Narrow Victorian Residence in Toronto Revitalized with a Practical Modern Makeover

Giving old homes a new lease of life means transforming both the interior of the house and the exterior a swell. At times, architects and homeowners want to leave the street façade untouched while it is the rear section that is drastically changed. Nestled in a busy neighborhood of Toronto, Canada, the Northcote Renovation by VFA Architecture is one in which the overall footprint of a narrow Victorian residence is unaltered even as the interior gets a whole new look. Instead of the traditional rear section, there is now a wood and glass wall that connects the kitchen, dining area and a reading room with the rear garden. This section also ushers in ample natural light.

Glass windows and doors connect the interior with the new rear yard








Practicality was the key constraint that defined every aspect of the renovation as all unnecessary partitions were removed to create a new open plan living. Wooden walls, cabinets and storage units in the living area, kitchen and dining make the biggest impact in here as every nook and corner is completely utilized. Wood and white is the color scheme of choice on the lower level living area, kitchen and dining space and this continues in the more traditional bedrooms as well.

Classic and narrow Victorian House in Toronto gets a lovely modern makeover
Combination of closed and open wooden shelves in the modern kitchen
Large floor-to-ceiling glass wall connects the new interior with the backyard while bringing in ample natural light
Moving away internal partitions and clearing space for a more modern interior
Revamped floor plan of the Toronto house with wooden shelves and platform
Small tea station in the kitchen with bookshelf underneath

We love the use of dark wooden cabinets and open shelves in the kitchen and bookshelves in the loving area and niches used for decoration also add to the overall woodsy charm. Custom lighting solutions and adaptive design solutions complete the sensible transformation.

Spacious modern kitchen of the home with ample natural lighting coupled with recessed lights
Wood and white kitchen of the Toronto home with a modern traditional style
Wooden walls and cabinets reshape the interior of the house in Toronto
Bookshelf and lovely reading space with a view of the backyard

You’re reading Narrow Victorian Residence in Toronto Revitalized with a Practical Modern Makeover, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Similar Posts

  • Magical Nights in the Bamboo House Take You into Jungles of Bali!

    There are few occasions when you feel like packing your bags and taking the next flight to a destination as soon as you see the image of an amazing getaway. The Bamboo House in Bali is one such amazing setting that is eco-friendly, sustainable and ensures that you get the best possible views of the […]

    You’re reading Magical Nights in the Bamboo House Take You into Jungles of Bali!, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Rundown Apartment from 1914 Renovated to Showcase its Rich Textural Beauty

    Most Moscow apartments that we have seen till date seem to embrace a certain posh, modern minimalist style that feels both sophisticated and purely contemporary. Yet, this gorgeous little apartment inside a building built originally in 1914 moves away from this more popular regional trend and embraces its traditional bones gleefully. The 85-square meter apartment […]

    You’re reading Rundown Apartment from 1914 Renovated to Showcase its Rich Textural Beauty, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Antoine Bordeaux House

    Stunning period renovation–authentic down to the original brick and stucco walls and cypress floors– of the old servant’s quarters in a historic Creole-style townhouse built int he heart of the Vieux Carre, the French Quarter, by French businessman Antione Bordeaux in 1820. The home occupies the rear 2nd and 3rd floor of the townhouse, with both a balcony off the master bedroom and roof deck overlooking the central interior courtyard, the sounds of the fountain floating up through the windows.