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    Reflect Architecture balances “contemporary art with family life” in Toronto house

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    Canadian studio Reflect Architecture has renovated a home in Toronto for a new generation of the same family, while incorporating an extensive art collection.

    North Drive House was the childhood home of one of the owners. After stints living abroad and in Downtown Toronto, the couple were lured back to the two-acre property for the space to raise their young family.
    The home’s hallways and living spaces were renovated to feel like a gallery for the couple’s art collectionHowever, the residence’s traditional interiors were not to their taste, so Reflect Architecture principal Trevor Wallace was called in to undertake an extensive renovation.
    His approach was to create a deliberate “tension” between the need to display an extensive contemporary art collection – which includes pieces by Robert Mapplethorpe and Erik Madigan Heck – and fulfilling the needs of a family home.
    A sculptural staircase features layered bannisters, stepped profiles and curved forms”The idea of living in a gallery was always important to the owners, but the critical distinction is that they didn’t want to live in a museum,” said Wallace.

    “This is a family home above all. The owners have always imagined that their kids would one day look back on living here and think it was pretty cool that they were playing soccer or running around inside what felt like an art gallery.”
    The living room includes contemporary furniture and a ribbon-like fireplace by Brooklyn designer Leyden LewisThe team retained the existing layout and circulation while updating the spaces with fresh materials, colours and forms.
    Most in line with the gallery-like aesthetic, the living spaces, hallways and corridors feature stark white walls and minimalist detailing such as flush doors and entryways.
    A different approach is taken in the dining room, where the walls are painted dark tealAt the centre of the home is a staircase designed as if a piece of sculpture itself, comprising layered bannisters, stepped profiles and curvaceous forms.
    A similarly playful tactic was applied in the living room, which features a rippling, ribbon-like fireplace designed by Brooklyn-based designer Leyden Lewis.
    Doors and entryways throughout the home are designed to be flush with the walls”We had a lot of fun exploring and playing with the staircase’s shapes and orientations,” Wallace said. “We wanted it to feel organic and fluid, and that required being playful. That was true for the entire house from start to finish, it was important that we didn’t take the whole thing too seriously.”
    The spareness of these spaces is swapped in the cooking and eating areas, which feature darker, richer colours like the teal dining room.

    Blue slide is centrepiece of Walker house renovation by Reflect Architecture

    A knotted light fixture by Lindsey Adelman hangs over the large stone dining table, accompanied by chairs with ochre velvet upholstery.
    In the kitchen, tone-on-tone travertine cabinetry and surfaces include a new 15-foot-long (4.5-metre) kitchen island.
    Tone-on-tone travertine cabinetry and surfaces were added in the kitchenAn existing gabled skylight overhead was maintained, but its beams were updated with a copper hue to “complement the travertine”.
    The room is oriented towards a glass wall facing a Japanese maple tree in the garden, under which sits a large dining table by local furniture designer Mary Ratcliffe.
    A 15-foot-long (4.5-metre) island was also added beneath an existing skylightWallace founded Reflect Architecture in 2016, and the studio’s previous work includes a Toronto home renovation with a blue slide as its centrepiece.
    Other recently completed residential overhauls in the city include a residence connected by asymmetric brass-lined portals and a house where built-in storage volumes were added.
    The photography is by Doublespace Photography.

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      Portal House by Svima features brass details and curved oak ribbons

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      Brass ribbons line the asymmetric portals that connect the kitchen and dining room of this Toronto residence, renovated by local architecture and art studio Svima.

      The Portal House was designed for a couple who had wanted to refresh their home for 10 years, but have very different aesthetic tastes.
      Two portals connect the renovated kitchen and dining areas of this Toronto homeToronto-based studio Svima found a compromise by combining his desire for “tenebrous minimalism” and her love of “bright French country kitchens” into the design.
      The resulting “denlike cosiness” pairs dark oak across the lower half of the ground-floor spaces and clean white surfaces on the upper half.
      The curved, asymmetric portal over the deep counter acts as a pass-throughThe snaked kitchen layout is tight, so Svima curved the corners of cabinetry and counter surfaces to steal extra space for circulation.

