King West
Dissatisfaction with a high-rise rental inspired the construction of a new home.
After a couple traded the house where they raised their children for a condominium above downtown Toronto, they realized they didn’t prefer the shift. Sure, they enjoyed sprawling views and surrounding city life, but they didn’t like the daily routine of a parking garage and an elevator to get to their front door. They wanted to return to a stand-alone property, and because they’re actors, they searched for one that was close to entertainment.
The bungalow they found in the central King West neighborhood had its fair share of problems: floors drooped by six inches across a 25-foot frame and holes gaped through the roof. Architect Kyra Clarkson of MODERNest Inc. decided to scrap the site and build a new home as a second fresh start. “The goal was to create a handsome, contemporary home that nestles quietly into its urban context,” she said. Clarkson created a three-story design punctuated by natural wood accents and an abundance of light, confident that it’s “a home that is built to last, and a home that can accommodate change,” she said.

“The interior was designed as a backdrop to the art and life of its inhabitants,” Clarkson noted. “A custom-built wall of display cubes adds an accent of primary color in the second floor hallway.” Solid white oak flooring continues onto the second level from the stairs, and Middlebrook Woodworking Ltd. lacquered that same material for the display cubes.