Original brick coach-style house with new cedar-clad addition

New private balcony aligned with alleyway below

Addition shown glowing at dusk 

Balcony designed to strategically allow for open views across the city while maintaining privacy 

In warmer months, the full-glazed sliding door allows the room to extend to the exterior

Created to echo the experience of a boutique hotel suite, opening the bathtub to the rest of the room allows for an intimate sharing of the space

Heated stone floors elegantly define the wet area while maintaining the openness of the space 

Custom-designed mahogany millwork integrating bathtub and sink into a single element 

Flipper boxes for shoe storage are one of many ways storage spaces was maximized and cleverly concealed 

Wall-mounted tv swivels to allow for viewing from bed, bath and balcony

Millwork units double as a room wall, and frame view to the exterior

Interior and exterior elements throughout the house reflect a consistent approach to proportion and detailing of materials

The new sleek materials were carefully composed to juxtapose the warm brick wall and exposed wood ceiling joists, creating a harmonious balance of old and new

Feature steel and glass stair provide a focal point in the space

Rich, wood elements balancing cool, sleek, reflective surfaces

A unique, carefully crafted intersection of spaces and materials

The client's desire for a kitchen that 'felt like a machine' informed the selection of robust, commercial-grade finishes, hardware and fixtures. 

The composition of materials, dropped ceiling, and millwork storage element work to distinguish the entrance to the home

Storage closets were designed around three vintage metal lockers, one for each child in the family. Inset metal floor grate captures dirt and mud at entrance

Switch cover inset into entrance millwork 

The projection of the dropped ceiling expands the entryway, while the millwork acts as a warm wood backdrop for the living space

Open-tread stair allows for maximum light and visibility through the space 

In the open studio area, a vibrant blueprint-blue chalkboard 'idea wall' - a nod to the client's industrial design background - acts as a surface for playful messages, drawings, and homework

Trough sink allows all three children to brush their teeth at once. Inset open wood shelves are custom designed to hold bathroom accessories

Carefully composed shelving placement

Steam shower fits full family of five

Oversized porcelain floor tiles with board-pressed concrete texture was chosen to compliment the industrial material palette, while maintaining a spa-like sophistication 

A bright, generous bathroom for a family of five to share comfortably 

Whimsical elements integrated into the functional design, add subtle splashes of colour into the space

Off-the-shelf glass containers are inset into wood shelves to allow for the orderly storage of bathroom supplies

Stainless steel toothbrush holders for each of the three children are inset into the wood shelves

The view from the front door is carefully composed, drawing visitors inwards and welcoming you home.

The entry foyer is reminiscent of a traditional japanese genkan, the zone where one’s shoes are removed, one step lower than the main house. Shoes can be stored discreetly under the floating millwork.

Part height millwork floats in the space to define an entry-way, provide storage, and frame views into the rooms beyond. The millwork, along with a changes in flooring material, and in elevation, mark the foyer as distinct from the rest of the house.

An old wood box sits upon a metal plinth, framed between delicate wood and metal screens. A bittersweet treasure from Mark’s ancestors’ time in the internment camps of B.C. through the second world war, the box sits in a sacred place at the heart of the home.

The living room is flooded with natural light. Carefully curated floating shelves display a collection of objects within two niches carved from the wall.

Within a relatively compact living room, a variety of activities are accommodated by a uniquely curved upholstered seat that lines three walls - its depth varies to allow for: conversations, music listening, lounging, reading, napping, etc.

The living room at the front of the house is divided from the kitchen and dining rooms at the back by a central zone defined by a charcoal grey mass containing the stairs and the family’s special wood box.

The powder room is tucked beside the stairs, and lit with hidden cove lights, meant to give a warm, soft glow. The floor tile that folds up the wall, washed with a warm glow it becomes an architectural night-light as you head up to bed.

Instead of a mirror in front of the sink that displays one’s own image, an intricate mosaic tile takes the spotlight and the mirror is angled to the right, allowing a quick peek to check one’s hair or makeup.

The dining room is sunken one step to create a sense of comforting enclosure, bounded by a modern interpretation of a traditional shoji screen. A change in wood flooring pattern marks the room as distinct, the herringbone texture reminiscent of customary woven tatami mats.

A custom bar unit straddles the change in elevation to display liquor and barware and provide storage for table settings & dinnerware.

Throughout the home, there is an elegance and refinement in the details that reflects a Japanese sensbility - valuing things of quality and eliminating everything else.

The wood and steel screens glow in the evening; when illuminated from one side the steel spacer rods cast a random spattering of soft shadows across the white oak slats.

The kitchen palette is restrained; white cabinets and white oak flooring allows two green accents to be the features that grab one’s attention. At the end, a black sliding door frames views of the verdant yard beyond, and to the left, a vibrant green feature backsplash tile stretches to the ceiling. Opposite, a wall of cabinets houses an appliance garage and plenty of pantry storage.

The kitchen is laid out to be comfortable for two people to cook simultaneously. A wide gas range is integrated in the island with a discreet downdraft hood.

Throughout the home, materials are sensually combined and lighting is thoughtfully considered.

A custom mural spirals up and down beside the stairs, acting as a reference point on all floors. It is an always-present visual linkage back to the heart of the home. The sacred box is an anchoring beacon which reminds us where we came from.

In the late afternoon, a shadow of the family’s crest, a custom pattern in the translucent film on the front door, is cast on the tall white oak millwork in the foyer.

Upstairs, the master ensuite is a serene oasis, a retreat to a light-filled escape from the everyday routine.

A new back deck is tucked under the overhang of a second story sunroom above, and black slats infill the gap to an adjacent brick wall, creating a cozy spot to relax outside, BBQ, and watch the kids playing in the yard.

The deck becomes a natural extension of the living space when the large sliding door is open.

The rear sunroom is re-clad in black siding match with the new windows.

The front porch is rebuilt and tied into wood planters that screen the garbage / relying bins from view.

The design and materiality of the second floor is decidedly more casual, more eclectic and incorporates colour & texture referencing vintage, mid-century design.

