My Houzz: Three Stories of Serenity in a Toronto Townhouse
Former school playing fields become a homesite for a Canadian couple with a flair for modern design
Howard Cohen and Ron Soskolne are drawn to uncluttered modernism, and their Toronto residences have always reflected this ethos, along with their love of collecting crafts and art. Both are architects who also work in the property development field, and until five years ago, they had lived in a two-story condo in downtown Toronto's Entertainment District. While the area buzzes with amenities, it became clear the area was no longer for them.
When Cohen's company embarked on a new building project with architect Peter Clewes at the former site of a private girls' school in the city's leafy Annex neighborhood, the couple took it as an opportunity to create their "forever home." Much of the new development occupies the heritage 1914 schoolhouse, but behind the classic facade was a row of three-story townhouses built on the school's former playing fields.
Cohen and Soskolne knew the homes would be conducive to blending the comforts of house living and the style possibilities of a modern condo. So they picked an end unit and enlisted the help of interior designer Michael Kruse of Tact Design to help them settle in.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Howard Cohen and Ron Soskolne
Location: Annex neighborhood of Toronto
Size: 2,700 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, home office
When Cohen's company embarked on a new building project with architect Peter Clewes at the former site of a private girls' school in the city's leafy Annex neighborhood, the couple took it as an opportunity to create their "forever home." Much of the new development occupies the heritage 1914 schoolhouse, but behind the classic facade was a row of three-story townhouses built on the school's former playing fields.
Cohen and Soskolne knew the homes would be conducive to blending the comforts of house living and the style possibilities of a modern condo. So they picked an end unit and enlisted the help of interior designer Michael Kruse of Tact Design to help them settle in.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Howard Cohen and Ron Soskolne
Location: Annex neighborhood of Toronto
Size: 2,700 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, home office
An Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair re-covered in orange wool pops against the slate flooring and neutral rug. Two brass lions picked up in Chiang Mai, Thailand, stand guard in front of a marble fireplace.
Full-length electric blinds can drop down to shield the room from Toronto's blazing summer heat.
Painting: Tony Urquhart; coffee table: Barcelona table by Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Full-length electric blinds can drop down to shield the room from Toronto's blazing summer heat.
Painting: Tony Urquhart; coffee table: Barcelona table by Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
The homeowners deliberated about where to put the fireplace, because no interior wall was suitable. They went with a custom spherical flue that reaches dramatically to the double-height ceiling.
An old walnut tree in front of the house has protected heritage status, which prevented the couple from building outward. Instead they added extra width at the rear of the house, a rarity for downtown Toronto's narrow lots.
Lamp: Noguchi
An old walnut tree in front of the house has protected heritage status, which prevented the couple from building outward. Instead they added extra width at the rear of the house, a rarity for downtown Toronto's narrow lots.
Lamp: Noguchi
Architect Frank Gehry personally gave this armchair and ottoman in the third-floor home office to Soskolne. The two had worked together on projects in Mexico City, New York and Toronto. The chair used to be a favorite of the couple's cat, who was drawn to scratch it.
Table: Eileen Grey for Knoll; sofa bed: Ligne Roset
Table: Eileen Grey for Knoll; sofa bed: Ligne Roset
A second-floor lounge space flows into the dining area and kitchen. The design challenge here was to create a stairway to the bottom level that wouldn't narrow the room. Glass panels were the answer.
Portraits of Soskolne's daughters by Canadian artist Charles Pacter adorn the wall, near the top. On the bottom left is a portrait of Soskolne's son by architect and friend Terry Brown. The cement coffee table is by local furniture designer Julie Birchall.
Cream-colored sofa: wool, Kiosk
Portraits of Soskolne's daughters by Canadian artist Charles Pacter adorn the wall, near the top. On the bottom left is a portrait of Soskolne's son by architect and friend Terry Brown. The cement coffee table is by local furniture designer Julie Birchall.
Cream-colored sofa: wool, Kiosk
The kitchen features an oversize island with thick granite countertops. The hood is custom fabricated in stainless steel, as is the built-in unit above the Sub-Zero fridge.
Cutlery, dishes and glassware are neatly organized in a custom cabinet with built-in storage trays.
Range: Wolf
Cutlery, dishes and glassware are neatly organized in a custom cabinet with built-in storage trays.
Range: Wolf
The master bathroom's floating vanity is made of painted wood with marble countertops. Heated slate floors keep feet warm. The mirror extends in front of the windows to create privacy.
The framed prints on the wall are from London newspaper The Evening Standard; they show engravings of the Crystal Palace, a vast glass building that burned to the ground in the Victorian era.
Contractor: Oakville Architectural Millwork
The framed prints on the wall are from London newspaper The Evening Standard; they show engravings of the Crystal Palace, a vast glass building that burned to the ground in the Victorian era.
Contractor: Oakville Architectural Millwork
Shells collected on travels sit in a tiled nook abutting the shower and steam room.
The bedspread is from Mumbai, and the rugs are from Mexico. Soskolne's parents brought the art deco–style veneered bar with them from South Africa when they moved to Canada.
Bed: Kiosk, Toronto