      This theme continues to the living room millwork: a bookcase is filleted at the corner and meets the wall at an angle, while a built-in sofa beneath the window also softly angles inward.
      The other portal, mirrored in shape, forms a doorway between the two spaces”The design hinges on ‘ribbons’ flowing through the space, guiding the motion through the rooms,” said Svima.
      “The ribbons curve in areas where sharp corners would not fit, or would stop the flow of movement.”
      Brass edges around the portals were artfully installed to perfectly fit the curved drywallIn the kitchen, the curved oak doors were handmade by a cabinetmaker who created a special jig to kerf-bend the oak into a radius.
      Tiles that offer a contemporary take on Dutch Delft porcelain form the backsplash, adding small touches of blue to the otherwise neutral space.
      To add touches of colour to the dark oak and bright white palette, tiles influenced by Delft porcelain were added to the backsplashTwo portals provide connections between the kitchen and adjacent dining room, both with a mirrored asymmetric shape and edged in brass.
      One acts as a doorway, while the other over the deep counter is used as a pass-through for food, drinks and tableware.

      Studio Vaaro reconfigures House M using built-in storage volumes

      “It was an artful process for the contractor to lay the brass into the wall, as it had to fit into the curved drywall perfectly with no tolerance for error,” the architects said.
      The living room, located at the front of the house, was furnished with mid-century pieces such as a chair, a coffee table and a media console.
      Dark oak flooring throughout the home’s ground floor matches the other millworkThe closed and open shelving unit organises the family’s books and possessions, and its shape allows more light to enter from a side window.
      Opposite, the built-in sofa helps to resolve an awkward space under a bay window and orients the sitter towards the TV to one side.
      In the living room, the curved kitchen cabinetry is translated as a storage unit with a filleted side”The custom sofa sweeps into the space to provide seating at precisely the right sideways angle for viewing the media unit, for lounge reading, and for gathering,” Svima said.
      The floors throughout the home match the other millwork, grounding the spaces with a rich dark hue.
      A built-in sofa under the living room’s bay window similarly features softly curved anglesSvima, founded by architects Anamarija Korolj and Leon Lai, is not the only studio that’s had to get creative with a tight Toronto floor plan.
      When Studio Vaaro overhauled a house in the city, the firm created a series of volumes with minimally detailed millwork to form kitchen cabinetry, the staircase and a feature bookcase in the living room.
      The photography is by Scott Norsworthy.

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      Olson Kundig and Erica Colpitts renovate mid-century house in North Vancouver

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      US architecture firm Olson Kundig and Canadian designer Erica Colpitts have renovated a mid-century house near Vancouver, warming the modernist structure with natural materials and neutral colours.

      The residence is surrounded by tall cedar trees on a quiet plot in Edgemont, a village-like neighbourhood of North Vancouver, across the water from the Canadian metropolis.
      Wood lines the ceiling and floors of the renovated home, contrasting the blackened steel structural elementsIts new owners are a family of four who relocated to the West Coast from New York City, looking for a community to put down roots.
      Olson Kundig, which has an office in nearby Seattle, was asked to update and slightly expand the building to meet the owners’ needs while respecting the original design.
      The living spaces are all connected along the back of the house, in its single-storey portionLocally based Erica Colpitts was brought on to complete the interiors with a softer, warmer feeling than typical mid-century designs.

      “The pure challenge of this home completely appealed to me,” said Colpitts. “My task was to meld Olson Kundig’s overall design for the home with an ever so slightly soft and romantic interior.”
      Dark tones in the kitchen, including the steel hood and shelving, match the building’s beams and columnsLike many homes from the period, the building has a low-slung form, a shallow roof pitch and large expanses of glass across its facades.
      Blackened steel structural elements were highlighted throughout the interior, and their dark colour is repeated across several other elements.
      The kitchen connects to the patio via a bar counter and sliding windowThese range from the guardrails and supports for the staircase unit, which connects the home’s multiple split levels, to a custom hood and shelving in the kitchen.
      The staircase is separated from the lounge by a huge bookcase that is original to the house, along with a red-brick fireplace on the other side.
      An original bookcase separates the lounge from the entry hallway and staircaseAll of the primary living spaces run along the back of the home, in the single-storey portion, facing the landscaped garden and a plunge pool through huge windows.
      Wide-plank flooring and a wood-covered ceiling connect the open-plan areas, which culminate at the dark-stained kitchen.
      Bedrooms in the two-storey side of the house follow the same design aestheticThe hues and materials chosen for the these spaces are warm and inviting, such as cream surfaces and heathered oatmeal textiles paired with cognac-coloured leather, dark flax, and deep grey.
      “This home has a decidedly neutral colour palette to go with the natural materials selected; however, it is warmly neutral and texturally layered,” said Colpitts.