The girls bath upstairs features a fun geometric tile that folds from the floor up one wall in the shower. A long double vanity provides plenty of storage space for toiletries, makeup and bath supplies.

The tile makes a fun, bold statement in the bathroom - a niche is perfectly aligned to the grout lines with shelves for shampoos and soaps.

The basement rec room is a casual, multi-purpose space with a large sectional, TV, and drum kit.

The limestone-clad addition opens onto a generous rear deck where the family eat outdoors every day during the summer months. Above, the wood-clad master bedroom enjoys views overlooking the yard and onto the mature surrounding trees.

The front of the house upholds the neighbourhood’s traditional Edwardian character but with a few modern touches and a refined palette of cedar shakes and a crisply re-constructed bay window.

The front foyer offers generous amounts of closet space and open shelves that allow visitors a sneak peak into the living space beyond.

An inset bench by the front door provides space for shoe storage.

The front foyer leads to a compact power room behind a pocket door; conveniently close to the front door, but tucked away from the main living space. Hooks along the wall allow easy storage of in-season outerwear, and a spot for kid’s backpacks when they arrive home from school.

A compact, efficient powder room features a linear textured tile from floor to ceiling and wall hung plumbing fixtures.

The main living room at the front of the house is bright and airy, centred around a wood-burning fireplace and a floating TV/media unit above.

Angled white oak treads flow up the stairs to the second floor, against a three-storey tall wall of thin porcelain tile; a subtle move that ties the house together from top to bottom.

The tiled stair wall provides a durable finish for frequent traffic up and down, and subtly reflects light at certain angles depending on the time of day.

A breakfast nook is tucked near the rear door - a spot for quick snacks after school and where kids can do crafts or homework within sight of the kitchen.

The breakfast nook features a custom white oak table angled to maximize useable table space without impeding on the path of traffic to the backyard. The benches, upholstered in durable vinyl fabric, flip open to provide additional storage space.

A blue accent wall contrasts against the otherwise muted palette of whites and light woods inset shelving provides a spot for storing cookbooks.

The kitchen overlooks the rear yard and features sliding windows that allow it to open directly onto the deck and yard. The exterior limestone cladding wraps inside the kitchen as a feature tile and backsplash.

Upstairs, a den serves many functions: as an office/workspace, play area for the kids, and laundry area.

Linen closets along the hallway form a ‘portal’ into the main bathroom.

The main bathroom features variations on the material theme of white & wood; a textured floor tile wraps up the wall in shower.

A tiled wall containing inset shelves and a medicine cabinet slides seamlessly into the shower and then curves back to form a discrete bench in the shower.

Niche shelves provide plenty of space for storing shampoos and other shower products.

The master bedroom, looks out over dense foliage in the backyard.

A composition of closets, drawers and bookshelves sits opposite the bed.

In the kids bedroom at the front of the house, a playful light fixture hangs in the bay window; the colours and shapes chosen by the girls during the design process.

The driveway along the south side of the house is shared with the neighbour, but allows generous amounts of south-facing glazing.

The deck provides a spot for outdoor dining; fences are carefully considered to provide the desired degree of privacy at the dining table, without completely blocking views between neighbouring yards.

A custom granite table and metal base was designed to complement the exterior cladding materials.

On top of the addition, a roof deck overlooks the tree-tops.

A strip of green roof sets back the roof deck from the edge of the house.

The home's main feature is a composition white and steel-wrapped cabinets that continues from the kitchen and soars up to the second-floor mezzanine as a bold gesture linking the two spaces.

A spacious kitchen is large enough for two to cook at once and features a double wall oven and wide gas cooktop. The geometric backsplash tile organically dissipates along the side wall.

The dining table occupies an especially lofty location with over 20 foot ceilings and generous amounts of daylight flooding in from the windows above.

The millwork wall is composed of an interlocking combination of white and cold-rolled steel custom wrapped doors; where they pull apart, the backsplash tile is revealed, thoughtfully illuminated by under-cabinet LED lighting.

In the kitchen, the geometric backsplash tile mediates a dialogue between the stark white cabinetry with integrated linear pulls, and the textured industrial patterns that mark the steel upper-cabinet doors.

This project seeks balance through a play of contrasts between old and new; open and closed; starkness and coziness.

The kitchen and dining room occupy bright lofty spaces while the bedroom is tucked  under the warmly lit mezzanine floor.

When the bedroom bifold doors and the powder room pocket door are closed, they all align perfectly to close off the private zones of the house from the common spaces of the ground floor.

Tucked away, an efficient powder room acts as a guest bathroom and shower, but disappears completely when not in use.

A new stair is divided from the entryway by a wood privacy screen and winds upstairs to the mezzanine, and then further up onto the roof terrace above. The original brick wall is left exposed along this wall and was stained to a soft, muted grey colour. Storage for bikes and luggage is cleverly tucked below the staircase.

Below the mezzanine, the master bedroom is a cozy, warm retreat that stands in contrast to the lightness and whiteness of the rest of the home. Steel beams and the wood decking are exposed on the ceiling above to maximize the available height, and the bed is tucked into a wall of millwork that includes plenty of clothes storage, and niche shelves on either side of the bed.

Exposed steel beams are celebrated as remnants from the building's previous life. LED strip lights accentuate the rich texture of the steel and bounce light off the exposed wood decking above, casting a warm glow throughout the bedroom.

The ensuite bathroom is tucked away and features a spa-like built-in tub and shower. A beautiful black limestone with subtle coppery veining is a luxurious backdrop to the room.

A small shower niche is carved out of the side wall to provide a ledge for soaps and shampoos. 

Upstairs, the mezzanine space serves as a relaxed living space for lounging, entertaining, and TV-watching. North-facing windows and a large skylight provide generous amounts of light, which filters down to the floor below.

In winter months, the wood-burning fireplace serves as the focal point for the room. Steel-lined shelves in the adjacent millwork are a durable and convenient place for firewood storage.

In summer months, the roof terrace, and mezzanine work in tandem as an indoor-outdoor space for entertaining and lounging, with a view of the sky.

Mounted on an adjustable arm, the TV shifts upward for movie-watching to an ergonomic height for ideal viewing, while remaining discreetly tucked away when not in use.

