This home’s design was inspired by the colours of an old maple tree
In the east end of Toronto is a neighbourhood called Leslieville, so named because it began in the 1850s as a small village around nurseries owned by one George Leslie. The housing stock is mainly Victorian semi-detached homes clad in clay brick.
The owners of one such example, a young couple with two kids, bought their home chiefly because of the giant maple tree in the backyard. This tree became the inspiration for the home’s layout and design by Reign Architects, the firm they tasked with its transformation.
Reign Architects’ Jacob Jebailey says his clients originally requested a phased renovation which would take in the basement, ground floor and third floor extension. But they changed their minds, deciding that gutting the entire house would allow them to reconfigure the space more efficiently, making way for streamlined circulation and making the most of the tight footprint.
‘In terms of aesthetic, the brief was to introduce modern design interventions whilst maintaining as much of the original Victorian character as possible, primarily the original stained-glass windows and mouldings which are still evident in the front bay window and entry.’
The firm was challenged by the tight footprint typically found in historic homes, which they addressed by leaning into custom joinery, particularly on the ground floor where the dining room is defined by a gracefully curved banquette nestled within the original bay window.
This design not only ensures a seamless flow to and from the front entry, but also preserves a dining space capable of accommodating eight people comfortably.
A double winder staircase with stacked guard rails efficiently liberates precious space within the home’s narrow width and shallow depth. This allowed for the introduction of a luxurious island, topped with a thick slab of Bianco Venezia marble at the centre of the space.
Where the kitchen and living room intersect, white oak cabinets blend with the media unit, providing plenty of storage. This versatile custom element serves as a functional storage bench, as well as providing additional guest seating, or a cosy retreat by the wood-burning fire.
The building’s orientation made it tricky to optimise natural light, so they introduced a floor-to-ceiling window complete with a glass corner on the ground floor, which makes the most of the warm western light streaming in from the rear of the house, plus a south-angled skylight over the stairwell.
Jacob and his team kept the palette natural to create a sense of serenity throughout the home. Inspired by the maple tree, they chose white oak for the flooring, furniture and journey. Tones of beige, brown, cream and off white quietly complement the natural materials. Their most striking nod to the surrounding trees is the mass timber A-frame structure that forms the third-floor extension.
Jacob is particularly satisfied with the design and execution of this space, where the exposed Douglas Fir roof beams intersect with the large skylight. ‘It’s a visceral feeling when you are ascending up to the parent’s retreat,’ he says.
As for the owners themselves, ‘they are overjoyed with the space,’ he smiles. ‘They are constantly sending me photos of how the sunlight dances and plays throughout the house.’
What began as a client’s wish for an evolved home has transformed this partitioned, gloomy residence into an open, warm, light-filled sanctuary for a growing family that blends history with modernism and honours its natural surroundings. reignarchitects.ca
