This Split-Level Bungalow Celebrates a Carefree Connection to Nature
In North York, Denegri Bessai Studio crafts a home that effortlessly blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors
When Tania and Adi Grinberg began toying with the idea of buying a family home, they hoped for something special—a place that would evolve with them, a delightful backdrop for their children as they grew into their teenage years, all while offering the comforts of modern living. It was as if the universe had listened: a 1950s mid-century bungalow, tucked deep into a scenic ravine in North Toronto, suddenly arrived on the market.
The couple recognized the home’s cramped blueprint and low ceilings as untapped potential—enlisting architects Maria Denegri and Tom Bessai, partners at Denegri Bessai Studio (DB Studio), to bring it to new heights.
From the laneway, the 7,080-square-foot house appears unassuming, with the site’s cascading topography concealing the entire lower half of the split-level bungalow. Contracting, DJP Homes.
Designing the exterior required a delicate approach, drawing inspiration from layered landscapes that seem to fade into the distance. DB Studio carefully integrated a second floor into the existing form that quietly echoes the shape of the prominent main floor overhangs. “We hoped for the architecture to be the backdrop, and invite the ravine into the heart of the home,” Denegri shares. “To achieve this, we reprogrammed the main floor,” adds Bessai. “We transformed small, disconnected rooms into a single expansive space, including the family room, dining area, kitchen, and nook. The team replaced the rear wall with glass curtain walls, accented by Douglas Fir piers blending into the forest.”
Inside, natural light, dances across the egg-white walls and Douglas Fir-clad vaulted ceilings. Chandelier, Artcraft; teak dining table and chair, Vintage Home Boutique.
A slatted Douglas Fir screen near the split-level bungalow’s entry subtly filters views of the ravine, inviting glimpses of nature from within. Texture is a defining theme, expressed in custom details like the central structural pier in the main living area, wrapped in handmade TATA tiles from Mexico City, where Tania was born. The gridded structure of the tiling is counterbalanced elegantly with stacks and recesses that accommodate plants and small personal artefacts layering the home with warmth and personality.
The kitchen is integrated into the main floor plan and welcomes more daylight through new clerestory windows. Countertop, Caesarstone; cabinetry, Muti Kitchen & Bath.
The sculptural skylight opening and adjacent upper-floor windows allow natural light to fill the main floor dining room and foyer.
The design team reimagined the skylight opening, using the addition’s height to create a dramatic two-floor atrium. Skylight, Velux.
There is no shortage of natural light in the upper-floor hallway. Wall paint, OC-25 Cloud Cover, Benjamin Moore.
The split-level bungalow’s rear curtain wall frames a spacious deck, seamlessly connecting the basement to the outdoors.
Beyond the main living spaces, the master bedroom sits in a quiet corner. It opens onto a private balcony, extending into the forest, and inviting the homeowners to immerse themselves in nature’s beauty. It’s in these sensory moments that the home truly comes alive.
The space between the garage and main floor was transformed from the exterior courtyard into a functional mudroom with cubbies for each child, plenty of storage, and even a dedicated dog-washing station,” says Denegri.
The principal bedroom features a new private balcony, incorporating views of the landscape into the interior. Bed, CB2; windows, Windsor Windows and Doors; sconce, Hudson Valley Lighting.
In the principal ensuite, a large picture window frames a view of the neighbouring ravine. Tub, tub filler, sink, Veneto Bath; vanity, Muti Kitchen & Bath; light fixture, Matteo Lighting.
Windows in the new addition feature distinct angles that echo the shape of the original roofline. Custom curtains courtesy of Windsor Windows & Doors align with the unusual frame for a seamless open and close. Bunk bed, Wayfair.
The second-floor addition rises like a narrow bridge above the existing house, set back discreetly from the front and rear.
With the rec room and guest suites tucked away in the basement, the architects turned their attention to adding a “bridge” second floor, designed with two loft-style bedrooms and en-suites to accommodate the Grinbergs’ growing family—including their two toddlers and a new baby on the way. The design team crafted the second floor to preserve the vaulted ceiling and the home’s modernist silhouette, featuring large trapezoidal windows that follow the roofline and a dramatic two-storey cutout.
The spacious side entrance mudroom features rubber floors, practical storage, and stairs leading to the basement playroom and main level. Flooring, PRF Group.
This irregularly-shaped opening channels light through to the main floor, creating playful “peek-a-boo” views of the dining room below. “It’s not uncommon to find one child twirling on the main floor while another looks on from above,” smiles Bessai. Sculpting joyful connections between spaces is exactly the kind of design magic that Denegri and Bessai are known for creating.
As dusk falls, the soft glow of trees filters through the windows, transforming the Grinbergs’ home into a modern treehouse. While its exterior remains modestly unchanged from the street, the design feels deeply connected to the land, embodying the original modernist vision—light-filled and in harmony with nature and the rhythms of daily life. denegribessaistudio.com