The front facade is completely reimagined to give the home a fresh presence on the street. The front door is cleverly relocated from a nondescript opening on the right to be celebrated within a larger arched opening on the left. An old porch is replaced with a modern canopy, slatted wall for privacy and a custom planter built in weathering steel.

The relocated front door retains a portion of original stained glass in the transom above, and opens to a sunken, tiled entry foyer complete with a bench and plenty of closet storage space.

The foyer’s floor tile flows inside and up the back wall of the powder room, inside of a volume clad in raw cold-rolled steel. The combination of a delicate, handmade, geometric cement tile with the dark grey, machine-made raw steel is a deliberate juxtaposition that is echoed throughout the home where a clean modern interior is offset against rough, raw materials.

Stepping up from the entryway, the ground floor opens onto a cozy built-in banquette with a wood ceiling that wraps down one wall, defining a warm space for gathering and enjoying meals together.

The bold texture of the powder room volume wrapped in steel provides a dynamic backdrop for the dining banquette; reflections in the metal wall highlight its rich and varied, natural texture.

Opposite the banquette, the wood ceiling folds down crisply along a bank of full high cabinetry providing storage space for jackets, outerwear, and overflow kitchen storage.

The wood ceiling wrap is a bold gesture that brings warmth and richness to a clean, modern interior.

In contrast, a clean white kitchen is located in the heart of the home. The house takes full advantage of a unusually wide side yard by punching large windows in the side wall, which is typically not allowed on most Toronto lots where homes are closer together. The bright, white kitchen injects light deep into the middle of the house, instead of relying only on the front and rear walls as the preliminary sources of daylight.

A subtle, geometric tile backsplash brings a lightness and delicacy to the kitchen. The crystalline shapes glimmer and reflect light streaming in from the generous windows.

New window openings are carefully located and aligned with the countertop and bulkhead above to make the window frames disappear as much as possible and create an illusion of standing outdoors when one stands at the countertop.

A custom lasercut screen features a pattern inspired by the kitchen backsplash tile and changes in opacity to provide views through in some areas, and conceal the staircase beyond in other zones.

The living room at the back of the house is defined by a second wood ceiling wrap, effectively bookending the ground floor of the home.

From the stairwell side, the cutout pattern of the screen wall is highlighted by light passing through, casting soft shadows on the opposite wall.

Through the upstairs corridor, a selection of the original ceiling joists are retained and exposed. The ceiling above vaults to a peak and is punctured by three sun tunnels that flood the corridor with natural light. Pendants are precisely dangled between the exposed joists.

A custom made barn door that repurposes scraps of reclaimed wood makes a bold statement on the 2nd floor, enclosing a small den space off the corridor that serves multiple purposes - a yoga space, a reading nook or a child’s play space.

Exposed joists continue through the master bedroom, but at a denser spacing which creates a sense of coziness and enclosure, within a grand bedroom with vaulted 12’ ceilings.

A clean palette for bathroom is enriched by a bold patterned floor tile. Since the bathroom is shared by the family it includes a separate toilet room and double vanity to enable it to be used by more than one person at a time.

A shower niche aligned with the vanity top is a perfect place for storing soaps and shampoos.

In the basement, a custom built in shelving unit uses rough, reclaimed wood to house a collection of books around the TV - a casual lounge space for movie watching and sleepovers.

The cat’s litter is tucked discreetly into a closet, marked only by the an orange rimmed circle cut into the door at the perfect height for easy kitty access.

The new porch provides a generous urban room for sitting outdoors, chatting with neighbours and watching pedestrians walking through the beautiful & established neighbourhood. A cedar slatted wall provides privacy and a backrest for the built-in bench.

The rear yard provides a more secluded outdoor space for family gatherings, BBQs and playing in the yard.

The palette of raw cedar and black-stained wood siding continues on the rear facade. Generous new windows and doors are cut into the existing home to provide generous amounts of light, and views to the yard.

An oversized picture window at the back of the house is a bold, modern move. Instead of a sliding door, the window provides uninterrupted views and a clean, minimal appearance. Access to the yard is through a tall swing door opening to the right side.

A refined, wood reception desk design by Alex Arnott Design, greets visitors and employees upon entering the office. A glazed partition containing the conference room serves as the backdrop to the reception area. The graphic is a modern abstraction/re-interpretation of classic law book spines and represents the edgy and contemporary culture of many of the law chambers.

A custom glass film is applied from floor to ceiling to provide privacy at eye-level while still permitting light to penetrate through the conference room. The texture is inspired by the spines of law books with their characteristic banding and embossed gold text, blown up dramatically in size.

A cozy seating area is tucked away near the reception for guests and clients to wait between meetings, and for employees to relax throughout the day.

An ensemble of midcentury furniture, and a bold, rich colour palette are in stark contrast to many sterile, downtown law offices. Bringing touches of residential design into the workplace helps to humanize the office experience, and create a comfortable, productive environment.

The conference room features a long, custom walnut table, and features views overlooking the busy activity of Spadina Ave below.

The glass film provides just the right amount of privacy required for meetings to continue without the visual distractions of people coming and going from the reception area beyond.

The open plan office embraces and celebrates the building's heavy timber bones. Drywall is used judiciously to define paths of travel, and provide opportunities for recessed lighting where required, without overwhelming the heavy timber structure or robbing the interior of its industrial charm.

Elsewhere, a textured glass plane, and small strip of drywall ceiling helps to delineate the common areas (kitchen) from circulation paths and offices, without making the interior feel boxed-in. The textured graphics references the traditional banding found ubiquitously on spines of law textbooks.

A bank of full height closets are tucked discreetly off the reception area for communal jacket storage.

Custom, extra-long, walnut closet pulls are subtle details that elevate the space.

Open workstations are aligned to the heavy timber columns whereas closed spaces line the perimeter, creating an interior streetscape. Common meeting rooms are treated with a custom graphic film, like the conference room, to distinguish them from individual offices.

The wood structure's richness is contrasted against floating planes of crisp drywall.

