantry doors Montgomery salvaged, and durable porcelain countertops with subtle blue and beige veining.
The owners' personalities dictated the design—the oversize kitchen island is complete with integrated dog dishes for their furry friends, and there's a massive and surprisingly elegant mudroom with caned-front cabinetry to store farm clothes, boots, hats, and gloves. The cane doesn't just look great, Montgomery explains. “It provides airflow.” This high-traffic area feels inviting and full of character, thanks to herringbone wallpaper, brick floors, and a vintage chest—sourced from Facebook Marketplace for $150—which breaks up the custom millwork. Here, and throughout, Montgomery wanted the design to read “nice, soft, and quiet,” she says. “But we still dressed it up a little, of course.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Ashley Montgomery
Location: Ontario, Canada
The Space: A three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home across 4,000 square feet.
LIVING ROOM
Floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of pastoral views.
Given the private locale, no curtains were needed in the living room, so Montgomery left the windows bare to make the most of the surrounding landscape.
KITCHEN
Classic materials combine to create a timeless, airy cookspace.
“I love how bright and happy this room is,” Montgomery says.
Vintage accessories stand out against hand-painted terra-cotta tile by Tabarka Studio.
Extra tiles found a home on the backsplash.
COFFEE BAR
A wine fridge helps this nook transition to evening entertaining.
A beverage station holds an espresso machine and a drinks fridge.
POWDER ROOM
Wallpaper from McGee & Co. conveys a charming country aesthetic.
The designer loves this pedestal sink by Kohler, which she paired with timeless striped wallpaper and a creamy paint hue.
MUDROOM
A vintage chest nestles perfectly between custom cabinetry.
"This is a whole moment," Montgomery says of the mudroom’s built-in storage, which provides plenty of storage for the family, as well as a comfy bench for pulling on shoes.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Dark countertops add a touch of contrast and drama.
“There's no reason these rooms can't be pretty,” Montgomery says. To bring a softer touch to the space, she paired practical additions with charming add-ons, like a shelf for displaying art.
About the Designer
With over 15 years of multidisciplinary experience in design and interiors, Ashley Montgomery is known for a distinctive and instantly recognizable style. Earthy, collected, and timeworn, her work is shaped by a rural upbringing and a lifelong connection to nature, craftsmanship, and the feeling of home. Blending old-world character with modern livability, Ashley designs spaces rich in texture and layered with meaning. The result is homes that feel grounded, personal, and meant to be lived in.
