Glenrose Ave

The owners of this Rosedale home like to entertain large family gatherings.  However, it was difficult to accommodate 20-plus people comfortably on the ground floor.  But rather than add a large addition out the rear of the house, we found that a careful reorganization of the space and a more open ground floor layout meant that only a small increase in the overall footprint of the house was required.  We are using this more modest addition as an opportunity to create a cohesive rear elevation for the house, and to add a private deck on the second floor.  A glass curtain wall and an open stairwell in the first floor will bring much-needed light to the basement.

Our client is a small family of three, and so we need to create a sense of intimacy once the guests are gone. We’re addressing this by using materials to emphasize the transitions from one open space to another.  Natural stone serves as a kitchen island countertop and also a built-in bench which borders the family room.  A contemporary version of traditional wainscoting makes the family room a cozy and inviting space.  That same wainscoting wraps around millwork leading to the rear entrance area of the house, which includes another built-in bench, cabinetry for coats and boots, and a chalkboard perfect for leaving messages for family members.  It is these transitions which suggest a unified whole, but also demarcates space where walls do not exist.

This project is currently in development, and construction will commence in the spring.