A Remarkable Pandemic-Era Home Designed for Slowing Down in Toronto

At the center of the home is a careful balance between togetherness and retreat. Built on a narrow Toronto lot, Cameron and Evan used a series of half-levels to create subtle separation between spaces without losing the openness of the overall layout. Expansive windows pull natural light deep into the interiors, while reclaimed materials, collected furnishings, and old-world references soften the sharper architectural lines. The approach feels especially personal throughout the house, where nearly every finish and object was chosen with the intention of creating a home that would evolve alongside their family over time.

Design: Studio Maniera | Photography: Patrick Biller | Builder: Blue Lion Building

Historical Details Give the New Build a Sense of Permanence

Although newly constructed, the home is filled with materials and architectural details chosen to give the space a greater sense of age and character. Indian limestone flooring runs throughout the main floor, inspired by the worn surfaces of European cathedrals and selected in place of more expected wood floors. Historical references continue through a reclaimed Ontario farmhouse front door and a 19th-century French marble mantel anchoring the living room fireplace.

Softness Balances the Home’s Modern Architecture

For all of its expansive windows and modern architecture, the home never feels stark. Flowing drapery softens the scale of the south-facing living room, where floor-to-ceiling windows shift the atmosphere throughout the day. Material choices also help soften the architecture’s sharper edges, including warm sapele millwork in the kitchen and carved wood furnishings layered throughout the shared spaces. Even the darker Laminam Calce Nero countertops feel restrained against the softer palette of limestone and Farrow & Ball’s Tallow walls.

A Hidden Study Creates a Moment of Retreat

Tucked just beyond the living room, a more intimate study offers a quieter counterpoint to the openness of the main living spaces. Separated by oversized antique Egyptian double doors, the room is lined with floor-to-ceiling millwork and centered around a narrow custom desk by Stylegarage. The enclosed atmosphere creates a deliberate shift from the brighter shared spaces nearby, reinforcing the balance of openness and privacy found throughout the home.

A Home Designed to Be Lived In Over Time

In the primary suite, the home’s softer material palette continues through Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath, a color chosen for the way it shifts throughout the day between soft grey, mauve, and earthy brown tones. Sapele millwork conceals the closet, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame the lush backyard beyond.

In the ensuite, green quartzite, crema marble tile, and a sculptural Lee Broom pendant bring texture and warmth into the otherwise pared-back space. Although the house was originally envisioned as a 20-year home for the family, Cameron and Evan ultimately relocated to Halifax shortly after completing the project, making the finished house feel even more tied to a specific chapter of their lives together.

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