An 1880s Georgian Farmhouse With a Biker Past Gets a Wildly Pretty New Life

Tucked into the countryside of Milton, Ontario, a farming community just west of Toronto, this 1880s Georgian farmhouse has lived many lives. Most recently, it has been transformed into a bold, highly personal space by Sam Sacks, reclaiming its original elegance while embracing the eccentricities of its current owner. Once home to a local Hell’s Angels chapter, the house had fallen into disrepair, with battered floors and missing mouldings. But over two decades, the client poured her heart into its revival, preserving the historic bones while leaving plenty of room for imagination.

When Sam was brought in to reimagine the living room and hallway, she took cues from her client’s adventurous spirit—blending English whimsy, African textiles, Canadiana touches, and rich, layered textures to create something that feels less like a traditional farmhouse and more like a daydream rooted in place. Picture vintage mohair chairs, Tuareg rugs, and wallpapered walls that feel like the pages of a fable, all nestled into a home that’s anything but ordinary.

Design: Sam Sacks | Photography: Lauren Miller

An Artful Entryway That Sets the Tone

Before you even step into the living room, the hallway makes it clear: this is not your average farmhouse. Covered in Andrew Martin’s fairytale-esque wallpaper and filled with collected objects, the entryway balances restraint with personality. A coiled snake rug slinks across the floor in greeting—a playful, slightly irreverent moment that signals you’re entering a home that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Overhead, a crystal chandelier adds just the right amount of formality, while a sculptural hippo adds a dose of personality right by the door.

A Living Room Rooted in Story and Style

The living room brings together the client’s love of the whimsical, the worldly, and the well-worn. “She’s a kindred spirit with a passion for old stuff and all things wild and weird,” Sam shares. Drawing from English interiors, African influences, and a dash of Canadiana, Sam created a space that feels collected. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White, creating a soft, tonal backdrop for custom sofas in Lee Jofa’s Jarah Cream and a striped entry table wrapped in Brunschwig & Fils’ Tavistock fabric.

Textiles Steal the Show

In a room full of layered moments, it’s the textures that really draw you in. Vintage chairs covered in blush mohair from Yarn Collective add a soft hit of color and comfort. Embroidered linen curtains from Mark Alexander shift gently with the light, bringing movement and subtle detail. There’s an undeniable warmth to the room—not just in tone, but in feeling—thanks to the fabrics selected, each one adding to the sense of ease and quiet beauty.

Collected Corners and Garden Views

Even from the outside, the home feels like something out of a storybook: a brick facade, a red door, and a darling garden path. But it’s what happens once you’re inside that lingers. Every corner has been considered, whether it’s a glimpse into the garden or a small, styled surface topped with something old and meaningful. There’s a softness to how it all comes together.

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