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A Traditional Toronto House Becomes Modern

In an East-end neighborhood in Toronto, +tongtong renovated and designed an addition to a traditional Victorian house while respecting the surrounding homes. The homeowners longed for a modern house with bright, open living spaces, but wanted it to honor the architecture of the neighborhood. +tongtong managed to complete the task by using natural and industrial materials that were inspired by rural living and the home’s original build date.

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Both the interior and exterior feature grey and black zinc, giving a blended sense of traditional and contemporary. To flood all three floors with natural daylight, a vertical shaft was built to distribute light from large skylights above. Above the kitchen, a zinc ceiling continues up one wall of the shaft adding visual interest to it.

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A vent-free ethanol fireplace was built into the kitchen counter to add ambience to the dining room.

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The third floor’s gable was replaced with a triangular glass window that offers views of the neighborhood and downtown. A custom triangular blind was installed to shade the sun and when not in use, it hides within the millwork.

Photos by Lisa Petrole, courtesy of v2com.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.