      Eight renovated mid-century homes that marry period and contemporary details

      “Where colour was used, we wanted those colours and their textures to be reminiscent of a gentleman’s library,” she added.
      The bedrooms, bathrooms, and additional living areas are organised within the two-storey side of the house, where the same design aesthetic continues.
      The home’s large expanses of glass connect it to the surrounding landscape, designed by Amelia SullivanOn the exterior, weathered ebony siding and a Corten steel front door were added in keeping with the building’s modern-industrial appearance.
      “This home is a juxtaposition of all good things,” Colpitts said. “Dramatic and serene. Rustic and refined. Industrial and romantic. Exquisite and comfortable.”
      Olson Kundig aimed to respected the building’s original design while slightly expanding its footprintThe mid-century architecture style remains incredibly popular with homebuyers across the US and Canada, which has led to many renovations that align these residences with contemporary living.
      Recent examples include a Hamptons home that owner Timothy Godbold transformed to resemble a lair from a James Bond movie, and the former seaside home of modernist architect Henry Hill respectfully overhauled by Studio Schicketanz.
      The photography is by Ema Peter.
      Project credits:
      Architect: Olson KundigInterior design: Erica Colpitts Interior DesignContractor: Brent Braybrook / Braybrook ProjectsMillwork: Robin Woronko / Intempo InteriorsLandscape architect: Amelia SullivanMetalwork: Drabek Technologies

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      Studio Vaaro reconfigures House M using built-in storage volumes

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      For the renovation of a house in Toronto’s West End, local firm Studio Vaaro added minimally detailed millwork to form kitchen cabinetry, the staircase and a feature bookcase in the living room.

      Studio Vaaro’s overhaul of House M, a three-storey detached property that had been renovated and extended multiple times over the years, involved reconfiguring the layout to remove the awkward subdivided spaces.
      The ground floor of House M is partitioned by storage volumes laid out in a diamond formation”Our clients were a professional couple with two young children, who were looking for flexible and resilient spaces that could accommodate their home offices, overnight guests, and the changing needs of their growing children,” said the studio.
      “We, therefore, developed a spatial concept based on ‘functional volumes’, in which well-proportioned spaces are partitioned by blocks of storage and service functions.”
      The pale blue-grey volumes provide additional storage space for the kitchenThese built-in storage blocks partially partition four rooms on the ground floor while keeping an open flow between them.

      Laid out in a diamond formation, all are coloured pale blue-grey to highlight their function against the otherwise white walls.
      In the kitchen, oak cabinetry contrasts with the marble countertops”The large amount of built-in storage ensures the rooms themselves are free of clutter and ready for use,” said Studio Vaaro. “In line with the family’s personalities, colour and playful details abound.”
      In the entryway is a coat closet that hides the view of the living room behind, where an oak bookcase sat atop a teal powder-coated fireplace covers almost an entire wall.
      Bleachers are built into the oak staircase, offering a display area or extra seatingA powder room is placed between this space and the kitchen, also forming additional cabinet and counter space within its volume.
      Further kitchen storage sits in front of the dining room, and another closet is tucked under the doglegging staircase.
      On the first floor, the bedrooms are accessed through deep portal doorways”A ‘mixing bowl’ at the centre of the plan, at the base of the stairs, visually and physically connects all four spaces,” the studio said.
      Both the entry and the dining room volumes are pulled away from the home’s exterior walls, allowing additional views between rooms.
      The portals are coloured dusty pink and the kids rooms are also colourfulThe remaining built-in furniture is oak to match the flooring that runs throughout, including kitchen millwork and the staircase, which incorporates oversized bleachers for displaying kids’ artwork or creating extra seating during a party.
      A white metal “picket” guardrail, softened with rounded details, allows light to pass down from the upper levels.

