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When Studio Vaaro set about to renovate this house in Toronto's Rathnelly neighborhood, they had to dig deep (literally) in order to expand the space while maintaining the facade.

Thanks to the large glass doors, "The kitchen is so bright. Most of the time, you don't have to have lights on, even in Vancouver's winter,

The counters are natural quartzite, called "Elegant Grey

Aleksandra shifted and shortened the window to pack in usable storage around it. The cabinets are painted Rainy Afternoon by Benjamin Moore, combined with white oak boxes for contrast. “We were also badly hit by the material price increases during Covid,” says Aleksandra, whether it was kitchen cabinets or framing lumber. The couple were receiving quotes that changed week to week.

The original ceiling, made from old-growth pine, adds warmth to the living room, balancing out the white walls and salvaged white oak flooring.

Walnut and Formica cabinetry, Neolith basalt counters, and concrete floors make up the kitchen’s minimal palette; a large clerestory ushers in natural light.

The dining area is completely open to the outdoors. “Ian and Krista wanted to celebrate their everyday routine and abandon things they don’t use, like a formal dining space,” says Jess. The Jorn dining table is by Minotti while the Mariposa chairs are by Fyrn. The grill is by Lion and the heater is by Heatstrip.

Concreteworks countertops, a Wolf range, Kallista sink, and Boffi faucet also fill the space.

Casa Dosmurs has less storage space than most family homes, but Benjamín and Alicia don’t mind. They happily downsized their possessions to just what they needed while preparing for the move.

Casa Dosmurs is decorated sparsely with furniture by friends and local designers. The couple also collect prints from Benjamín’s brother, who works as a photographer.

The team created an open floor plan for the interior, where the kitchen opens to the dining and the living areas. Concrete flooring lends a soothing quality to the rooms, where there's a built-in concrete bench that also acts as a plinth for the fireplace.

Tyler fabricated the metal stair rail, which contrasts with the brick flooring in the entry, the wood stair treads, and the concrete flooring of the living area.

The family home that residents Tyler Lepore, Lisa Giroday, builders Hanson Land & Sea, and September Architecture devised in the Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, is wrapped with cedar and brick, tying to its wooded surround, which is only a four-minute walk to the ocean. "The house feels like it's part of the setting,