Custom homes and renovations in Forest Hill
Forest Hill is one of Toronto's most architecturally distinguished neighbourhoods — a landscape of mature trees, generous lots, and homes that range from grand Tudor Revival and Georgian estates to mid-century moderns and contemporary new builds. Designing well here demands more than technical skill. It requires a genuine understanding of what makes the neighbourhood cohere: its material language of brick, limestone, and stone; the rhythm of its streets; the relationship between house and garden that gives Forest Hill its particular sense of settled permanence.
Michael Taylor Architecture + Design has completed multiple projects on Forest Hill's most prestigious streets. Our approach in this neighbourhood is always the same — design that earns its place without mimicking its surroundings. Contemporary homes that use the area's material vocabulary with precision and restraint. Renovations that honour what was original while making room for the way a family actually lives today.
Our Forest Hill projects:
Russell Hill Road Residence
A 5,700 sq ft custom home on one of Forest Hill's most coveted streets. Indiana Limestone panels and a base of locally quarried Algonquin stone tie the house to its neighbourhood while careful contemporary detailing makes it unmistakably of its time. A 16-foot double-height living room, a linear dining skylight, and a full-length pool at the rear — award-winning design developed in collaboration with Cecconi Simone.
For more information about this project, click here.
Foreset Hill Village Residence
A complete gut renovation and modernisation of a traditional Forest Hill home, transformed into a dramatic yet warm contemporary interior. A palette of hand-rubbed dark bronze, stone, leather, walnut, and light oak — with a new cantilevered stair of bronze, stone, glass and leather-wrapped handrail as its centrepiece. Interior design in collaboration with William Fulghum Design Associates.
For more information about this project, click here.
Foreset Hill Stone House
A new 8,300 sq ft residence currently in design — bold Indiana limestone planes and glass, an 11-foot ceiling family room, a skylit feature staircase, and a covered outdoor fireplace room. This project demonstrates MTA+D's continuing commitment to Forest Hill as a place where exceptional contemporary architecture can take root.
For more information about this project, click here.
What it means to design in Forest Hill
Many Forest Hill projects involve the Committee of Adjustment — whether for minor variances on lot coverage, height, or setbacks. Michael Taylor has represented clients at Committee of Adjustment hearings for over 30 years, navigating Toronto's approval process with a track record that protects both design intent and project timelines.
Mature landscapes are another defining characteristic. Forest Hill's tree canopy is among the most protected in the city, and Urban Forestry requirements frequently shape how a project is sited and detailed. MTA+D's experience working with Urban Forestry and within its constraints — not against them — is a practical advantage on any Forest Hill project.
For homeowners considering a new build, addition, or significant renovation on a Forest Hill property, the most valuable first step is a site analysis and consultation. Every project begins with understanding what the site offers, what the neighbourhood requires, and what the client envisions — and making all three work together.
Planning a project in Forest Hill?
Contact Michael Taylor Architecture + Design to arrange a consultation.