      Long wooden cabinet runs through slender Borden house by StudioAC

      On the first floor, two parallel volumes separate the children’s rooms at the front of the house and the primary suite at the back from the central corridor.
      These create both storage for the rooms, and deep doorway portals that are highlighted in dusty pink.
      Skylights in the stepped angled roofs bring extra light into rooms at the rear, including the primary bathroomCarefully considered details include recesses for the door handles, allowing the doors to open the full 90 degrees without banging into the wall.
      Work and study spaces in the attic are minimally furnished, though feature built-in desks that step up to form shelves behind.
      Study spaces in the attic also feature built-in furnitureSkylights in the stepped, angled roof planes on all three floors bring extra light into the dining room, primary bathroom, and the stairwell.
      Other Toronto homes that have undergone extensive renovations to make them better suited for their occupants include a 14-foot-wide house where pale woodwork forms storage to make more space, and another “disguised as a gallery” – both designed by StudioAC.
      The photography is by Scott Norsworthy.
      Project credits:
      Team: Aleris Rodgers, Francesco Valente-Gorjup, Shengjie Qiu.

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      Dramatic gestures define Gallery Residence in Toronto by Burdifilek

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      Carved French limestone and rolling glass doors were used by Toronto interiors studio Burdifilek to create theatrical effects in this house that frequently hosts events, concerts and dinner parties.

      Burdifilek was tasked with creating the interiors of a 25,000-square-foot (2,300-square-metre) home for a family who regularly entertain large numbers of guests to support a variety of charities.
      In this house designed for entertaining, cast glass doors are rolled back to signal the start of dinnerSpilt over three levels, the sprawling Gallery Residence is named for its large art collection.
      Sourced from galleries and furniture showrooms in London, Paris and New York, the works include originals and limited editions by artists including Donald Judd and Vincent Dubourg.
      Padded silk walls help to dampen ambient sounds in the dining roomBurdifilek co-founder Diego Burdi, who travelled with his clients to source these pieces, then needed to find ways to integrate them into the home without it feeling sterile and lifeless.

      “One of the main challenges was ensuring the home maintained a level of warmth and comfort with or without guests,” said the studio.
      A sinuous limestone staircase spirals around a vertical glass light fixture that hangs nine metres from the ceilingOf the different beige-toned materials combined throughout the residence, the most prominent is French limestone.
      It covers the hallway floors and several walls and forms a variety of sculptural architectural features.
      Limestone continues through the home and is carved to form other architectural features, including a minimalist fireplaceThese include a pared-back fireplace with curved edges, which are echoed in the base moulding, and a staircase that spirals up to connect all three floors.
      Hardwood flooring in a slightly darker hue was laid in the main living room, where the walls are lined with cashmere and seating is configured to spark casual conversations.
      In the “great room”, seating is arranged to encourage casual conversation”When moving between rooms, a visual fluidity is revealed through a harmonizing palette of natural woods, quarried stone, milky hues and soft textures, many of which derive from the world of fashion,” said Burdifilek.
      A conservatory with a fully glazed front and roof is used as a reception area for welcoming guests, where large potted trees bookend seating areas.
      Burdifilek co-founder Diego Burdi travelled to London, Paris and New York with his clients to source the artworks for the homeCustom-made glass doors by Jeff Goodman Studio that glow at night are rolled back to reveal the dining room.
      In this space, padded silk walls help to dampen ambient sounds and high-gloss furniture pieces include four china cabinets placed in each corner.
      Blackened bronze doorways are aligned to create sightlines through the residenceAt one end of the dining table, an opening frames a view of the sinuous staircase and the cut-glass pendant light by designer Matthew McCormick that descends 30 feet (nine metres) through the central void.
      “The craftsmanship behind each piece of convex glass enables the fixture to cast dazzling patterns of refracted light,” Burdifilek said.

      StudioAC designs Toronto house “disguised as a gallery”