A corner office includes a generous work desk, and lounge area for more casual meetings.

The corner office lounge includes two custom tables with olive green metal bases. The round coffee table has a glass top that showcases the law book-spine graphic also found on the conference room glazing.

The bathroom strives to achieve a balance between functionality and minimalism; an efficient layout makes the most of a small space, and thoughtful consideration of details elevate that small space to create something unique and special.

A custom vanity and mirror appear to float on the wall.

The room is composed of two materials on different planes; a richly concrete-textured tile wraps seamlessly from the floor up the shower wall, paired with a large-format white wall tile. Soft, indirect light seeps out from a cove between the two layers.

A shower niche, precisely aligned, is tiled seamlessly, and lit discreetly by indirect cove lighting.

The shower slopes subtly down to a discreet drain along the wall. A stainless steel towel bar on the vanity front also serves as an oversized pull to access the storage drawer below the sink.

An open floor plan with sweeping views from front to back is made possible with open rise stairs, the wood slat partition, and custom millwork that doesn't interrupt the flow of the space.

The custom millwork was influenced by the clients and their love of entertaining, and by including the fireplace, a bar and storage all on the same wall, it offers a seamless space with multiple functions. 

The open plan allows natural light and views to the street from both the dining and living room.

The black tile surround on the fireplace offsets the natural wood floating shelves and mantle, while allowing the blue wall covering to stand out.

The relocation of the powder room provided the ground floor with the new open plan, and the efficiency of this space is made possible by the narrow vanity along the length of the wall.

The wood slat feature wall acts as a grounding element in the middle of the open floor plan.

The wood slats also allow for a sense of transparency, and thus make the space feel larger instead of smaller.

The open sight lines gives the clients a view to their backyard throughout the length of the ground floor.

A unique marble tile was used in the kitchen. It brings a sense of liveliness to the modern, crisp lines of the wood wrapped cabinets and clean white surfaces while not being overwhelming. 

By including built-in appliances such as the fridge, it keeps with the clean seamless look.

A spa-like ensuite for the master bedroom follows suit with the clean, contemporary lines seen on the main floor.

Niche shelving offers even more storage in this elegant retreat.

The window in the large shower maintains that natural light is able to enter almost every space of this renovation.

More niche shelving that was carefully tiled creates beautiful functional storage in the shower.

The addition is articulated in a combination of white brick and black wood siding. Although modern in its massing and composition, the addition takes cues from the materials of traditional Scandinavian cottages and reimagines them in a contemporary language.

The kitchen is designed to become the heart of the home, looking out over the backyard. White oak flooring set in a herringbone pattern, and a bold, geometric blue backsplash tile are the big moves that bring texture and colour into the space, providing visual interest without overpowering the fresh, bright and light palette.

The kitchen is laid out to maximize efficiency and storage while retaining an open layout so that it serves both as a space for cooking, and a space for living and entertaining guests. Brass metal accents throughout the kitchen subtly catch the eye and compliment the blue backsplash tile against an otherwise clean, white palette.

A long servery and pantry is located between the kitchen and dining room to provide spill-over prep space, and then to double as a perfect area to serve food when there are guests.

The geometric pattern of the backsplash tile is visually captivating without being overwhelming, and appears light and delicate, despite being a bold gesture within the space.

Custom brass brackets support open shelves for glassware and ceramics.

A built in banquette with upholstered seating serves the family’s day-to-day needs at meal-time and is generously lit with windows on two sides. A sculptural wood light is quietly eye-catching and helps to define the breakfast nook as its own zone apart from the kitchen.

An efficient mud-room and side entrance off the kitchen provides convenient access to the their family members who happen to be next door neighbours. Custom wood pulls were designed and crafted by a local wood-worker for the closet doors, and the floor features a beautiful, subtle variation of natural stone that helps conceal traces of dirt or salt.

Since there is frequent traffic back and forth between the home and the next door neighbours, we designed a small courtyard between the homes, off of which a side door leads to the mudroom and kitchen.

The dining room features many classic Danish-designed modern pieces. An inlaid segment of herringbone flooring centred around the table subtly helps to ground the dining room and suits the more traditional detailing in the front half of the existing home.

The main hallway features an original brick wall and, like the rest of the front of the house, preserves the traditional baseboards and casework details, while providing a glimpse into the new powder room that is tucked just behind the stair. The powder room’s clean palette of blues and whites hints at the modern addition, a sneak peek for visitors stepping into the home.

The powder room is a thoughtfully composition of light wood closet and vanity top, set against an intricate blue tile that is illiuminated from above by a hidden cove light.

The upstairs kids bathroom accommodates a double vanity so that the kids can get ready for school at the same time. Green wall sconces, robe hooks and a shower curtain are subtle yet playful accents that bring colour and life to the bright, white room.

In the master bedroom upstairs, the tone remains calm and clean. A custom bed-frame upholstered in grey fabric is refined yet comfortable.

A window seat framed by closets and opens shelves is a cozy spot to sit and read.

An ensuite featuring accents of colour and wood texture brings warmth and interest to the master suite, tucked just off the bedroom itself.

The choice of a geometric blue tile is decidedly modern, but its subtle texture is reminiscent of danish pottery. Wood shelves and a custom vanity bring some warmth to the room and provide plenty of storage space in a compact ensuite.

A wall-mounted toilet is another space-saving feature that allows for the full 3-piece bathroom to fit within a modest footprint. A large widow brings generous amounts of light into the bathroom that washes across the blue tile, accentuating its subtle geometry.

The addition is designed to maintain light and views from an existing bedroom in the house; where the second floor steps back, a portion of roof is covered in a low-maintenance green roof system that improves views for the homeowners and their neighbours.

Seen against a hodgepodge of rear additions typical of many Toronto streets, the addition deliberately stands out from its neighbours.

Simple, thoughtful landscaping define the transitions from home, to yard, and then to a paved dining area and garage in the back of the lot.

A screen composed of wood slats redirects the flow of traffic upon entry to the house, creating a sense of separation between the entryway and adjacent living room. A bench with built-in shoe storage is nestled into the front bay window, and a long wall of closets accommodate jackets and outerwear, sports equipment, and cleaning supplies. By gradually changing the angle of the slats across the screen, we were able to provide privacy for the family room, while permitting light to penetrate deep into the house from the front window and door.

