A Contemporary A-Frame Addition Revives a 19th-Century Home in Leslieville
Reign Architects creates a functional space for a growing family while honouring the home’s Victorian character
When a young couple (an RN and communications specialist) bought their 1850s-era Victorian in Leslieville, they immediately fell in love with the majestic maple tree in the backyard. But after living in the space for a year, they quickly began to outgrow the narrow semi-detached home. Seeking to make room for their growing family, they tapped local firm Reign Architects to make the space more functional while retaining the home’s historic charm.
The dining nook augments seating with a wraparound banquette. Dining table, Mary Ratcliffe Studio; dining chairs, Stylegarage; pendant, Casson Hardware; artwork by Erin Armstrong.
It was a tall order. The clients had a laundry list of programs to cram into the existing footprint—a rec room for the kids, a guest suite, a kitchen with an island, a dining room and a living room fit for entertaining. Not one to back away from a challenge, principal Jacob JeBailey promised the clients he could make magic happen in the small space. He delivered, and then some. To make it all work, the architects added a contemporary A-frame addition to the rear of the house and also had to underpin the basement, which came with its own set of challenges. “The house is in a floodplain zone,” he recalls. “When we were underpinning, it was like a river under the house.”
Clear sightlines provide a view through the kitchen and living room, through to the backyard.
With the rec room and guest suite tucked away in the basement, the architects turned their attention to the ground-floor entertaining zone. It starts with the dining room nestled into the bay window at the front of the house, where a curved banquette wraps around a custom dining table designed by Mary Ratcliffe. Despite the small space, it comfortably seats eight to 10 people. Framed by the original crown moldings and stained-glass window, the room retains all the Victorian character the clients fell in love with. “We worked really hard with the contractors to retain those details. It was a bit of extra work, but I think it’s important to cherish those historic elements that characterize what a Victorian is,” says JeBailey. “But everything from the middle of the house to the back is completely brand new and super modern. I think we like that contrast.”
A minimalist and woody palette defines the contemporary kitchen. Flooring, Moncer Flooring; countertop, Olympia Tile + Stone; bar stool, Design Within Reach; pendants, Casson Hardware; cabinet hardware, CB2.
The kitchen was a particularly tight squeeze — even with the incorporation of a double-winder staircase, which saves space and depth. “There was a point where we were going to lose the island because the corridor was not going to meet building code. And so, it was a matter of finessing the stair detail and tightening up the island ever so slightly,” he explains. Miraculously, the clients still got their island — a lozenge-shaped sculptural piece with a dramatic cantilever, which not only serves as a design focal point but also the social hub of the home. It is complemented by sleek white oak cabinetry that sets the tone for the subdued palette that grounds the rest of the interior.
The custom millwork extends into the living room, seamlessly integrated with a media unit with both open and closed storage, as well as a bench for additional seating by the wood-burning fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the boundaries between indoors and out, offering unobstructed views of the backyard maple. The space has quickly become one of the clients’ favourites in the house: “They’re constantly sending me pictures and videos of how the light kind of dances in the space, because it filters through the canopy of the tree,” says JeBailey.
A wood burning fireplace courtesy of Marsh’s Fireplace adds warmth to the living room—fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows. Custom shelving unit, bench designed by Reign Architects, Mooza Wood Arts.
The incorporation of a double winder stair with streamlined, stacked guard rails demonstrates architectural finesse.
The contemporary A-frame’s front bedroom showcases original moldings. Light fixture, IKEA.
Ascension to contemporary A-frame’s third floor addition.
A spa-like ambience was the brief for the principal ensuite, which was conceived as a retreat for the clients. The journey to get there is just as special: “When you’re ascending up to the third floor, there’s this massive, expansive skylight, and the exposed beam kind of bisects that. That intersection is a really special moment in the house,” says JeBailey. The skylight is strategically positioned within the timber roof of the A-framed addition to allow warm southern light into the north-facing lot.
The peak of the home’s gable roof offers a a serene natural light source in the principal ensuite. Tub, Taps.
It is on the upper floor that the architecture truly shines, the exposed wooden beams highlighting the angular geometry of the roofline. The designers got crafty in the ensuite bathroom, strategically placing the tub in the dormer and the toilet under the angled roof, making the most of areas where you don’t need full height clearance. This same attention to detail is carried through into the principal bedroom, where a playful porthole window perfectly frames the canopy of the maple outside.
An open-concept closet connects the principal bedroom and its ensuite.
Exposed wood beams nod to the architectural modernization of the home.
The structure of the contemporary A-frame is evident in the ensuite’s angular shower. Shower head, faucets, Taps.
Structural engineering, Tim Joyce, Contact Engineering.
Formerly partitioned and dim, the space is now bright and open with a profound feeling of warmth and connection to nature. Above all, the balance of historic details with contemporary finishes has created a timeless interior that can grow with its owners for years to come. For Reign, the home is the perfect embodiment of the studio’s design approach: “I don’t necessarily subscribe to the idea of a style. Every client is different. Every site is different. It’s very contextual,” JeBailey explains. “We employ a lot of psychology in our design, and we like to employ this philosophy that your home is your sanctuary. You want to come home to peace and a lot of our design foundation stems from that idea.”