      Tall portal doorways and full-height windows are trimmed in blackened bronze, adding dark accents to contrast the expanses of beige.
      “Understated tones are countered with dramatic sightlines that lead toward particular works of art, and custom finishes give each room its own mood and uniqueness,” the studio said.
      The kitchen is designed for large-volume catering, and includes four sinks and quartzite countertopsThe kitchen is set up for large-volume catering, with four sinks and space for up to 40 platings on translucent quartzite countertops.
      The home’s private areas are spread across its three storeys, and include an indoor lap pool, a family room clad in black-stained pine panels, and a primary bedroom decorated with French blue walls, seating and linens.
      The home’s private areas include a den clad in blackened pine panelsBurdifilek was founded by Diego Burdi and Paul Filek, and the studio has completed a variety of interior projects in its home city, and internationally.
      In Toronto, these encompass stores for outwear brand Moose Knuckles and oil specialist TA-ZE, while projects abroad include the vast Hyundai Seoul shopping mall.
      The photography is by Doublespace.
      Project credits:
      Interior design firm: BurdifilekFounder and creative director: Diego BurdiFounder and managing partner: Paul FilekProject manager and studio director: Tom YipDesign team: Michael Del Priore, senior concept designer; John Seo, senior concept designer; Sean Li, intermediate designer; Tom Yip, design development; Anna Nomerovsky, senior CAD specialist and production; Anna Jurkiewicz, senior CAD specialist and production; Yoonah Lee, CAD and material library specialistArchitect and builder: Brennan Custom HomesStone fabricator: EDM CanadaMillwork: Erik’s CabinetsLighting consultant: Marcel Dion Lighting DesignArt consultant: Jane Corkin of Corkin Gallery

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      Falken Reynolds applies beach-toned palette to Cadboro Bay House interiors

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      Bringing the ocean inside was the primary goal of interiors studio Falken Reynolds when designing this waterfront home on Vancouver Island.

      The modern house at the southern tip of the island in British Columbia, Canada was completed by architect Chris Foyd of local firm Bo Form for an active couple with three sons.
      Maximising views of the ocean was Falken Reynold’s principal focus for the interiorsThe family relocated to Cadboro Bay from prairie city Edmonton, and wanted to maximise their coastal location after living so far from the sea.
      “The client had a clear vision for the house – a very pared back, durable and minimalist interior but with warmth and subtle sophistication,” said Falken Reynolds principal Chad Falkenberg, who led the design of the interiors.
      Low furniture helps to prevent blocking sightlines to the outdoorsMeasuring 5,400 square feet (501 square metres), the house appears like a bungalow from the street, while its lower level is tucked underneath and faces the ocean.

      Upstairs is an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, a primary suite and two more bedrooms, as well as a study, powder room and mudroom.
      A selection of Danish and Italian midcentury pieces are placed throughout the homeDownstairs, at pool and beach level, are two further bedrooms, a large home gym, a media room and a rec room.
      The expansive views of the bay through huge floor-to-ceiling windows on both floors are the focus of every space.
      The neutral colours and materials echo the tones of the beach”We wanted to bring the peacefulness of the natural environment inside,” Falkenberg said. “When it came to the detailing we drew a lot of inspiration from modern Belgian architects who are masters at warm minimalism.”
      Low furniture, neutral tones and natural textures together create a casual and serene mood in harmony with the scenery outside.
      The primary suite is located on the upper level and overlooks the water”The palette is an extension of the beach: grays, whites and wood – light and desaturated for the oak millwork and hemlock ceilings – including the oak furniture in the dining room, living room and bedroom,” said Falkenberg.
      The pared-back materials, most of which were sourced locally, also help to highlight the family’s collection of mid-century Canadian art.

      Falken Reynolds gives Saint George House in Vancouver a “Canadian Nordic” feel

      Paintings displayed throughout the home add bold splashes of colour, along with pieces like a glass chandelier by Bocci over the dining table and green marble in the bathroom.
      Along with a selection of Danish and Italian modernist furniture designs, these details help to give the spacious home a more intimate feel.
      Green marble adds colour in the bathroom”The large open spaces and expansive views could easily have felt vacuous with the minimalist approach,” Falkenberg said.
      “The trick was to balance the clean lines with subtle details that add just the right layer of warmth to the spaces.”
      The house was designed by Bo Form and is positioned on the southern tip of Vancouver IslandBased in Vancouver, Falken Reynolds has completed several minimal residential interiors in and around its home city.
      They include a historic townhouse renovation, a house with 11 skylights and a loft apartment with a hidden sleeping nook.
      The photography is by Ema Peter Photography.
      Project credits:
      Interior design: Falken ReynoldsArchitect: Bo Form Architecture, Christian FoydLandscape design: Demitasse Garden Design

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      Stephanie Brown renovates Vancouver home to have “fewer formalised spaces”

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      Large family get-togethers are enjoyed in the open-concept living spaces at this house in Vancouver, which interior designer Stephanie Brown has overhauled with entertaining in mind.

