Sunnyside Townhouse
A narrow 100-year old semi-detached residence in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighborhood was reimagined as a vibrant space that celebrates texture, millwork and color. The interior of the townhouse was completely reimagined and renovated from a labyrinthine series of dark Victorian-era rooms to an open-plan that welcomes in natural light, and provides greater flexibility for a growing family. In addition to reconceiving the interior, a third-floor addition was added to accommodate a new primary suite with a private roof deck.
Color, materials and lighting were playfully employed as a way to define different spaces and uses within the house, and to respond to the clients’ interest in textiles and quilting. A striking, dark staircase stands in contrast to the surrounding bright and colorful spaces of the residence. White oak runs throughout the home, while a dark stained floor extends from the central stair through the primary suite and out to the deck.
In a Designlines feature of the project, writer Anya Georgijevic describes the sense of procession through the residence which is established through careful consideration for materials, “…the top of the staircase spills onto black-stained oak flooring – a deliberate material change that acts as an artful endnote. The entire third storey is dedicated to the owners’ private quarters: a large master bedroom with an airy ensuite bathroom and an east-facing roof deck. The connection to the outdoors is a theme that runs throughout the design, making this once dimly lit home look and feel a lot larger than its modest 210-square-metre floorplan. The narrow townhouse also gained a deeper sense of depth and volume thanks to AAmp Studio’s ability to deliver on the clients’ enthusiasm for contrasting colours and textures.”