The front door and entryway are clearly delineated by a wood screen that appears solid from some angles to provide privacy, and almost disappears from other vantage points, to allow light to pass through.

A neutral palette of white and light wood is accented by pops of colour, and the black basalt tile used in the kitchen and on the fireplace.

Solid birch slats are meticulously fastened to white painted steel fins at the floor and ceiling, and create an interesting play of light and shadows, particularly in the early morning light.

Despite being close to the front door, the living room feels comfortably enclosed by wood slats that are angled to provide privacy from the street while sitting on the generous sectional sofa, but still permit light to shine into the rest of the house.

Rotating the bottom three steps of a new wood staircase allows for a more spacious living room, and makes for an interesting moment of pause between the two floors, when the two wood screens overlap momentarily.

Subtle nuances like the angle of the wood floor were carefully considered when composing views in this project.

The new gas fireplace, clad in a unique black basalt tile, anchors one side of the house as part of a careful composition of volumes along the wall. The wall contains an ample amount of storage including full height closet space, as well as banquette seating that flips up to accommodate blankets, toys, and an air vent in front of the window. The couple’s beautifully curated collection of art stands out against the bold composition of the fireplace and closets.

The banquette seating is an efficient way to accommodate a full sized dining table within a small urban home.

A bold, black basalt tile backsplash folds up the wall and onto the ceiling, and is punctuated by three walnut boxes that house pendant lights over the island and store kitchenware near the main prep space. Bar seating at the end of the island is perfect for quick morning breakfasts, and snacks after school.

A large new window at the back of the house floods the home with natural light. The custom angled wine storage shelves at the end of the island subtly picks up on the angle of the floor.

The walnut boxes and appliance shelf provide easily accessible space for storing frequently used items while keeping the countertop clutter-free for preparing food.

The black tile is a bold graphic gesture that defines the kitchen space within an open-concept floor plan, and relates to the fireplace in the living room - visually, and conceptually, these are two ‘heaths’ that anchor the home and attract the family to gather around.

The focal point of main living space is a feature millwork wine storage wall that wraps onto the ceiling to help spatially define the dining area as a space separate, but connected to the kitchen, and living room on either side. While the overall gesture within the space is simple and bold, the intricate geometric patterns draw abstract inspiration from the couple’s ethnic heritage.

Upon entry to the main living space, the feature millwork frames a view to the living room beyond. A cascade of glass pendants hang effortlessly over the dining table, suspended from a vibrant red slot in the ceiling.

Pegs thoughtfully located within the pattern of the back panel support wine bottles.

The living room is oriented towards a custom fireplace and TV wall and utilizes a unique furniture layout that can easily accommodate family movie nights, evenings entertaining guests by the fire, or a peaceful afternoon reading a book by the window with a view over the city.

A custom kitchen is tucked into an alcove to provide some separation from the rest of the unit, while still maintaining visual and auditory connections, to interact with guests, and keep an eye on the little one. The kitchen receives generous amounts of light and opens onto a generous outdoor terrace.

The rich warmth of walnut millwork is a common thread throughout the project. Here, a horizontal bar of upper cabinets float against the  contrasting cool and irregular linear striations of a backsplash tile.

The main corridor was conceived as a gallery-like space, including dramatic lighting, precisely located to illuminate the couple’s unique collection of sculpture and art, with dramatic views over the skyline beyond.

The colour and texture of a wall-covering is reminiscent of copper, and, when combined with moody lighting to elevate the experience along this corridor into something unique and meaningful for these clients.

The powder room features a vibrant pop of saturated colour that complements a dark tile on one wall.

The warm glow of pendants dangling to the side of the powder room mirror provide an alluring warm glow.

The main bathroom on the ground floor features a material palette that is luxurious, yet calming. Intended to be shared by their daughter and overnight guests, the bathroom accommodates a full size tub and walk-in shower.

A walnut vanity provide plenty of storage space for toiletries and linens. Two elegant white wall sconces provide diffuse lighting around the sink and mirror, and are a subtle, restrained nod to tradition while keeping the overall tone distinctly modern.

Marble tile wraps three walls of the bathroom, with the fourth wall reserved for an intricate feature mosaic tile in glass and marble, so unusual and ornate that it begs for a closer look to investigate.

The master bedroom upstairs features a sophisticated material palette that is rich, refined, and elegant. During the day, the bedroom features stunning views over the city of Toronto; when the curtains are closed at night the room transforms into a cozy adult retreat.

Materials and fixtures are carefully selected and paired with furniture sourced to develop a unique language that speaks to the clients’ personalities, desires, and way of life.

Bedside pendant lights sparkle and glow near the headboard, casting a dazzling geometry of warm shadows around the room.

The bed is oriented towards a wall featuring a wall-covering of oversized gold medallions that extends beyond, down the corridor.

Sliding closet doors along the corridor leading to be bedroom are an efficient solution to providing the required closet space within a downtown condo building.

The ensuite accommodates a double vanity with a semi-recessed walnut medicine cabinet between the two sinks, with one door opening in each direction, for him and for her.

Small glass pendants hang elegantly on either side of the vanity. The semi-recessed medicine cabinet slides into the wall between the mirrors.

Ornate patterns on a strip of feature tile glimmer in the shower, thanks to special lighting that emphasizes the tile’s reflectivity.

The refined cedar-clad addition fronts onto an outdoor patio shaded by trees.

The full height windows glow at night, and connect the interior living room to the exterior yard and sitting area.

Windows across the full width of the addition allow light to penetrate deep into the house, while creating a wonderful connection to the back yard.

Inspired by the term 'patina' - established character of something grown beautiful over time and use, the striking feature wall of rhythmically composed cabinets has a layered texture and organic quality reminiscent of weathered barn board and reflects a sensibility that resonates with this particular client. This bold gesture links the sunken living room to the kitchen beyond, while providing generous amounts of storage to keep clutter out of sight.

