Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood presents a peculiar condition within the city. Vast, sandy beach stretches out along the northern shore of Lake Ontario, transporting visitors away from the buzz of the city. Just one block north, Queen Street, lined with busy shops and restaurants, runs parallel to the water, extending all the way to downtown. To experience the area is to seamlessly transition between a natural and calm landscape, and an urban and lively atmosphere.

“Beaches House” is a split-level residence located in the middle of these two environments, with Kew Beach to the south, and Queen Street to the north.

Responsible for the interior design, our goal was to create a home which would reflect this contradictory context: a house which would belong as much to the city as it would to a beach far removed from it.

The interior design was rooted in elements typical of a traditional beach house — light, airy tones; the simple use of natural materials; and walls clad with painted wood paneling — reworked to reflect the contemporary taste and lifestyle of its owners.

Different rhythms of wall paneling were applied to the walls of the main living spaces, providing depth and texture. The central staircase, which winds its way up through the split levels of the house, was detailed with thin steel pickets and floating treads, continuing the rhythmic language of the paneling. Finally, in the bedrooms and bathrooms of the last floor, the sequence comes to rest, as light, repetitive elements give way to moments of stillness, calm, and dense materiality.