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My Houzz: Bold and Modern in Toronto
A light-filled modern home with skyline views sits comfortably alongside its historically preserved neighbors
I'm a Houzz home tour contributor and I work for a Toronto-based architectural design firm, Roundabout Studio.
You can view some of my non-architectural photography at http://www.flickr.com/andrew_snow
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I'm a Houzz home tour contributor and I work for a Toronto-based architectural... More »
Although her original plan was to build a conservative home similar in style to the rest of her historic Toronto neighborhood, builder Kate Prevedello ultimately chose a different route. She decided to take advantage of the rare opportunity to start over and hired architect Michael Taylor of Taylor Smyth Architects to design a three-story contemporary structure. Smyth designed the shell, which is clad in wood slats, gray brick and steel panels, and Prevedello took care of the interior.
She relished the chance to be her own client, make her own decisions and build an exciting house. She felt it was important to live in a place she'd created, to feel it out and notice things more intimately. "To not do so, would be like opening a restaurant and never having a meal there," she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kate Prevedello, her partner Scott McGrenere and Tuc, their cat
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Size: 3,000 square feet; two bedrooms; five bathrooms
That's interesting: Prevedello’s sister is also in the midst of building a contemporary home in the downtown core with architect David Pontarini.
She relished the chance to be her own client, make her own decisions and build an exciting house. She felt it was important to live in a place she'd created, to feel it out and notice things more intimately. "To not do so, would be like opening a restaurant and never having a meal there," she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kate Prevedello, her partner Scott McGrenere and Tuc, their cat
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Size: 3,000 square feet; two bedrooms; five bathrooms
That's interesting: Prevedello’s sister is also in the midst of building a contemporary home in the downtown core with architect David Pontarini.
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The couple did not purchase any new furniture when they moved in. Instead of trying to furnish the home all at once, they decided to get to know the space and make informed decisions when they were ready. In the meantime, they used their existing furniture.
Prevedello inherited much of the furniture, like this dining table, from her father. It is an Italian design that came from one of his restaurants.
Dining chair: Millefoglie, Plank
Prevedello inherited much of the furniture, like this dining table, from her father. It is an Italian design that came from one of his restaurants.
Dining chair: Millefoglie, Plank
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| The first floor has a completely open plan, except for a small powder room near the stairs. You can see right through to the full-height glass doors that open onto the backyard from the front entry. The home opens up to a skylight above the dining table and a private backyard, flanked by neighboring houses on two sides and the street on a third. |
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Designing for a larger-than-average lot allowed Smyth to play with openings in the floor plan. He placed the dining area in a double-height space, flanked by the living room and kitchen, with a TV area above.
After the architect’s work was done, Prevedello stood onsite with the kitchen supplier to determine the final length of the 12-foot island. Midnight snacking proved to be the limiting factor in its size, as it would be easiest to walk straight from the stairs to the fridge without having to navigate around any corners.
After the architect’s work was done, Prevedello stood onsite with the kitchen supplier to determine the final length of the 12-foot island. Midnight snacking proved to be the limiting factor in its size, as it would be easiest to walk straight from the stairs to the fridge without having to navigate around any corners.
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| The kitchen's white walls, white cabinetry and pale oak floors provide a neutral backdrop for stone and walnut accents. The stone is Bianco Asiago, a white marble used extensively in the Veneto region of Italy, where Prevedello’s family comes from. She visits often, so the stone has important family significance. Gas range: Wolf |
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| Although most of the kitchen supplies are neatly stored out of sight, simple oak shelves provide an opportunity to showcase a collection of Prevedello’s unusual jugs. The contrasting texture of the Asiago slab behind the range provides a weighty focal point for the space. |
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The framed painting is part of a triptych by Canadian artist David Blackwood. Prevedello learned that there's a fourth painting, which she's tried in vain to find to complete the set.
