A Summerhill Edwardian Gets its Groove Back

When Vanessa Fong met with her clients about renovating their Summerhill Edwardian, the problems with the home presented themselves to the architect right at the front door. The foyer was cramped and dark, with very little room to put on shoes, let alone welcome guests (the staircase, baseboards, dropped bulkheads and a set of French doors crowded the entry). And the kitchen – too tiny for a couple that regularly entertains – was hemmed in by a living room and a dining room that just didn’t flow. Storage…well, there was none. The whole ground floor needed a rethink.

Fong took down three walls, and the open-concept space now flows seamlessly from the foyer through the kitchen, past a dining area and out to the backyard off the living room.

The staircase at the entrance was replaced and reoriented, making room for a civilized gathering space at the front door, with steps going down and a powder room tucked neatly into a vestibule under the staircase.

Wrapping this and extending into the kitchen is a perfect cube of cabinetry (built by Harvest House Craftsmen) featuring vertical slats of white oak. Eight metres long, the millwork conceals a pantry and cookware, all while linking the foyer and kitchen to the dining room around the corner. Problem solved. VF-A.COM