      The home is situated in a quiet, upscale neighborhood in the Canadian city. Built in 1991, it originally featured a postmodern aesthetic, while subsequent renovations favoured the craftsmen style.
      The layout of the home was reorganised to create a double-height foyerIts latest iteration was devised by local studio Stephanie Brown, who was asked to design the interiors by homeowners Joanne and Alan.
      The couple has a blended family with six grown-up children, and while only one still lives at home, the others return often for dinners together.
      Small rooms were opened up to create larger spaces for entertainingAlterations to the plan of the house were therefore required to allow it to comfortably accommodate so many people in the evenings, but still feel cosy during the day.

      “Prior to the renovation, the layout featured very formal, separated rooms,” said Brown. “We re-worked the layout of the main floor to create a more open-concept space, which would provide better flow for modern family gatherings and fewer formalised spaces.”
      Jewel tones and feminine hues add variation to the predominantly white colour schemeAn enlarged family room is now adjacent to the kitchen, which includes a generous island with a teal-coloured base for preparing meals and eating breakfast.
      The same teal shade, chosen for Joanne’s “love for moody jewel tones” continues in the pantry, while more feminine pinks and purples are introduced in other spaces through furniture fabrics.
      Smaller rooms like this office space feature darker coloursIn the dining room, a large black table is positioned beneath a grid of mid-toned oak beams and a Shape-Up chandelier by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio.
      Oak is also applied as parquet flooring, adding visual interest and bringing warmth to the predominantly white palette throughout the home.

      RSAAW adds double-height library during Vancouver home renovation

      Darker colours are used in the smaller spaces, including a new mudroom with grey-and-white-patterned cement floor tiles, and a wallpapered powder room.
      By also rearranging the first-floor layout, a bright two-storey entrance foyer was created, featuring black and unpolished brass details.
      A mud room with patterned ceramic tiles was created during the renovationArtwork and decorative furniture pieces are dispersed throughout the home, intended to convey a relaxed atmosphere more akin to a city loft.
      “We drew inspiration from New York and European apartments, which feature unique collections of art, furnishings and decor set against elegant details,” said Brown.
      “We opted for a casual take on those interiors, but one where the play between classic and modern would still feel fresh and unique.”
      A powder room is lined with dark wallpaperVancouver is regularly ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world and has a wealth of notable residential architecture and interiors.
      Other projects recently completed there include RSAAW’s renovation of a mid-century residence to include a double-height library and a house by D’Arcy Jones Architects designed to mesh with its neighbours.

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      Studio Paolo Ferrari combines wood and granite for Canadian lake house

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      Exposed finishes that draw cues from the forests and geology of Canada come together in this remote holiday home by Toronto-based architect Studio Paolo Ferrari.

      Named after the Muskoka region where the project is located, the retreat overlooks Lake Rosseau, an area that is known as one of Canada’s most sought-after vacation destinations.
      The retreat overlooks Canada’s Lake RosseauThe area sits roughly two hours north of Toronto, and is known for its natural setting. It inspired a collective of painters, known as the Group of Seven, who produced some of the most iconic Canadian imagery of the early 20th century.
      “We wanted to create a place of respite from the intensity of city life and also to build as sensitively as we could, complementing, but never overwhelming, the surrounding environment,” said Studio Paolo Ferrari.
      Granite and Douglas fir define the interior designTwo primary materials were used for the two-storey building: granite, which forms many of the islands in the area, and Douglas fir, which the architects used in the exposed roofs found throughout the home, as well as in cabinetry and on certain walls.

      “The granite is coarse-grained and hard,” said the studio. “It references the minerality of the site and imbues the interiors with a sense of ruggedness.”
      “The Douglas fir offers tactility and warmth, and it connects the house with vernacular building traditions,” the studio added, noting that some of the materials used came from the site itself.
      Studio Paolo Ferrari placed the communal areas on the upper floorStudio Paolo Ferrari designed an inverted layout for the two-bedroom home, placing the communal areas on the upper floor to give them the best views of Lake Rosseau.
      The open-concept kitchen, living, and dining room is anchored by a granite kitchen counter that appears to be made of a rough block of stone. Its edges cantilever out, creating a place to sit for a casual meal.
      Two bedrooms feature on the ground floor”The kitchen island – a large, unfinished block of granite – evokes the boulders and outcroppings one sees across the Canadian Shield, an expanse of bedrock that extends from the Great Lakes to the Arctic Coast,” said Studio Paolo Ferrari.
      “With its size and monumentality, the island offsets the expertly crafted cabinetry that surrounds it.”
      A granite island takes centre stage in the kitchenThe living room is fronted by tall, sliding glass doors that open onto a terrace that offers sweeping views of the lake below.
      Most of the surfaces are covered in a light-coloured wood, which helps the space feel airy and bright.

