Century homes often ask for restraint. This gem in Toronto’s Danforth neighbourhood asked for something more strategic for the main floor renovation: A complete reconsideration of how 725 sq. ft. could support modern family life without compromising its architectural soul.
For Luca Campacci, lead interior designer and partner at Level Studio, the mandate was clear: Preserve and maintain the natural warmth, but make the main floor function like a contemporary home. The clients, a couple preparing to start a family, needed storage, circulation and a kitchen that reflected how they actually live.
The most consequential move was relocating the kitchen to the opposite side of the house. “Our clients cook a lot, and the original kitchen was very small,” says Campacci. “There was a door leading to the backyard and the basement, which threw off the appliance layout if we kept everything there. Moving the main appliances across the house gave us much better flow, significantly more storage and allowed the area by the back door to remain open with the circular dining table.”
That shift recalibrated the entire main floor. What was once congested is now intuitive. The dining area no longer competes with traffic patterns. The kitchen reads as deliberate rather than squeezed in.
Preserving what matters
Balancing new interventions with century detailing required precision. “We salvaged all the window casings, the staircase and the opening from the kitchen to the living room,” Campacci explains.
Baseboards were replaced to align with newly installed engineered hardwood, and the opening between the living room and foyer was widened and shifted to the centre of the staircase, while accommodating a substantial media wall.
“The new carpentry was kept very simple and painted white, so it wouldn’t compete with the original woodwork,” says Campacci. The contrast is subtle but intentional.
A powder room with personality
Under the staircase, a small niche presented an opportunity. Campacci and his team transformed it into a compact powder room, a rare amenity in a home of this scale. “We did have to lengthen the alcove slightly into the dining area to ensure comfortable headroom and proper sink placement,” Campacci notes. The remaining low-clearance space was converted into concealed storage with push-open hardware, an elegant solution to an awkward condition.
The powder room delivers a jolt of personality. The clients were drawn to nature-inspired references, but Campacci and his team leaned toward darker tones. “Instead of going light, we embraced the intimacy,” Campacci notes. A richly detailed wallpaper featuring extinct animals wraps the walls and the sloped ceiling. “Because the room is small, you can fully absorb the pattern.”
Brass fixtures, olive trim and a dark herringbone floor tile were drawn directly from the wallpaper’s palette, anchoring the bold pattern with cohesion.
Layered materials equal modern edge
Material layering across the main level balances warmth with edge. The homeowners favoured walnut, but the palette avoids monotony. “Rather than using walnut everywhere, we paired it with lighter oak flooring in the foyer and living room, and honed grey porcelain tile in the kitchen and dining area,” Campacci says. The tonal shift prevents heaviness, while allowing the millwork to anchor the space.
Gloss was intentionally avoided. Cabinetry, countertops and backsplash remain matte or honed, introducing texture rather than shine. A creamy off-white wall colour softens the backdrop and lets the original trim and new carpentry stand apart without competing.
Designed for what’s next
In the living room, wall-to-wall millwork serves as storage and an architectural statement. The doorway was repositioned to accommodate a properly scaled television and open shelving. “Comfort and function were essential,” Campacci says.
Because the millwork spans an entire wall, furnishings remain subdued – greys, creams and beiges – maintaining a calm visual rhythm against the richness of wood.
Future-proofing informed every decision. Rounded dining and accent tables minimize sharp corners. A mobile coffee table can tuck neatly between a sectional and media unit, opening the carpeted area for play, while protecting floors. Storage is integrated rather than improvised. Circulation anticipates strollers and small feet.
Level Studio delivered a main floor that honours its century past, while confidently supporting the next chapter of their client’s lives.