Recessed niches within the storage wall are accented by a turquoise wall-covering and accommodate a desk and generous couch in the living room. The radiant-heated floor makes the tile floor a durable choice that is comfortable year-round.

Floor-to-ceiling closets store shoes and jackets for children coming inside from the back yard. A niche is carved into the cabinetry to form a small bench for comfort taking shoes on and off.

The living room can transform into a family theatre for movie nights with a retractable screen, projector, and recessed speakers.

The first glimpse around a corner hints at a rhythm of built in two-tone cupboards accented by colourful punches from a textured turquoise wall covering.

Stepping into the kitchen reveals the extent of a feature storage wall stretching the entire length of the house as a single gesture that connects the kitchen and living room. The storage wall incorporates vibrant display niches, counters, desk, and conceals a hatch to the laundry chute.

The spacious kitchen revolves around an oak harvest table intended as a hub of family activity. This harvest table tradition accommodates all manner of activities including formal dinners, casual after-school snacks, homework, and board games.

A large window bathes the entire kitchen with soft natural light

A hexagonal mosaic tile backsplash sparkles with reflected light; along with vintage brass pulls, these details add a touch of antique history to the otherwise sleek and modern kitchen cabinetry.

The laundry chute that spans from second floor to basement laundry room, is hidden behind the millwork storage wall in the kitchen and allows for easy transfer of table linens to the laundry room downstairs.

Custom cherry wardrobes detailed with leather pulls maximize available storage space under the angled ceiling of the third floor master bedroom. 

Turquoise accents and vintage details transform the attic space into a sophisticated yet cosy bedroom.

The master bathroom embodies the same simple sophistication of the master bedroom.

The frosted glass skylight and built-in bench gives the spacious master ensuite shower a modern, spa-like feel.

Custom cherry millwork and a vibrant pop of colour reinforces the simple sophistication of the bedroom.

Playful, matching blinds and cushions bring life to the children's bedroom, overlooking a green roof on top of the back yard addition.

Through the bedroom windows, the eco-friendly green roof flowers every spring and becomes an elevated rooftop meadow, transforming a standard rooftop view into one of verdant green foliage.

Custom storage built into the wall complements built-in IKEA wardrobes to maximize available storage in the bedroom.

The basement stair is a confluence of materials between two storeys; the tiled floor flows into the staircase itself and wood cabinets seamlessly transition to wood panels that frame the staircase and landing below.

The basement is designed as a flexible space for the children to enjoy as they grow into teenagers and young adults and can be used for all manner of activities: sleepovers, birthday parties, group homework projects, science experiments, arts and crafts, jam sessions, and movie nights.

As a flexible and multifunctional space meant to adapt to the lives and needs of the children as they grow up, the basement includes workspace featuring a vintage trough sink for arts and crafts and science experiments. The chalkboard wall allows for impromptu doodling, planning hockey plays and sketching out ideas.

A bank of built-in storage runs the full length of the basement to take advantage of limited height under mechanical ductwork and features open bookshelves, closed storage for supplies and seasonal clothing, a desk, TV, and wardrobe space for guests staying in the basement.

The tile floor flows seamlessly into the glass shower

Walnut detailing runs through the main floor, wrapping a dropped ceiling that defines and gives order to each space as it flows into the next. 

High performance appliances and hardware teamed with carefully considered detailing and walnut surrounds, lend the IKEA cabinetry a refined and sophisticated look

The wood wraps around the room, framing the light pendants, and ties together the spaces with a striking graphic quality

Carefully detailed custom walnut wine rack is slotted discretely into the living room wall

Subtle, refined details 

Bowed ceramic backsplash tiles provide depth and texture in contrast to the hard surface materials

Subtle, refined details 

A level of sophistication is achieved by shrouding a functional and economical IKEA wardrobe in walnut panels, and accenting it with leather seat and pulls  

Floor-to-ceiling marble mosaic tiled wall provides a shimmering backdrop to the original claw-foot tub

A continuous niche, carved out of the marble mosaic tiled wall, is lined with a solid surface material that becomes the vanity countertop

Frameless glass shower enclosure allows for a clear reading of the marble mosaic tile feature wall

The living room wall is dedicated to a built-in library, to store the couple's sizeable collection of books. Seating is centred around a wood burning fireplace that gets frequent use through the cold months of the year. 

Bookshelves stretch from wall-to-wall, and floor-to-ceiling. Since the library is a working collection for the client, a bioethics scholar, a ladder rolls along the full length, to enable access to the uppermost shelves.

Built in shelves are thoughtfully composed to accommodate various sizes of volumes, while maintaining particular alignments throughout the room.

A firewood cabinet is fully stocked at the base of the library. 

The couple's collection of vinyl records and CDs are stored below the turntable in a custom, built-in piece that occupies the front bay window of the home.

An office nestled just off the living room is separated by a wood partition and pocket door, and receives abundant natural light.

Integrated drawer pulls, milled from solid walnut drawer fronts, are a subtle, elegant detail

The powder room off the corridor by the library/living room, features tile reminiscent of crumpled paper running floor to ceiling; the proportions of the space are emphasized by a slender vertical mirror hovering just off the wall.

A refined palette of materials and fixtures is minimal without being sterile, and welcomes the thoughtful curation of the couple’s unique objects from their travels.

The kitchen and dining room are combined into a single space, and draw inspiration from old-world bistros with a bold palette of black and white cabinetry flanking one wall, and an original tin ceiling painted black over the dining table.

Upon entry to the kitchen, the black tin ceiling immediately distinguishes the space from generic, white, modern kitchens; its rich texture harkens back to another age, yet remains crisply framed within a modern renovation.

The rear of the house was radically opened up in the renovation to create a spacious room for cooking and entertaining, with plenty of natural light from south facing windows, and views to the rear yard.

The side door is reimagined to become the family’s everyday entrance; a blue patterned tile wraps up the wall, defining a ‘mud room’ zone within the kitchen, with walnut closets on either side. The couple collaborated with a local typographic artist to design the custom text applied to the glass door.

