Deer Park House Entrance with Caesarstone door frames, and preserved glass transom from original home



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Deer Park House exterior with new third floor addition, stained brick and stucco facade



Deer Park House entrance with preserved original transom and new wardrobe



The individual rooms of the original house were preserved, articulated by the mass and texture of the Caesarstone door frames. A subtly sculpted staircase serves as a neutral space between, fluidly blending old and new.




Deer Park House stairs with curved railing, curved guard wall, and Caesarstone door frames






Deer Park House Living Room with fluted marble fireplace



Sculpted fireplace with curved wall and fluted marble



Deer Park House fireplace detail with curved wall and fluted marble



Deer Park House kitchen with lime paint ceiling, new sliding door, and Caesarstone island



In addition to the original transom in the entrance, the hardwired clock was also preserved and relocated, further paying homage to the house’s history.




Deer Park House kitchen with wood cabinets and Caesarstone island and backsplash



Deer Park House entrance with curved stair wall and railing



Deer Park House staircase with curved wall and curved railing



 

Category: Residential

Project Year: 2019-2021

Status: Built

Client: Private

Location: Toronto, Canada

Scope: Architectural and Interior Design

Photo Credit: doublespace photography


When the clients saw the new exterior of their home for the first time, their response was exactly what we had hoped for:

“It looks like it’s always been there.”

As a century home that had been lovingly maintained by its previous owners, we wanted to approach the existing house with respect for its history and context.  For the clients and ourselves, it was critical to uphold its character, ensuring that the exterior would fit within the streetscape, and that its interior would maintain its charm.  At the same time, it was also critical that the space would feel decidedly contemporary, becoming a more appropriate expression of its new owners.

The main living spaces of the original house were strictly subdivided into enclosed rooms.  Not only did this block a lot of natural light from reaching certain spaces -- in particular the kitchen -- but it also made the house feel far too formal for a lively family who likes to entertain.  Besides this, with only one shared bathroom in the house and no space to work comfortably from home, there was a need for additional space and a revised layout.

To address these needs, the kitchen and dining space on the ground floor were completely opened up to each other and redone; the entry sequence was expanded to become more functional; and the central staircase was redesigned.  On the upper levels, the previous master bedroom was converted into a shared home office, and a completely new third floor was added to contain the master bedroom, an ensuite bathroom, and a walk-in closet.

With the goal of seamlessly integrating this new third floor, we borrowed from examples found in the neighbourhood, reworking the primary roofline to make the new third floor addition appear like an enlarged dormer.  The original brick facade of the first floor was stained to smoothly transition into the refinished stucco of the second floor and the new third floor above, unifying the overall volume.  

For the interior, rather than forcing a completely open plan, we embraced the idea of distinct rooms.  By varying materials and geometries to modulate the house’s natural lighting, these rooms were able to adopt their own moods.  On the ground floor, the living and dining rooms were given a sense of intimacy by their textured lime paint ceiling; up on the new third floor, the unexpected palette of the ensuite bathroom feels like a space apart.  An all-white staircase, softly lit by a new skylight, serves as a neutral space between, fluidly blending new and old.

These ideas of respecting the house’s character extend to its detailing.  While the front door was replaced and pushed towards the exterior wall of the house, its original decorative transom was kept in place, marking the location of the original entrance.  Similarly, the hardwired clock that remained in the previous kitchen for over 60 years was also preserved and relocated, further paying homage to the house’s history. 

 



Deer Park House stair railing detail



Deer Park House stair detail with curved wall and railing



Deer Park House master bathroom with black oak and Caesarstone vanity



Deer Park House stairwell with sculpted cathedral ceiling and skylight



Deer Park House stairwell with cathedral ceiling and skylight



Deer Park House stairwell cathedral ceiling
Deer Park House Floor Plan Level 1
Deer Park House Floor Plan Level 2
Deer Park House Floor Plan Level 3



Deer Park House Before Renovation



Deer Park House Before Renovation



Deer Park House Before Renovation



Deer Park House Before Renovation



Deer Park House Before Renovation