Modern Victorian

She felt strongly about maintaining the traditional character of the home, he hoped to achieve a boldly modern aesthetic. To satisfy both halves of the client couple, this budget-sensitive renovation of a 110-year-old semi-detached house in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood preserves the Victorian façade that contributes to the charming period streetscape while adding a contrasting contemporary addition facing the rear laneway.

FrankFranco Architects gutted all four levels of the narrow, 12-feet-wide residence. “There are very limited changes you can make to these homes,” advises Francesco Di Sarra, founder and Principal Architect at the firm based north of Toronto.

One of those changes was to replace the existing, inadequate stairs with a smart new flight in the same location flanking the main living space. Only, this staircase floats off the wall; concealed LED cove lighting outlines the stairs’ zigzagging sculptural form. A frameless glass wall acts as a safety guard without blocking light from entering the stairwell. The barrier obviates the need for a balustrade and its attendant clutter of supporting balusters, a boon in such a close space. “It’s a simple, elemental solution,” he says of the glass wall.

To brighten the long dark floorplan, bereft of side windows, large windows were introduced in front and full-height glazing added to the back. Partitions were demolished to achieve a bright, airy open plan with clear sight lines and visual connectivity that allows daylight to reach deep along the black-walnut floors.

The palette of light-coloured materials, including white cabinetry and marble tile, maximizes light throughout the house. Dark accents such as the black window frames and island in the new kitchen add visual interest.

The second storey features two bedrooms, a den and laundry room; the third has the principal bedroom. Large skylights in the ensuite ensure a bright start to the new day.

On the sidewalls, drywall and plasterboard surfaces and underlying studs were peeled away to expose the original variegated brick perimeter, whose irregular patches of ochre and burnt umber play off against the predominantly honey-toned mashup of headers and stretchers. The bricklayers never suspected that their handiwork would ever see the light of the inhabitants’ day, nor that the walls would be esteemed for their now-fashionable industrial-loft aesthetic and characterful link to history.