This 100-year-old row house belongs to a family in Toronto, Canada, who have lived there for 12 years. Their work as a fashion photographer and model allowed them to travel widely and see beautiful architecture, which became inspiration for their old home. Drew Mandel Architects renovated the house completely inside and updated parts of the exterior. The new modern structure was meant to express who the owners are and how they live. The facade and several key details were changed. The project is called "The Beach House", but it avoids the expected beach-house cliche. Instead, the home has heart and soul, qualities that are clear in the photos.
Modern furniture and a new facade
Two new box-like volumes were integrated into the facade. They have black frames and a modern look that is hard to miss. The black color creates a dramatic contrast with the old brick. The architects wove these modern elements into the furniture and details so they would reflect the owners’ personalities, the history of the house and the renovation process: open shelves, travel souvenirs, a kitchen island on wheels, steel supports where old and new structures meet, and old brick pillars in front of the new entry.
Modern furniture for old house
The renovation includes a new entrance, a new facade and a new ground-floor plan that brings in plenty of light and creates space for modern family life. The basement was completely renovated and is used as a suite. This is a common Toronto house type: a three-storey home with a basement, parking and a garden. The clients wanted a meaningful but reasonable change – not a bigger house, but a cozier one.
Peter Dark
miranda_shida
Anna Lohan