An evolving and wonderful cross-section of the couple’s interests dresses the fireplace mantel. Cuts of wood from the house's construction sit inside an Italian wine box; a pair of hammers lie near a vase recently made for the couple by a close friend; and canoe paddles show their love of the outdoors. As they grow into the space, this area will continually change to reflect their personalities.
An evolving and wonderful cross-section of the couple’s interests dresses the fireplace mantel. Cuts of wood from the house's construction sit inside an Italian wine box; a pair of hammers lie near a vase recently made for the couple by a close friend; and canoe paddles show their love of the outdoors. As they grow into the space, this area will continually change to reflect their personalities.
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During the summer, the couple’s favorite space to be in is the living room. When the floor-to-ceiling windows are open, the room has the feel of an outdoor living area. A vivid painting by Helen Lucas brings saturated floral tones to the back wall and echoes the notion of garden living.
This 1970s coffee table from Bungalow is one of the few pieces the couple bought after moving in.
This 1970s coffee table from Bungalow is one of the few pieces the couple bought after moving in.
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| Outside, a concrete deck and slatted wood roof create boundaries to define the patio. The slats cut down on the harsh summer sun, cooling both the patio and the living room inside. The fireplace mantel extends outdoors, wrapping to conceal a charcoal grill where the couple often grill an impromptu dinner. |
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Back inside, the lightweight slatted staircase helps to draw light from a large window on the landing. Most of the treads are made from the same oak as the floor, except for the slab of Bianco Asiago stone anchoring the staircase to the ground floor. Prevedello designed this slab with a shadow gap at the bottom to make the extremely heavy piece appear to float above the floor.
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The master bath is calm and serene, dressed in light cream and white tones. The off-the-shelf vanity and linen cabinet came from Canadian company Wetsyle.
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Amid the room's warm neutrals, that the only bits of color are the walnut vanity sink and the always interesting Toronto sky.
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The third floor houses Prevedello’s office and a rooftop deck. The steel-clad overhang provides a sheltered place to sit and read or take in the view. Surrounded by trees, it feels like a quiet retreat within the home.
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Although the house lies just northwest of Toronto's downtown core, it sits on a quiet one-way street in a tree-filled neighborhood. The height of the foliage helps to provide some privacy from the neighbors, but this third-floor deck maintains skyline views.
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The lot sits on the west side of the street, so the backyard and rooftop deck receive lots of afternoon sun. The vegetable garden in the backyard has been a great success for the couple, and the rooftop is the perfect place to watch the rain-soaked clouds light up with the setting summer sun.
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A wall of white cabinetry just off the entry provides room for coats and shoes, but can also double as pantry space. The floor-to-ceiling door hints at the material used on the front façade.
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Clad in the same material as the rest of the ground floor, the door sits flush against the façade. Minimal hardware helps the door to disappear, drawing the eye toward the floor-to-ceiling window. As guests wait on the front porch, they get a framed view of the custom kitchen and Wolf gas range.
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Two years after completing the home, Prevedello still hears people declare “What a beautiful house” as they pass by. "My favorite so far was the sweet 5-year-old who told me I won the best house award! People just have such a positive reaction to it. It is very rewarding,” she says.
“Building a house can be a daunting task," Prevedello continues. "It takes patience, perseverance, dedication, flexibility and a heck of a lot of decision making. It is important to remember that someone will be living in that space, so I try and make it with comfort. Comfortable and practical — the rest falls in place.”
Houzz call: Do you live in a creative, modern home? Share it with us!
“Building a house can be a daunting task," Prevedello continues. "It takes patience, perseverance, dedication, flexibility and a heck of a lot of decision making. It is important to remember that someone will be living in that space, so I try and make it with comfort. Comfortable and practical — the rest falls in place.”
Houzz call: Do you live in a creative, modern home? Share it with us!
Ideabook updated on July 19, 2012.
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Not all of the bathrooms are full bathrooms - that number includes powder rooms as well.
Also, the design of the house offers great flexibility for a larger family to inhabit it in the future. Other than the master ensuite, all of the bathrooms are located next to open plan areas that could easily be converted to bedrooms with the addition of a wall.