      Ali Budd Interiors transforms Muskoka log cabin into art-filled cottage

      The bedrooms were located on the ground floor. The primary suite faces out onto the lake, while a guest bedroom is located at the back of the home. Its windows open out onto rocky outcroppings and thick trees, lending the space a sense of privacy.
      “Windows frame views in all directions, not only outward to the lake but also inward to the granite escarpment, which is every bit as exquisite as the dappled water,” added the studio.
      Furnishings were kept simple throughout the homeThe home’s bathrooms were finished in dark granite, creating a sense of contrast from the bright open spaces in the bedrooms and communal areas.
      Throughout the home, the furnishings were kept as simple as possible.
      “Our guiding ethos was warm minimalism,” Studio Paolo Ferrari explained. “The interiors derive their elegance from a lack of visual clutter.”
      The lake house includes a gabled roofOther natural retreats in Canada include a dramatic, cantilevered structure overlooking a lake, and a ski cottage that appears to have been split in two, by Montreal-based firm Naturehumaine.
      The photography is by Joel Esposito.

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      Nivek Remas renovates founder's home to serve as its office space

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      Toronto studio Nivek Remas has renovated its founder’s home to create an office for the studio based on changes in working conditions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

      Early in 2020, the Canadian interior design studio led by Kevin Chan and Samer Shaath was poised to lease new office space for its expanding business. However, these plans were halted by pandemic restrictions.
      Nivek Remas renovated one of its founder’s home for the studio officesThroughout the lockdowns that impacted Canadians and the subsequent work-from-home standards, the office sought ways to work together in the future, without going to an office full-time.
      “[We] quickly recognized the shift in what defines an office and the culture that was evolving from those blurred lines,” Nivek Remas’ Kevin Chan told Dezeen.
      The home was converted to have spaces for work and leisureThe duo decided to renovate one of their homes to serve as an office for the young firm, which was established in 2016.

      The new studio was completed in 2021 and is located in an area of Toronto called Cabbagetown, just east of the city centre.
      The studio plays into the work-from-home trendIt occupies 1,250 square feet (116 square metres) of a standalone house in a residential neighbourhood.
      The completed studio has a main office area, conference rooms, as well a kitchen and a dining nook.
      The ground floor has eight workstationsVisitors enter the office along a green hallway accented with glass wall sconces. By the entrance, there is a powder room and a coat closet.
      The ground floor has eight workstations laid in an open-concept configuration. Most of the furniture is black, including the desktops and chairs.
      The space functions as a workstation for the interior design studioAt the front of the house, a kitchenette and breakfast nook look out onto the street. The designers used a darker palette of greens and olive tones in the kitchenette area to contrast the workstations, which are painted white and filled with light and plants.
      An open staircase leads to the upper floor, where the team included a new conference room that offers some privacy from the main work area. It includes a long table and a couch, for more informal gatherings.
      Dark greens were used for some walls and detailsOther amenities of this home-and-office combination include a gym and bike storage for commuters located in the basement.
      The founders of Nivek Remas said that although the new office space helps collaboration, they balance out the time spent there with remote work.

      Ten tranquil garden studios designed for work and play

      The studio said that it has embraced a fully hybrid model and that the office space allows for “creative gathering”.
      “We see this as our studio for at least another five years or until we outgrow the space,” Chan said. “It’s a true representation of our studio work and ethos but also a true representation of the times and how casually defined offices are now.
      “Corporate offices are trying to become more WFH and more casual with coffee bars, and table tennis or gaming break out areas, but we’re approaching it from the other direction and making a residential space more studio,” he added.

      Many architects and designers embraced the work-from-home trend, building out new spaces for themselves during the pandemic.
      Other examples include a coastal Maine cabin that 30X40 Design Workshop completed as its office, and the Beverly Hills home of Gerhard Heusch, who built himself an underground office using concrete.
      The photography is by Scott Norsworthy.
      Project credits:Interior design: Nivek RemasConstruction: Shape Building GroupMillwork: Ell-Rod Architectural Millwork

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