Tag: Live

ShadowBox was designed as a blank canvas that perfectly captures the elusive play of light and shadow on  the interior’s walls, and reveals the juxtaposition and contrasts between the architecture and nature. A heightened sense of movement is created through the single, double, and triple-height spaces and  connective interior elements such as bridges and stairs.

Interior Designer: Johnson Chou, ARIDO

Design Firm: Johnson Chou

Photographer: Ben Rahn

The dining and living areas reveal the effect of light and shadows cast by adjacent trees, gliding silently across the walls and floors of the residence. Since the house is located on a busy street, the exterior openings facing the street were minimized to a single horizontal strip window around the top of the living area triple-height walls. Rays of sunshine peeking through the slim openings silently move across the stairs over time and connect the dining and living areas to create a cohesive and unified space.

The ShadowBox interior tests conventional notions of private and shared zones that are typically conceived horizontally within a space, usually on a single level. Here, the vertical connection between the living area on the lower level, and the dining and kitchen areas on the main level encourages our client’s desired lifestyle of a communicative and engaged family unit; highly communal, yet private when necessary.

Private zones are on the top and bottom levels of the house with the public zones in between. The lower-level, “the basement”, features a living room and a library, as well as  a guest suite equipped with a bedroom and bath that can be closed off for privacy. The unconventional location of the living room is an opportunity for spatial dynamics and imparts an impression that the basement is no longer located below grade. The double height dining room and triple-height living room flow into one another linked by stairs and a bridge. 

The top level features a bridge with a glass railing looking down at the double height dining room, linking the principal bedroom and a secondary bedroom and bath. 

Within the principal bedroom, the shower is enclosed with overlapping layers of glass visible as one enters the room. A sheer curtain separates the bed and the bath areas. With a private toilet room, this principal bedroom is maximized in its openness, yet spatially defined. The folding doors at the foot of the bed reveal a Juliette balcony and a box-like, glazed lounging area.

The minimalist bright white kitchen features a large counter for dining or work that appears to project into the exterior courtyard through the floor to ceiling window. With views through this large glass wall, the courtyard becomes an extension of the kitchen and dining level. 

The single Japanese Maple, firepit, fountain, barbeque, and table, make this courtyard a wonderfully thoughtout city oasis. While the house is relatively small, the double and triple-height spaces combined with the courtyard view creates the impression of a much larger residence.

With a spa-like or meditative ambience, ShadowBox was created to encourage reflection and the appreciation of the moments of one’s life and surroundings. The residence was conceived as an instrument for the appreciation of the ephemerality of light, shadow, and time. Light is essential to one’s life and mood, and the space is illuminated by natural daylight even on the cloudiest days. 

This interior has been praised for its rigorous design and particularly for the rarely seen triple-height living space in a relatively small single-family residential space in an urban context. The owners are particularly pleased with the outcome of the project, where “every day is a special day” in the home.

Our design team transformed this downtown Toronto penthouse suite into a sophisticated home that aligned with our client’s tastes and busy, modern lifestyle. Our strategy was to completely renovate the suite and establish a simplified, contemporary home that was warm, welcoming, and inspired by a refined-masculine and sophisticated aesthetic.

Interior Designers:  Kelly Cray, ARIDO: Neil Johnsohn, ARIDO; Jennifer Welsh, ARIDO

Design Firm: U31 

Photographer: Gillian Jackson

Wellness was top of mind when considering the design for this home. We wanted the home to provide calmness and elegance through simplified lines, details and natural quality materials. The client’s demanding medical profession required that his home be his sanctuary and a haven, as well as a place to gather with friends and family.

The wood architectural details, combined with the natural stone, marble and wood flooring elements promote a sense of wellbeing, as does the abundance of natural light. Designed with floor to ceiling windows, it looks onto the expanse of the terrace and is a perfect refuge from life’s pressures.

According to many studies, exposure to wood products indoors creates similar health benefits to those created by spending time in nature as it helps to reduce blood pressure, heart rates, while improving well being, creativity and cognitive abilities.

Architectural wood detailing is carried through the interior and exterior in various iterations, fostering warmth. It is present from the very first moment one enters the home in the floor to ceiling wood  panelling and closets in the hallway leading to the living area. 

In the bedroom it provides a handsome backdrop to the streamlined bed and frames the opening to the exposed wet room off of the ensuite. Here, it contributes to the contemporary luxury hotel room vibe which the client appreciates. 

In the open concept living and dining area, the wood slatted drop ceiling creates a dynamic feature above. The warmth of wood in the terrace helps to transform a once sparse and uninspired space into an inviting social oasis.

Natural stone adds to the rich materiality in this interior; it was used for the dramatic waterfall kitchen island and backsplash. We also crafted a modern floor to ceiling wine cooler in back-lit elegant Alabaster stone and tempered glass.

Our design team incorporated new hardwood herringbone flooring in a medium tone to provide both a light warmth and timeless elegance, against the other more contemporary elements like lighting, vibrant art, bright coloured accents, and furniture forms.

The floor to ceiling windows in the living and dining areas provide incredible unobstructed views of the Toronto skyline on one side and the lake on the other, while  bringing in an abundance of natural light. We polished them up by painting the trims in a dark gray and dressing them in light coloured motorized sheer blinds for a touch of texture and elegance.

