High Park
Unused third-story attic becomes new parents' primary bedroom and grand ensuite, including full renovation of 1,000 sq.ft. ground floor.
Our Clients
With a new baby on the way, Grant and Christine were feeling pressure for more space.
They loved the good bones and charm of their 1920s west-end Toronto home, but, like many homes built during the early 20th century, the floor plan was tight and partitioned, limiting the sense of freedom and space. The many walls and doors made it difficult to see into other rooms. The one bathroom on the seconnd floor was tiny and dated, and their primary bedroom didn't feel all that grand. They wanted their home to look and feel more expansive, but without necessarily needing to add a bulky box onto the back of the house.
There was great hidden potential in Grant and Christine’s floor plan - the unused attic space. Moving their primary bedroom and ensuite bath to the third-floor attic freed up more space on the second floor for their expanding family.
The result is a third-floor oasis for the new parents. The freestanding tub in the bathroom is a piece of art and focal point of the space. French doors were installed to integrate the space with the outdoors and offer a wonderful treetop view.
It didn’t end with the attic. Every single inch of the house was thoughtfully laid out to maximize space. The main floor now boasts an open-concept kitchen and dining room with floor-to-ceiling double doors that lead to the new deck. We even snuck in a main-floor powder room.
The Neighbourhood
High Park
It’s not really clear what the City planners were thinking when they laid out the streets in the area immediately north of High Park, between High Park Avenue and Runnymede Road.
The orderly grid arrangement in the surrounding area gives way to a confusing network of twisting streets that weave and slope their way through the hills and valleys of this century-old neighbourhood. With mature trees, great schools, shops and restaurants of The Junction and Bloor West Village, and convenient subway access nearby, it’s understandably one of Toronto's most popular, family-friendly areas.
But like many old Toronto neighbourhoods, the houses in this area were designed and built for very different times than those we live in today.
Each floor was extended by 7.5 feet to increase the useable footprint and create an open-concept kitchen and dining room on the ground floor.
We built a new primary bedroom and luxury ensuite bathroom in the unused third-storey space, creating an area of retreat within the house. We upgraded the second-floor bathroom and added a staircase to the third-story master bedroom and bathroom.
A rear deck was added to the property for greater opportunity to make the most of the Toronto summers.
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The Numbers
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Project Challenges
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Drawings & Plans
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“With space at a premium, transforming the attic into a private retreat while maintaining the original character of the house gave us the best of both worlds.”
Christine
Homeowner
"The three bathrooms in this home are some of my favourites that I've ever had the pleasure of designing - each one has a unique feature. Christine put a lot of care and thought into every decision, no matter how big or small."