A FRESH TAKE ON TRADITION AT THE DONALDA CLUB
Two years ago, Griffin Houghton was invited by the Donalda Club to refresh their outdoor patios. With Steph Houghton having been a past member, we really understood the whole ethos of the club and what was important to members.
Happily, the patio project was a great success. It was so well received that they invited us back to tackle their three main restaurants. We were thrilled!
The goal was to breathe new life into the rooms without stripping away what members loved about them. The lower level was quite dated and the whole canvas needed improvement. Donalda is not a modern club, so we wanted to create a ‘fresh take on tradition’ that would feel sympathetic and in keeping with its history.
The Willow Room (shown above) is their adult dining room and it’s always been the restaurant that gets the most amount of natural light and views of the beautiful gardens. In this room, we wanted to create an elevated dining experience that would be special without feeling overly fussy or formal.
We dressed the walls and columns with panelling, and then painted everything in a warm cream. We replaced all the lighting, added a splash of pretty wallpaper on the ceiling, and decided that the room needed a fireplace to add another point of interest and warmth. We replaced the broadloom as well with something that was lighter in palette and in a timeless and classic check pattern.
With a fresh canvas in place, all the décor was updated with beautiful table linens and new dining chairs. We wanted the Willow Room to feel serene and light, with soft colours and a mix of pattern on the tables and backs of the chairs.
The Sun Room is the Donalda Club's kid-friendly dining option (pictured below). Previously, members with children weren’t that excited about dining in this room, but we felt that it had the potential to have its own brand of allure that could make it just as appealing as the Willow Room (and maybe even a little more fun!).
We created cozy, family-friendly banquettes along one main wall and replaced the broadloom with hardwood flooring for practical reasons (and because it looks great). Then we treated the walls with panelling and drenched them in one of our favourite greens by Farrow & Ball called French Gray. Each of the banquettes got their very own Picasso too!
The ceiling also received wallpaper to bring another layer of pattern into the room. We installed new lighting everywhere, and updated all the tables with custom linens – this time in a fun Indian hand-blocked cotton print by Imli called the Coconut print (proof that Imli prints fit just about anywhere).
At one end of the room, we designed a hostess station to create a sense of arrival. Behind the hostess station, we designed a wine and cutlery storage hutch that we drenched in the same green colour.
Each of the restaurants have their own style and appeal, but they all connect together in palette through the use of various greens given the natural surroundings.
The Sports Lounge (pictured above) is the club’s pub where members go to socialise after golf, tennis or curling, watch sports or enjoy a good read of the newspaper. One side of the room didn’t have much appeal, so we created an inviting sitting area and it’s now become a favourite spot.
As a naturally dark room, we decided to layer in more lighting everywhere. While the room's walls had been partially treated, they needed to be taken to the finish line. We added in more panelling and painted everything in a rich earthy green by Benjamin Moore called Forest Floor.
Walnut tables paired with jaunty plaid chairs were added for casual dining, and a large bar was updated with a hefty (and gorgeous) leathered granite top. If the Sports Lounge was a season, we think it would be Fall.
We couldn't be happier with how it all came to life and thankfully, the members are too. Starting January 2025, we've been invited back to sink our design chops into the coveted historic main level of the club - a dream assignment!
Design by Stephanie Houghton
Photography by Britney Townsend
Styling by Stacey Smithers
Contact us for all your design needs at studio@griffinhoughton.com
We would love to help.
