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An Urban Retreat on a Small Lot in Downtown Toronto

Situated on a small lot in downtown Toronto, the Bellwoods Lodge is a three-story residence designed by Great Lake Studio as a family’s urban retreat. The close family’s love of outdoors led the design plan, which finds its living room on the top floor surrounded by the tree tops acting like a cabin in the woods. Cedar planks clad the ceiling and a wood stove warms the room to create a cozy and peaceful sanctuary for the family to enjoy.

A short staircase up leads to an outdoor terrance with views of the city, sunsets, and the night sky.

Skylights and a multi-split level floor plan create a light well that brings natural light to all three floors of the residence.

The ground floor is another split level with the kitchen and dining room raised above a sunken library/sitting room which connects to the front porch.

A suspended bed in the children’s room keeps the floor free and makes the space feel bigger.

The lower level entrance acts as a massive closet with wall storage for bikes and space for coats and boots to be hidden away.

 

Photos by Tom Arban, courtesy of BowerBird.

Caroline Williamson is the former Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk and a writer with a passion for modern design, architecture, and creative culture. She holds a BFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, solving New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or curating Spotify playlists.