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Terracotta tiles in the kitchen lend a sense of warmth. The stools are from Blu Dot and the pendant light is Foscarini.

For the landscape, Neal worked with a friend from graduate school who is based in Portland at landscape architecture firm Lookout.

The kitchen features oak cabinets by cabinetmaker Randy Landis and Caesarstone countertops. Marvin sliding doors open to one of the home's two patios.

The architects wrapped this room in storage, this time with the same wood and finish as the primary bathroom vanity. The wall light is the Bega Semi-Recessed Globe Luminaire, with an EQ3 Round Ottoman in Lana Light Purple sitting before the dressing table. In order to maintain flexibility in the plan, Clément and Eleonora can also convert this to a bedroom at a later time.

In 2020, Isabel and David Yahng bought their Portland house, which was originally designed by architect Saul Zaik in 1963.

Corian surfaces in the steam shower creates a warm, soft-to-the-touch finish.

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.”

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 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.

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.”

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 family sat on two dozen different sofas trying to find the right mix of comfort and sleekness before deciding custom was the way to go. A deep-cushioned, slim-backed piece—built by Luke Parsons Millwork—fits just right and somehow makes the whole space just seem bigger. It also features pull-out footstools, a coffee table and concealed storage for blankets. Custom upholstery is by The Big Stuff.

The main floor didn’t open up to the backyard or take advantage of the space. Bader and team changed that, removing a slope-roofed extension at the back of the home and rebuilding it to full height with full Bauhaus sliding doors to connect the interior space right out to the garden.

Erica and her mom enjoy cooking together, and this kitchen makes that easy to do so, with an expanded footprint, leathered quartzite counters, and custom white oak cabinetry. Shoe storage was built-in by the exterior door, with a slim cupboard for cleaning supplies.

The stone slab forms a display niche in the cabinetry, and syncs up with the materials used elsewhere in the house. The step up, and the flooring material change, designates the boundary between foyer and the rest of the home.