Modern and Bold at Toronto
Although her first plan was to build a conservative house similar in style to the remainder of her historic Toronto neighborhood, builder Kate Prevedello ultimately chose a different route. She chose to take advantage of this rare chance to start over and hired architect Michael Taylor of Taylor Smyth Architects to design a three-story modern structure. Smyth made the shell, which is clad in timber slats, gray brick and steel panels, also Prevedello looked after the inside.
She relished the chance to be her own client, make her own decisions and build an exciting house. She believed it was important to live at a place she had created, to sense it out and detect things more intimately. “To not do this, would be just like opening a restaurant and never having a meal,” she says.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Kate Prevedello, her spouse Scott McGrenere and Tuc, their kitty
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Size: 3,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms; five baths
That’s interesting: Prevedello’s sister is also in the middle of constructing a modern house in the downtown core with architect David Pontarini.
Andrew Snow Photography
The couple didn’t buy any new furniture when they moved in. Rather than attempting to furnish the house all at once, they chose to get to understand the space and make informed decisions if they were prepared. Meanwhile, they utilized their furniture.
Prevedello inherited much of the furniture, in this way dining table, from her father. It’s an Italian layout that came from one of his restaurants.
Dining seat: Millefoglie, Plank
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The first floor has a completely open program, except for a small powder room near the stairs. You can see right through to the full-height glass doors which open on the backyard from the front entrance door. The home opens into a skylight above the dining table and a private backyard, flanked by neighboring homes on two sides and the street on a third party.
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Designing for a larger-than-average lot enabled Smyth to perform openings in the floor plan. He also placed the dining room area at a double-height area, flanked by the living room and kitchen, using a TV area above.
After the architect’s job was completed, Prevedello stood on site with the kitchen supplier to determine the final length of this 12-foot island. Midnight snacking proved to be the limiting factor in its own dimensions, as it’d be simplest to walk directly from the stairs to the fridge without needing to navigate around any corners.
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The kitchen’s white walls, white cabinetry and light oak floors provide a neutral background for walnut and stone accents. The rock is Bianco Asiago, a white marble utilized extensively from the Veneto area of Italy, in which Prevedello’s family comes from. She visits frequently, so the rock has significant family significance.
Gas range: Wolf
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Although most of the kitchen supplies are kept out of sight, simple oak shelves provide an chance to showcase a collection of Prevedello’s unusual jugs. The contrasting texture of this Asiago slab supporting the range gives a weighty focal point for the space.
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The framed painting a part of a triptych by Canadian artist David Blackwood. Prevedello discovered that there’s a fourth painting, which she has attempted in vain to find to finish the set.
An evolving and fantastic cross-section of this couple’s interests dresses that the fireplace mantel. Cuts of wood from the house’s structure sit inside an Italian wine box; a set of hammers lie close to a vase lately made for the couple by a close friend; and canoe paddles reveal their love of the outdoors. As they develop into the area, this area will always change to reflect their characters.
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During the summer, the couple’s favorite space to maintain is the living room. When the floor-to-ceiling windows are spacious, the room has the feel of an outdoor living room. A vibrant painting by Helen Lucas brings saturated floral tones to the back wall and echoes the notion of backyard living.
This 1970s java table from Bungalow is one of the few pieces the couple purchased after going in.
Andrew Snow Photography
External, a concrete deck and slatted wood roof produce boundaries to define the patio. The slats cut down to the harsh summer sun, cooling both the patio and the living room inside. The fireplace mantel goes outdoors, wrapping to hide a charcoal grill in which the couple frequently grill an impromptu dinner.
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Back inside, the lightweight slatted staircase can help to draw light from a large window on the landing. The majority of the treads are made from the same oak as the floor, but for the slab of Bianco Asiago stone anchoring the staircase to the ground floor. Prevedello made this slab using a shadow gap at the bottom to produce the exceptionally heavy piece appear to float above the floor.
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The master bathroom is composed and serene, dressed in light cream and white tones. The off-the-shelf vanity and linen cupboard came from Canadian company Wetsyle.
Andrew Snow Photography
Amid the room’s warm neutrals, that the only bits of colour would be the walnut vanity sink and the always interesting Toronto sky.
Andrew Snow Photography
The third floor houses Prevedello’s office and a rooftop deck. The steel-clad overhang gives a sheltered place to sit down and read or take from the view. Surrounded by trees, it feels like a quiet retreat inside the house.
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Although the house is located just north of Toronto’s downtown core, it sits on a quiet one off street in a tree-filled neighborhood. The height of the foliage can help to provide some privacy from the neighbors, but this third-floor deck maintains skyline views.
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The lot sits on the west side of this street, so the backyard and rooftop deck get a great deal of sunlight. The vegetable garden in the backyard was a great victory for the couple, and the rooftop is the best place to watch the rain-soaked clouds light up with all the summer sun.
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A wall of white cabinetry only off the entrance provides room for shoes and coats, but can also double as pantry space. The floor-to-ceiling door tips at the substance used on the front façade.
Andrew Snow Photography
Clad in the same substance as the remainder of the ground floor, the doorway sits flush against the façade. Minimal hardware aids the doorway to evaporate, drawing the eye toward the floor-to-ceiling window. As guests wait on front porch, they get a framed view of this customized kitchen and Wolf gas range.
Andrew Snow Photography
Two years after completing the house, Prevedello still disturbs people announce “What a gorgeous house” as they pass by. “My favourite so far was that the sweet 5-year-old who informed me I won the best house award! People just have such a positive response to it. It’s very rewarding,” she says.
“Building a house can be a challenging task,” Prevedello continues. “It takes patience, perseverance, dedication, flexibility and a heck of a great deal of decision making. It’s very important to keep in mind that someone will be living in that area, so I try and make it with relaxation. Comfortable and functional — that the rest falls in place.”
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