My Houzz: Modern Exposure and Energy Efficiency in Toronto
A Canadian architect transforms an outdated bungalow into a thoroughly modern family home
Initially drawn to Toronto’s Woodbine neighborhood because of its little-town-in-a-big-city feel, architect Sabrina Esser and her husband, Wolfram, a chemical engineer, bought a 1920s bungalow with good bones but in need of some work. After living in it for a few years, they started to discuss making more room in anticipation of their first child. Sabrina’s first thought was to put dormers into the bungalow’s cramped attic space. However, there was no way to run heating into the attic without causing major issues on the main floor. There was also no room for insulation in the ceiling, so a new roof would be needed. As the list of issues with the existing house grew and grew, the Essers contemplated selling and moving on. In the end, they undertook a substantial renovation, spending a year transforming the bungalow into a modern, energy-efficient home that perfectly suits their lifestyle.
Though Sabrina initially wanted to leave the exterior exposed, she decided early on to clad the existing brick exterior with a custom rain screen system. This allowed her to achieve high insulation standards without sacrificing precious interior living space. She chose the cement fiber panels and cedar siding, seen here in the backyard, for their durability in the wide-ranging Canadian weather.
Cedar planks wrap the walls and ceiling of the front patio, warming up the entrance to the house.
Past the front foyer, the house opens up into a loft-like main living space. The different areas are partially screened from one another, allowing the family members to have their own space but still be connected. A small powder room separates the living room from the kitchen, while the dining room is just beyond the old exterior brick wall. A home office is tucked underneath the stairs.
Sabrina tried to keep as much of the existing brick wall exposed as possible. In keeping with this idea, she also exposed other building systems and used industrial materials in very interesting ways. The C-channel used for the stairs is more often seen in industrial applications, though it contrasts perfectly with the open wood risers. The stairs wrap around a custom two-story bookshelf, made using threaded steel rods bolted into the floor and ceiling.
The couple decided to spend the bulk of their budget on building a superior building envelope, knowing that they had only one chance to get it right. With a limited budget for furnishings, they’ve nonetheless created a beautiful and personal space that can be easily updated over time.
The living room is tucked in between the foyer and the powder room, giving it a cozy feel that’s increased by the glowing crystal ball-like pendants.
Coffee and side tables: Jasper by Roots, from Sears; sofa: Spencer, Gus
The living room is tucked in between the foyer and the powder room, giving it a cozy feel that’s increased by the glowing crystal ball-like pendants.
Coffee and side tables: Jasper by Roots, from Sears; sofa: Spencer, Gus
The stained maple plywood used for the minimalist window frames is similar to the wood found on the bookshelf and baseboards. The frames accentuate the depth of the exterior walls and act as window boxes for planters and other objects.
Armchair and footstool: Arvika, Ikea
Armchair and footstool: Arvika, Ikea
The enlarged kitchen sitting in the middle of the ground floor acts as the hub of the home. Sabrina wrapped two sides of the kitchen island in floating wood to help break up its scale while providing space for multiple uses. She topped the island in quartz for durability, but also used butcher block for the rear counter to help save on costs.
The original rear exterior wall has been exposed between the kitchen and dining room. The baseboard, door and window frames are all made of black painted industrial steel.
The dining room sits in an addition to the house from the ’90s. Sabrina kept the brick back wall of the original house and the addition’s foundation, but dropped the floor by 6 inches and redid the rest of the space.
Dining table and chairs: Jasper by Roots, from Sears; Tripp Trapp high chair: Stokke
Dining table and chairs: Jasper by Roots, from Sears; Tripp Trapp high chair: Stokke
To maximize open space on the ground floor, the powder room was reduced to an absolute minimum. A greywater toilet-sink combo by Caroma removes the need for a separate sink area (fresh water comes out of the tap and drains into the toilet for flushing).
Toilet: Profile Smart 305, Caroma
Toilet: Profile Smart 305, Caroma
The full extent of the 18-foot-high, two-story bookshelf can be seen at the top of the stairs. The system is hung from the roof rafters and bolted into the main floor below. Threaded steel rods support wooden shelves that seem to float in the air. The bookshelf is a convenient, centrally located place where the whole family can grab their favorite books, although only Wolfram can reach the top books without the help of a step stool.
The couple planned the second floor with the future in mind, opting for a large master bedroom that could later be converted into two rooms. They also decided to forgo a true master en suite, instead connecting the bathroom to their bedroom via frosted glass doors and a walk-in shower. This way, they can use the bathroom as an en suite until their daughter becomes more independent.
Liano semi-recessed sink: Caroma
Liano semi-recessed sink: Caroma
Clean lines and a clean color palette keep the space fresh and modern.
Wall-mounted toilet: Invisi Series II Cube, Caroma
Wall-mounted toilet: Invisi Series II Cube, Caroma
A long run of closet space is enclosed by reflective black glass, giving an already large hallway an increased sense of space. Sabrina kept the hallway as open as possible to allow it to function as a future playroom or home office.
Closet: Pax, Ikea
Closet: Pax, Ikea
The back half of the second floor is taken up by two rooms — both currently in use by the couple’s 2-year-old daughter. Her bedroom and playroom both overlook the foliage of the east-facing backyard, with morning sun pouring in through large wall-to-wall windows.
During 12 months of intensive renovation and six months of tying up small interior jobs, Sabrina crafted an energy-efficient modern home that is flexible enough to meet the changing needs of her family. The house now uses less natural gas than when it was a bungalow, and the shape of the roof will enable her to add photovoltaic panels or a solar water system in the future. With one eye focused on an unknown future, Sabrina has given her family plenty of room to grow.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Sabrina and Wolfram Esser, and their 2-year-old daughter
Location: East End neighborhood of Toronto
Size: 2,100 square feet (195 square meters); three bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms
Year built: 1922; renovated in 2013
Sabrina is a licensed architect working at an architectural firm where her primary focus is on large-scale sports facilities, Wolfram is a chemical engineer, and their daughter keeps them both on their toes.