House 21 | Izen Architecture Inc.

House 21 is a loving restoration of a mid-century modern gem, carefully preserving the most important historical elements while reimagining the spaces to make them suitable for modern family life. The final restoration is a masterful blend of mid-century modern features and modern design principles. The exterior brick facade of the home remains largely untouched, echoing the original facades of neighborhood homes, while a new Neolith slab wall adjacent to the front door hints at the updates found within. 
 
The beautiful, original terrazzo floor at the entryway was carefully preserved, inspiring the preservation of other key elements. A circular wooden screen, originally used as a room divider, found new life as a large mirror tucked just inside the front door. The warm tones and colour palette of the entryway act as a starting point for the new finishes throughout, bringing an organic sensibility to the clean lines and modern feel of the updated layout and finishings. 
 
New custom walnut millwork intentionally recalls the original walnut millwork, contrasted against a bold stone Neolith wall in the family room, complete with integrated recesses for TV, storage and fireplace - an Izen signature.
 
Like any true 1950’s home, the kitchen remains at the heart of this one. A small hallway wrapped in walnut slatting opens up to the bright, modern kitchen, where a custom, curved walnut-slatted island anchors the room to provide a sociable, functional workspace. Original hardware saved during demolition warms up the matte white flush-mount cabinets - an important design consideration from the beginning. 
 
An entire custom walnut wall of storage cleverly hides the pantry, refrigerator, small writing desk, and even a secret doorway to an additional walk-in pantry with ample storage, sink, dishwasher, and an exterior door to the BBQ, while a kid-friendly, diner-style breakfast nook gazes out over the large backyard. An adjacent formal dining room conjures up dreams of hosting future family gatherings and dinner parties. 
 
The beautifully articulated study, sunken two steps down off the main entryway, provides a sun-soaked space to work from home, complete with an open, vapour fireplace.
 
Other moments through the home offer the same juxtaposition of old and new: built-in wooden shelving nestled within a stone Neolith wall; geometric MCM-inspired bathroom wallpapers add visual interest to the modern, clean aesthetic; a classic black and white master bath with ultra-modern wall sconces is softened by a custom ​slatted wood and quartz ​vanity and neutral wall treatment that echoes the wooden slat theme throughout the home; a kid-friendly rec room boasts sliding wooden screens to hide away a TV when not in use. 
 

Status: Completed 2020

Location: Toronto, ON

Size: 4,500 sf

Type: Single-Family Home, Renovation

Team: Jordan Livings, Brenda Izen, Inna Shalusky

Photography: Scott Norsworthy https://scottnorsworthy.com/