The ‘mud room’ is integrated within the kitchen, without seeming out of place. Thoughtful consideration is given the transitions from wood flooring to tile to demarcate a zone connecting the side and back doors for a different kind of use than the working kitchen on the opposite side of the island. 

Inspired by a boutique hotel, a white oak headboard doubles as a screen dividing the master bedroom from the couple's lounge / TV-watching area.

The bed frame appears to float above the floor. 

Bedside tables and lights, built into the screens, are located at either side of the bed, providing convenient storage.

Pocket doors to the ensuite bathroom are meticulously detailed to appear as a single, flush wall panel when closed.

When opened, the pocket doors reveal a vibrant blue wall tile that evokes a rich tapestry, and appears to runs continuously through both rooms of the ensuite.

A vertical channel is cut out of the ensuite doors, the deepest portion detailed with oil rubbed bronze, to act as an integrated door pull. 

When the ensuite doors are closed, the custom pull detail provides a subtle, elegant relief within what appears to be a flush wood panel wall.

The kids bathroom features a bold contrast of black and white, a classic old-world palette interpreted in a modern space, with an eclectic edge.

Opening up the back of the house provides a generous, well-lit space for a kitchen and family room, with views out to the back yard. 

A breakfast nook with banquette seating is tucked into the bay window.

A storage wall of high gloss white cabinets incorporate pantry storage, drawer space, and a coat closet by the back door and frame inset portions of white oak shelves that float against a rustic, red brick wall.

The back of the island features a bold custom panel that combines various reclaimed woods into a graphic, chevron pattern.

A new, large sliding glass door connects the living space with an outdoor seating area and BBQ on a raised deck outside.

The powder room is tucked neatly off the corridor and features a mosaic of traditional black and white tile from floor to ceiling. 

Retro black and white mosaic tiles are paired with a unique hanging mirror and wall sconce; a shallow wall-mount sink maximizes space in the compact powder room.

A bold splash of colour on the original clawfoot tub, and small marble hex tiles instantly update the kids bathroom.

The ensuite features a custom vanity and mirror in solid walnut. Custom pulls are thoughtfully considered as part of the design, integrated into the drawer fronts. 

The warm, rich texture of the walnut vanity is paired with an soft, elegant blue tile to create a serene space overlooking the home's forested yard.

The ensuite looks out to a vestibule for the master suite that doubles as a changing room with a full height mirror and hooks for bags and accessories.

The master bedroom is a lofty space overlooking the rear yard, accessed through an existing brick opening.

Exposed beams painted white, and the refinished original brick create a distinctive palette that is thoroughly modern, while still richly textured and respecting the home's historic bones.

A wall of closets is considered as part of a composition that relates to open shelves and a custom oak step at the entry threshold of the master bedroom.

An enlarged window transforms the room into something of a serene, modern treehouse..

A dog wash is easily accessible from the side door basement walkout; perfect for cleaning dirty paws tracking dirt through the rest of the house.

Utilitarian plywood storage shelving accommodates additional pantry storage at the foot of the basement stair.

With the use frameless glass and uninterrupted floor and wall finishes, this wine cellar becomes glowing, showcase element at the base of the basement stair

The space under the stair landing is maximized with this compact, yet elegant, wine cellar

The glass corner, viewed from recreation room, makes the wine cellar appear larger as well as allowing glimpses of the bottles stored on sleek, metal pegs. Spray laquered wall/door panels with touch latch hardware conceal storage space below stair

The glowing, coloured display shelves punctuating the crisp white millwork, echo the colours found in the family's aboriginal art collection

Accent colours outlined in white surrounds were inspired by the client's aboriginal art collection

The dropped ceiling, used to add intimacy to the seating area, folds down the wall to become the entertainment unit

A cedar-clad feature wall in the basement rec room, to compliment an existing cedar sauna, encases an accent-turquoise sliding door to the fitness room

The bright fitness room links the rec room and washroom

Rubber flooring in the fitness area abuts the metallic porcelain floor tile that forms a continuous path through linking the spaces. The feature colour becomes a vibrant backdrop to the wall mounted water fountain.
 

The metallic, oversized, porcelain tile path throughout the basement terminates by wrapping up the walls of the luxury shower, forming a glowing feature wall upon entering the bathroom.

Body mist sprays and oversized rain shower, with inset storage shelves are the ideal way to finish a workout 

Bathroom elements are wrapped in a cedar frame; the consistent use of accent colour and materials, like cedar and metallic porcelain tile, give a sophisticated unity to all the rooms

Custom side tables were designed as contemporary Canadian additions to the historic Annex home. Fabrication by Rob Southcott.

A custom built buffet and custom round antiqued mirror designed in collaboration with Commute Home (fabrication by Commute Home) provide an elegant backdrop for the family’s formal dining room. The thin black metal trim around the mirror echoes the top surface of the buffet and offsets the texture of the antiqued glass and pronounced grain of the maple buffet.

Custom designed pulls in solid maple. Details designed in collaboration with Commute Home.

The texture and grain of spalted maple is showcased in this piece, designed in collaboration with Commute Home (fabrication by Commute Home). Open shelves display a variety of unique ceramic bowls.

A media unit houses a variety of audio equipment within a composition of open and closed storage that forefronts the bold texture of the spalted maple. Designed in collaboration with Commute Home (fabrication by Commute Home).

Carefully considered details in wood and metal converge to elevate the storage unit to a unique level of refinement. Designed in collaboration with Commute Home.

A metal wrapper envelopes the unit entirely, contrasting the warm texture of spalted maple.

The master bedroom is a combination of rich textured surfaces such as a reclaimed wood feature wall, designed in collaboration with Commute Home (fabrication by Commute Home) and thick carpet, with sleek contemporary details in metal and walnut.

A headboard of reclaimed wood is blown up to the scale of a feature wall, and makes bold statement in the room. The rustic texture of the wood is offset thoughtfully in its combination with an elegant contemporary custom walnut bed frame and night tables, designed in collaboration with Commute Home, and sleek metal details.

The rich texture of a reclaimed wood headboard, designed in collaboration with Commute Home (fabricated by Commute Home),  is framed by a sleek metal frame and thin metal floating shelves. The warmth of the natural wood is brought out by brass sconces and splashes of yellow.

