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Collection by Sam Elmore

A Cramped Boarding House Transformed Into an Open, Modern Home in Toronto

Natural materials and a strong attention to detail connect a disjointed property.

In a Toronto neighborhood, a young couple became permanent residents in a former boarding house and adjacent coach house. With a growing family and a love for entertaining, the clients desired a versatile residence instead a series of confined bedrooms and detached structures. Dubbeldam Architecture + Design designed open spaces inside and out that help connect the two structures for the family to host parties, meals, and activities. “As these were all separate living units, the flow throughout the house was naturally constricted by the numerous walls,” says Heather Dubbeldam, principal and founder. “Converting both the house and coach house into a single family residence gave us the opportunity to open up the building for contemporary living.” Drawing from a diverse palette of materials, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design revived the existing structures and organized the backyard, creating a unified home.

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“The material choices for the interior were not directly influenced by the facade, but we did use fumed oak flooring throughout the house, and its deep reddish color picks up on some of the tones present in the exterior,” Dubbeldam says. The couple selected a mix of contemporary furniture and modern classics like the Saarinen side table.
“The material choices for the interior were not directly influenced by the facade, but we did use fumed oak flooring throughout the house, and its deep reddish color picks up on some of the tones present in the exterior,” Dubbeldam says. The couple selected a mix of contemporary furniture and modern classics like the Saarinen side table.
Beat Stout lights by Tom Dixon glow over the the custom dining room table designed by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design and built by Lakeland Interiors, which also did some of the millwork in the house. The dining room chairs are from the Tauro Collection by Lievore Altherr Molina for Andreu World.
Beat Stout lights by Tom Dixon glow over the the custom dining room table designed by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design and built by Lakeland Interiors, which also did some of the millwork in the house. The dining room chairs are from the Tauro Collection by Lievore Altherr Molina for Andreu World.
“The large cutout is perfect for entertaining, but also frames the Edward Burtynsky print in the dining room,” Dubbeldam says.
“The large cutout is perfect for entertaining, but also frames the Edward Burtynsky print in the dining room,” Dubbeldam says.
Bright, white, and airy. This Toronto kitchen features a 13-foot Calacatta marble island, countertops, and a matching backsplash that pair perfectly with the custom white aluminum cabinets.
Bright, white, and airy. This Toronto kitchen features a 13-foot Calacatta marble island, countertops, and a matching backsplash that pair perfectly with the custom white aluminum cabinets.
“The walnut unit between the kitchen and dining room ties into the fumed oak floor,” Dubbeldam says. “The rest of the materials in the house—glass, marble, stone—were selected to offset the wood.”
“The walnut unit between the kitchen and dining room ties into the fumed oak floor,” Dubbeldam says. “The rest of the materials in the house—glass, marble, stone—were selected to offset the wood.”
The original turret provides ample sunlight during the day, while a wall-mounted Tolomeo lamp by Artemide is used at night.
The original turret provides ample sunlight during the day, while a wall-mounted Tolomeo lamp by Artemide is used at night.
The master bathroom features a Wetstyle bathtub and Mare Bianco limestone walls.
The master bathroom features a Wetstyle bathtub and Mare Bianco limestone walls.
The outdoor deck is made from ipe. The wood was selected to complement the fumed oak flooring inside the house. “We carried the level of design detail throughout [the property] because we wanted the exterior to feel like an extension of the living space, especially for entertaining, but also as a connection to the coach house,” Dubbeldam says.
The outdoor deck is made from ipe. The wood was selected to complement the fumed oak flooring inside the house. “We carried the level of design detail throughout [the property] because we wanted the exterior to feel like an extension of the living space, especially for entertaining, but also as a connection to the coach house,” Dubbeldam says.