Design Concept:

An historic residence which underwent a full scale renovation and a series of ambitious additions. The project involved the construction of a Coach House accommodating a two storey Library, the existing Main House demolished to the exterior brick, the interior fully reconfigured and an extensive two storey addition added to the rear portion of the residence. The notable, steeply pitched roof dictated the language of the newly constructed areas making strong reference to domestic architecture of northern France. The roof line, brick banding and window configuration are articulated such that the new additions are virtually seamless with the existing structure. The Main House, positioned on a hill, evolved into an interesting c shape configuration, uniquely providing direct view from all principle rooms to the gardens. The mandate was to maintain as much as possible of what was a remarkable maturely cultivated existing garden expanding the full width of the double lot – an almost country like setting just minutes from downtown Toronto. Plantings were selected to ensure colour throughout the year. Existing mature trees were complimented by the introduction of globe boxwoods, yew hedges, lavender and carpet roses. Japanese maple and Eastern redbud trees present contrast against the greenery provided by boxwood, yews and climbing ivy. The interior envelope aims to express classical architectural detail from a contemporary viewpoint hence the use of pared down profiles, limited ornamentation and a soft colour palette. This project differed from all other projects to date in that the client came from generations of collectors and the residence was to integrate an abundance of family heirlooms, balancing elegance and formality with the owner’s personal sense of eclecticism and modernity. The soul of the space is established by the use of the existing antique pieces and objets – an extensive collection of period English antiques and 17th, 18th and 19th Century porcelain. Period antiques are matched in quality and craftsmanship as presented with the introduction of contemporary works by Herve Van der Straeten, Lee Hun Chung, Line Vautrin, Marc Bankowsky,

Marco Zanuso, Pierre Jeanneret, Yves Klein among others. Canadian works of art are juxtaposed with a collection of both vintage and contemporary photography.

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