This one-hundred-year-old home, located in the High Park neighbourhood of Toronto, is rich with charming architectural elements and intricate details. It recently underwent a thoughtful renovation of the main floor to increase the amount natural light, enhance functionality and add a much-needed powder room.
Assessing needs, identifying challenges
The existing layout was carefully assessed. One area that needed to be changed was the cramped foyer, which was unwelcoming and impractical to use during the winter. Coats were hung in an open space that blocked a lovely side window, and the entrance area felt congested, with doors tightly situated in awkward proximity to one another. As well, without a main-floor bathroom, guests had to use either the one located in the basement or the one upstairs, which disrupted the privacy of the home’s second-floor bedroom area.
The layout of the living room also presented some challenges. A wood-burning fireplace flanked by leaded glass windows anchored the room. The furniture arrangement was dictated by the configuration of the space, and made it difficult to enjoy the fireplace while watching TV. The dining room, separated by walls and double doors, had an awkward flow to the kitchen, which was not included in the renovation, as it had been recently updated. The primary focus became optimizing the layout, introducing more natural light, adding storage and incorporating a new powder room – all within the constraints of a limited budget, existing load-bearing walls and tight over-head clearance on the staircase.
Clever engineering
After consulting with a structural engineer and taking into consideration the location of the furnace in the basement, it was decided to utilize the landing at the bottom of the staircase in a clever way to create a two-piece powder room. The first two steps of the stairs were adjusted to be able to place the powder room near the side window, allowing natural light to filter in. To ensure the entrance door could fully open, the powder room wall was angled, creating a more spacious and welcoming foyer. Heated flooring was installed for a welcoming warmth underfoot during cold winter months.
Modern times
The homeowners loved the wood-burning fireplace in the living room, but did not use it, and so it was converted to gas for convenience. The built-in cabinetry surrounding the fireplace was given a modern update, increasing storage, and the radiators were hidden behind see-through mesh cabinet panels. This allowed the flow of air into the room to continue, maintaining efficient heating. The original side windows, with their elegant leaded glass, were preserved and framed as focal points in the living room. The fireplace tile was designed specifically to harmonize with the patterns on the windows, creating a seamless and cohesive look. The cabinetry was custom-designed to accommodate the clients’ high-tech lifestyle, ensuring a sleek, yet functional space.
Let in the light
The wall separating the living and dining rooms was removed to improve the overall flow, and it was replaced with a narrow support wall, opening up the space significantly. The dining room windows came out and double French doors installed, flooding the area with natural light throughout the day. The exposed wall between the kitchen and dining room became an ideal spot for a feature wall. To respect the home’s traditional design, wainscoting with a modern twist was applied, and from floor to ceiling, the wall was dressed in panelling. Horizontal trim was introduced to create a shadow effect that guides the eye toward the refinished staircase, which now features a sophisticated black-and-white palette.
The original staircase, including the handrail, was preserved but updated for a more modern refresh. Lighting choices throughout the home were selected to complement the overall design concept, with fixtures thoughtfully integrated into the built-ins and along the staircase. Finally, the entrance door was outfitted with a larger glass panel and painted in the homeowners’ favourite colour — a bold red — making the entryway inviting and reflective of the clients’ personality.
This renovation balanced modern functionality with the preservation of the home’s original charm, for a space that is timeless and welcoming.