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Super-matte white p-Lam upper cabinets blend with the walls to give the illusion that the space is wider than its 16 feet. Lower cabinets are a rich walnut veneer, topped with Glacier White Corian countertops. Concealed sockets from Bocci add to the sleek, minimalist effect, while a soapstone slab on the island adds a welcoming warmth. “The island is where everyone sits, for breakfast, for snacks, for working,” says Bader. “You don’t want a surface that’s polished and cold.”

The streamlined design and storage has prompted the family to live in a more minimalist way. “It’s so nice to live without so much stuff. There is more storage to put things but because it feels so good to have a calmer space, it pushes us to lean in and declutter.”

The white oak hardwood staircase between the main and second floor were installed by RK Woodworking. A plywood, MDF-finished guardrail is painted white to match the walls; the handrail features an integrated LED strip light.

Perforated steel and a glass guardrail on the stairwell allow the skinny second-floor hallway to feel as open as possible.

The wood-burning fireplace on the main floor adds so much ambiance that Shelley says she finds herself wishing for cooler days so she can light it up.

White oak hardwood was laid in a herringbone pattern with a band around the edge, defining the spaces and emphasizing the flow to the back of the home.

From one end, there’s a stunning view of West Toronto; on the other side, the family overlooks a vibrant alleyway (“We see garages and houses, a patchwork of people’s interests,” says Shelley.)

The cylindrical fireplace has windows on the side, so the flickering flames are visible from multiple angles.

Paul pushed hard for a laundry chute from the third floor. The door is concealed in the custom bedside drawers.

The bathroom towards the front of the building had a greater width than the staircase: rather than having a notch, Bader curved the wall. “It gave it flow instead of an abrupt change of direction.” That theme is echoed on the main level, with a curved ceiling in the kitchen to disguise a pesky bulkhead.

Since the photo shoot, the couple have placed a desk in the triangular window nook and use the perch as a workspace. “There’s just something about it that hugs you,” says Shelley. “I feel very focused and relaxed when I’m here.”

Floor Plan of Little Portugal House by Creative Union Network

The exterior walls are from Kebony, the roof from Prefa, and the windows from Velfac

The interior walls, ceilings, and built-ins are clad in Siberian larch from UPK Concept. Tham placed the glazed openings and doorways to maintain clear sight lines throughout the long and narrow home.

A fireplace in the living room features glazed clay bricks from Swedish manufacturer Tegelbolaget. The dining table and chairs are by Kristensen & Kristensen.

One of the home's five bedrooms features a dramatic wall of windows at one end of the home.

A look at the upstairs sitting area.

“The tent-like shape resembles a mountain. When the snow falls, the triangle becomes embedded in the landscape,” Tham says.