James and Susan Austin built Spadina as their Toronto family mansion in 1866 on the foundations of the former Baldwin estate of 1818. Upon the death of James in 1897, Spadina became the home of Albert and Mary Austin and their five children. The new inhabitants redecorated and remodelled Spadina to suit their tastes, with Mary in particular expending considerable energy in the project. Guided by her personal aesthetic, the family purchased the majority of its decorative arts and furnishings from dealers in Toronto. Despite their wealth, the Austins' Oriental rug purchases were not extravagant. Rather, they acquired pieces that were typical for middle-class households across the city. Hence, their collection of carpets speaks to the larger decorative experience of Torontonians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Albert Austin, c.1900. (City of Toronto Collection.)	Mary Austin, c.1900. (City of Toronto Collection.)

Spadina, 1907-08.
(City of Toronto Collection.)

Explore Romance Underfoot :

• Oriental Rugs in Toronto, 1880-1940
• The Austins at Spadina
• Decorating Trends, 1880s-90s
• Turn-of-the-Century Refinement
• Competitors in the Carpet Trade
• Modern vs Traditional Carpeting
• Final Thoughts
• Visit Spadina

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