A custom wardrobe wall in the master bedroom makes an elegant statement with niches to accommodate the couple’s collection of unique aboriginal art.

Inset doors and fine linework makes the wardrobe wall a carefully considered composition of linear elements closed storage and open display

A cozy reading room adjacent to both children's bedrooms helped to even the bedroom sizes while providing a quiet retreat

A palette of aqua and purple highlights on grey and white interior suit the maturing, pre-teen
 

A feature wall of striking blue adjacent to royal red curtains represent the son's passion for his two favourite sports teams

A full wall of built-in storage and pantry space under the stair incorporates the fridge, freezer, a custom wine storage piece, and open pantry shelves for convenient storage of spices, dry goods, and a nook to store pet food.

Custom pantry shelves store spices and dry goods

The texture and warmth of the original brick is strategically exposed in and tied in with the clean, modern materials of the kitchen.

Drawing from one of the owner's experience as a chef, the kitchen is inspired by a commercial kitchen crossed with the honest functionality of Julia Childs' workspace. Walls of durable metal pegboard embody the project's authentic approach in which the tools of everyday life are displayed as objects, while simultaneously making kitchen utensils convenient to use.

A wood shelf links the kitchen and dining rooms together - in places it becomes a deep sill by the kitchen window for plants and herbs, here in the dining room it becomes a ledge for family photos and kids’ art.

A modern plan combines the kitchen and dining areas into a large common room that is meant for cooking, entertaining and gathering. Double stoves with a stainless steel backsplash, the exposed joist ceiling, and open pegboard for storing cookware and utensils gives the kitchen an honest, utilitarian feel inspired by industrial kitchens.

The entry foyer features the texture, colour and character of the encaustic tile floor set against clean white walls accented by old components of the original home.

Double sinks in the upstairs bathroom allows the family’s two young boys to get ready for school at the same time.

The bathroom sinks are separated from the toilet and shower by a sliding door so as to allow a family of 4 to most efficiently use the space of a single bathroom. A water-resistant redwood shelf ties the two rooms together and allows for storage of various products around the bathroom.

The bathroom is generously lit by natural light from two skylights above. A subtle but graphic pattern plays with the finish of standard white subway tile and wraps all sides of the ‘wet-room.’ A wall-hung toilet floats off the floor and makes for easy cleaning.

Inset niches in the shower provide space for storing bath products at the heights of various family members.

A simple rod fashioned from standard plumbing components hangs from the custom redwood shelf.

The upstairs family room becomes a cozy spot for movies and relaxing. A reclaimed wood door slides on a custom track.

Teak wall and ceiling panels frame the kitchen and path to the back door and complement the open layout and back window of residential designer, Dean Ruffalo of Dero Designs.

Earthy and elegant kitchen finishes, pulls, and careful detailing, along with teak wood panelling, were chosen to enhance the kitchen which had initial design done by residential designer Dean Ruffalo, of Dero Designs.

The selection of finishes, fixtures and furnishings was made in close consultation with the client, and lends the space a distinct character

A wrapping of teak panels is mirrored at the front of the house, delineating the entrance and exit passages and creating an architectural unity in the space

An iridescent and graphic wallpaper form a contrasting backdrop to the art deco inspired handrail design

The millwork elements work to define a clear design structure and identity to the ground floor, while maintaining the flexibility of an open-space concept.

These multi-functional panel units contain storage and seating elements, and are accentuated with specialty lighting. 

The major design gestures works in synergy with the smaller, more carefully detailed elements, such as the stair rails and treads

The custom designed mirror cabinet and display shelving, along with selection of fixtures and tiles, make this compact washroom layout simple and striking

Glass pendants, wall to wall mirror and suspended vanity come together to create an elegant and bright ensuite
 

An oversized, multifunctional, louvred screen defines the building's exterior; acting as a three-dimensional surface on which the company's brand is presented. The screen, concealing a mess of utility meters that previously appeared front-and-center on the building, now marks an elegant entrance that ties together the building's previously disparate elements into a clear architectural order.

Passersby see a momentary flash of orange from the Fitzpatrick Electrical logo printed on the inside of the louvres – a design which takes full advantage of the building's street-corner location.  

The office work stations are arranged around the perimeter of the space, with a central wall cutting through the middle. This wall, painted in the company's signature orange, distinguishes the private office functions from the public client meeting and entrance areas.   

Carved into all sides of the building are a number of new windows that draw much needed light into the formerly dark interior

Passersby see a momentary flash of orange from the Fitzpatrick Electrical logo printed on the inside of the louvres – a design which takes full advantage of the building's street-corner location.  

The master ensuite features a refined, elegant palette of neutral, durable materials. 

Up close, the wall tile reveals beautiful, subtle variations in the stone which give the walls a visual softness in contrast to the crisp angles of the sloped ceiling.

The ensuite is thoughtfully laid out to efficiently use the available space.

This existing dormer allowed for a spa-like retreat in the master bathroom, forming the perfect space for a free standing tub, made more functional with the inclusion of niche shelves on either side for storage.

A wall-mounted toilet maximises floor space, as does the niche shelving.

The skylights in the master bedroom bathe it in natural light that would have otherwise not been accessible after re-configuring the space to have the master bathroom where the existing window is located.

Custom millwork under the angled ceiling provided improvised closet storage in the master bedroom.

Floating nightstands and wall-mounted lights provide a clean, contemporary look in this functional master retreat.

The client's request for both a larger family room and guest bedroom was resolved in the use of triple-folding doors, which allows for flexibility when a private room is needed for guests, as well as a large flex space that functions as a play room and den. 

Even with the triple sliding doors closed, there is still enough space for a play area suitable for multiple children.

The built-in millwork allows for maximum use of space, and the combination of open shelves and cabinets offer different storage solutions for this versatile room.

Built-in storage in the bedroom offers a better use of space, while allowing all of the natural light from the existing bay window to enter the room. 

The shared bathroom stayed with the clean, crisp look, by offsetting the dark floating vanity with the white subway tile.