Having previously had their cottage (Fairy Lake Cottage) designed by Taylor Smyth, the client retained them again to update the interiors of their primary house, located in a suburban development of tract housing. Their vision was to transition from the standard developer finishes and cramped layout of small rooms to an open plan with a palette of warm natural materials.

The ground floor was gutted, and the rear wall at the kitchen/family room opened up with new full height windows and sliding doors, leading directly out to an extensive new deck. An awkward space at the front of the house is reconfigured to create a U-shaped built-in seating nook with custom upholstery, inspired by a Moroccan Sddari that reflects the wife’s heritage, and surmounted by a central suspended light fixture. This has become a cozy and intimate entertaining space for guests and a place to curl up with a good book. Upstairs, the primary bedroom and ensuite were redesigned and new wood flooring added to match the ground floor. 

White oak is used extensively throughout the design for flooring and built-in millwork. Vertical oak slats at the foyer and stair guards are combined with wood panelled ceilings over the front seating nook and family room. The problematic locations in the floor plan of two existing wood posts that were revealed during demolition are transformed into sculptural features by cladding them in oak.