In New Toronto, a lakeside neighbourhood in the city's west end, we worked closely with the architect to rebuild a compact bungalow into a spacious, two-storey family home, transforming it into a modern expression of the area's gabled, cottage-style vernacular. A black-and-white exterior lends it a quiet presence within the neighbourhood.

Inside, a three-storey staircase runs as the home's core, lit by a skylight above that filters daylight down through each floor to the basement, giving the home the feel of a single, sunlit column running through its centre. The kitchen carries a similar clarity, lit by its own lightwell. A terrazzo-topped island anchors the room, framed by white cabinetry alongside sand-toned fluted detailing — a nod to the neighbourhood's waterfront, woven through its palette. Beyond its finishes, the home runs entirely on electricity through a heat pump system, staying efficient year-round within a tightly sealed, well-insulated envelope.