You would never think that such a decrepit, crumbling interior would exist in a community as beautiful as Cabbagetown. Located near one of the most beautiful parks in Toronto, this old Victorian row house was a wreck, but you know what they say: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
With its closed off spaces and dust that owner Robert had to shower off the first time he visited, we magicked this house into the modern, open concept stunner it is now! I’m here to give you all the intel, room by room, on how we flipped this ancient mess into a contemporary home that still has that Cabbagetown Victorian charm.
Before we get into that, keep something in mind: it’s important when designing a small city home that you consider the elements you want to incorporate ahead of time, to ensure smart planning of a functional AND aesthetically pleasing design. This will guarantee that no on the fly decisions will wreck the delicate balance between old and new in the space.
On that note, get ready for the tour!
Main Floor
In order to open up the staircase and give the main floor feel more spacious, we used glass railings throughout the staircase. That way the wall popped and brought movement to the top floor, so the spotlight fell on other aspects of the space.
Not to mention our favorite open concept! We placed the kitchen in the center of the home so that it became an anchor between the living and dining room, transforming it into the heart of the home. It’s great for families because you can see everyone both in the living room and dining room while cooking up a storm in the kitchen!
We decided to go with a pop art theme, which really speaks to the modern motif. The dining room and living room are placed beside the kitchen, so the wall really pops (pun intended) and becomes the feature point of the whole floor!
Kitchen
We incorporated a variety of different styles in this kitchen, a play between the classic and contemporary modern. There’s a lot of combination to promote as much seamlessness as possible. This makes it unique, but timeless in its application as well!
We tucked fridge away behind cabinet doors to make it camouflage and transition right into the pantry cabinets. Also, life hack! We used extra marble material that was intended for the counter, and created the backsplash for the kitchen! This consistent pattern introduces more uniformity as well.
You’ll notice this recycling of familiar colors and textures throughout the kitchen that ties it all together. For example, to give the kitchen a high end look we create a custom hood with gold details and an olive color that matched the island. This way, choosing the bold olive tone enhances the kitchen and creates boundaries from the all-white kitchen, rather than drowning everything else out.
We also gave the island stainless steel frames to not only help define the panel of the cabinetry and help against bangs and scuffs that take place in a family home, but the beautiful sloped custom range hood ties into the same color scheme as the island! The island also becomes complete with the stainless steel strips that give the hood an industrial feel.
The Master Bathroom
You’ll probably notice the sliding barn door, a rustic style popular for its function AND beauty. The real highlight of the bathroom, though? High. Ceilings. Who doesn’t like high ceilings?
If high ceilings don’t cut it for you, consider the great shower system as well as exquisite marble tiles that go around the full bathroom!
Adding a feature wall behind the toilet made out of a beautiful textured rough stone creates a nice backdrop with a warm and inviting feel and has a very nice contrast against the white stone installed on the floor and against the shower.
To make the most out of the space we designed a vanity with drawers that store everything for your everyday needs. Since it is a city feel instead of chrome we went with a nice black finish for the faucet hardware.
And there you have it! Robert loves this new space, and we hope you do too! It takes a lot of meticulous planning to get the most out of a complete transformation like this, but it really goes to show that it’s possible, and total worth it!
Tell me what you think of the space, and if you would ever consider making a home! Also, I want to know what you prefer, modern sleek, old time charm, or a combination of both?
Are you looking to completely reno and transform your space? Ensure the careful smart planning you need from day one, and contact Dvira Interiors! We look forward to incorporating our vision, scope, technical expertise and industry connections to make your home’s design/build experience as positive and rewarding as possible.