In Canada, a bunker-like art studio, a playful family pad, and this bright-red townhouse show us how homes with personality can still respect their contexts.

Off a main thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, Eva Pianezzola’s house is tucked within a quiet street of Victorian townhomes. Its front facade blends in with the neighborhood of ornate redbrick mansions, but there are details—bright red trim at the windows and upside-down address numbers outside the front door—that hint at the surprising elements behind it.

“The backs of these Victorians are often ticky-tacky, and there are all sorts of ad hoc additions,” says Kilogram Studio’s Kfir Gluzberg, who worked with Eva on the design of the house. This project has something different.

Eva, an urban designer and architect, wanted the long backyard to be the star of the design. It’s home to a lush garden in the warmer months and becomes a snow-covered wonderland in the colder months, and it’s presided over by a bold, red facade meant to complement the red brick of the neighborhood but also to contrast sharply with the elements.

“I don’t love red, but for the house it made so much sense,” says Eva. She moved in just before Christmas 2021 with her computer programmer partner, Mattia Gheda, and large golden doodle, Lola.

The 1,840-square-foot, two-story house has a living area off the front entrance that flows into an open dining and kitchen space. The second floor contains two offices and two bedrooms. The back wall has large windows, a sliding door to the patio, and a slender doggy door for Lola.

Though the red stays mostly on the exterior, pops of color enliven the interiors as well. Rich and glossy blue cabinets in the kitchen help to reflect natural light, and aluminum tambour covers keep messier ingredients and appliances out of sight.

Functionality is key for Eva, especially when her family visits from Italy. Thus, the powder room becomes a wet room with a handheld showerhead and hidden drains, and the living room can be reconfigured to sleep many guests.

That resourceful mindset was drawn from Eva’s love of sailing. Having spent a lot of time on boats, she came to appreciate how small spaces were used so ingeniously. This influence shows up in places like the main bedroom, which features a ladder that leads to a skylighted nook.

“There are a lot of things that connect to that nautical feeling,” says Gluzberg. “The skylights are very deep and narrow, so you’re always getting a feeling like you’re immersed in something.”

It’s funny that a home can be so transportive when, on first glance, it blends so easily with the rest of the buildings on the street. “Apart from the red frames and the new windows, you don’t know what’s going on in this house,” says Eva. “With such a bold design and color, it’s important for it to be a bit discreet. It’s fun, but it’s not in your face—I hope.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Kilogram Studio / @kilogramstudio

Builder: Desar Construction Studio Inc.

Structural Engineering: Honeycomb Group

Cabinetry Design & Installation: BL Woodworking

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In Toronto, a Townhouse Maintains a Punchy Profile While Fitting in With Its Neighbors