The expansive terrace with a lively Miami-inspired club vibe was an opportunity to extend the client’s entertaining opportunities during warmer months. In this space slatted wood details partially disguise the building’s dark brick, while an elevated platform accommodates plenty of lounge seating and tables. Turquoise accents add a bright, water inspired pop of colour. Adding a water element was also important to our client – a fully glazed hot tub for rest and relaxation under the stars and glow of the city scape.

The carefully selected furniture pieces and materials in the re-designed penthouse overlooking the city have provided our client with the perfect contemporary yet warm refuge while also creating an ideal ‘venue’ for entertaining family and friends.

Our clients wished to turn their house into a contemporary urban refuge. Since their home is located in an established pocket of Toronto with spacious, but traditional homes, we had to create the perfect balance between the classic architecture and contemporary, minimalist design while ensuring seamless functionality that accommodates the family’s busy routines.

Interior Designer: Jeffrey Douglas, ARIDO

Design Firm: Douglas Design Studio

Photographer: Patrick Biller

We applied a relaxed design approach to the home with no formal rooms in the house, but rather more flexible and fluid shared family spaces. Since our solutions aimed to accommodate each individual’s needs in the best way possible,  we consulted each family member to ensure that all areas of the home respond to their wish list. Thoughtful details create the relaxed and sophisticated environment our clients were seeking while the mindful use of natural materials, such as textured woods and fabrics, saturate the home with a distinct sense of warmth and simplicity.

Consistent with the clients’ wishes for a flexible and relaxed interior, this home does not have a formal living room. Instead, the family room was designed for informal lounging and entertainment, and features a striking Metropolitan chair and colourful Verner Panton chairs for the children’s homework area adding a playful pop of colour to the otherwise neutral palette.

Clean white surfaces form the foundation of the design, while sustainable natural woods warm up the interior both visually and atmospherically. Contrasts between rich colours, textured fabrics, and intriguing light fixtures all create a contemporary haven.

In the principal bedroom a tranquil and meditative atmosphere is achieved using large panels of matte-finish wood and a calming palette of soft greys, restful whites, and moody blacks. The TV is hidden at the foot of the bed to create an uncluttered, fully functional space. 

To keep the modern lines of the office clean and uncluttered, a wall of bookcases is angled away from the door which means that  reference materials and necessary files for daily use are thus kept within arms length but invisible from the door entrance.

The stained black staircase with an oak wood stringer in the main stairwell is a beautifully crafted element. Its custom design and meticulous execution fit the concept of natural materials as the defining element of a modern and minimalist interior.

Discreetly mounting the railing below the top of the guard eliminated the need for additional supports, and creating a more elegant transition as it loops up the stair. The bronze sleeves are meticulously machined to add contrast, colour and warmth to the staircase, making it a stand out detail in the overall design of the home.

We designed a hidden bar on the main floor which we connected to the temperature controlled wine cellar below by introducing a structural glass floor and an LED lighting design that appears to penetrate through the floor.  Retracting, sliding custom panel doors in the main floor hallway seamlessly conceal the bar from the main hallway supporting the minimalist simplicity of the home. From the structure of the racks to the integrated panels for the sliding doors, each element was planned with artisanal attention to detail.

Nothing makes us happier than seeing our design work inhabited as living, breathing spaces for the everyday, embracing and enhancing life’s joys and routines. The simple and minimalistic yet inviting aesthetic of this home perfectly accommodates the lifestyles of each member of this family.

Inspired by the large property with surrounding woodland views, a unique architectural ‘pod’ style concept was created based on dividing the functions of the home into three practical zones; a private primary wing, centralized living space, and separated guest wing. The contemporary architectural features set the tone for the interior space which was balanced with warm natural materials to create a cozy and comfortable living space within.

Interior Designers: Melissa Franklin, ARIDO; Stephanie Duncan, ARIDO
Design Firm: Madison Taylor
Photographer: Niamh Barry Photography

Connection to nature has been implemented throughout by maximizing views to the outdoors. Indoor and outdoor connection is facilitated by a multitude of covered outdoor seating areas. This protection from elements allows for the spaces to be used throughout the year and thus maximizes their access to those areas.

The client, a well-established chef and entrepreneur was keen to create a space with multiple entertainment zones. The central pod was laid out with the primary focus on everyday tasks and entertaining , featuring the kitchen, dining, great room and a large chef’s pantry right next  to the kitchen, hidden by integrated millwork doors. The vaulted wood ceiling throughout this central pod unifies these indoor spaces with the covered porch and adds a sense of warmth to the tall ceilings.

The modern glass and exposed steel are met with a welcoming contrast of a variety of wood tones that interact to create a cohesive sense of warmth. They are integrated through the installation of angled wood flooring down hallways and custom furniture with natural rope accents. Upon entering the great room in the central pod, the soothing sound of a crackling fire can be heard from the grand stone column which features a wood burning fireplace on each side, contributing to a cozy atmosphere despite the open concept layout.

Flanking either end of the centralized living space are the primary wing and guest wing, each of which allow the occupants to meander down a private hallway into their own separate zones. The primary suite features expansive views to the outdoors with large windows mimicking the peak of the structure and a private outdoor lounge enclosed by a privacy wall. This creates a private outdoor space for the clients to enjoy which is also protected from the elements. The guest wing on the opposite side of the home features a full suite as well as two additional bedrooms with a functional shared bathroom.

Highlighting art from Canadian creatives was one of the key directive from the client and can be seen integrated throughout the home. The house features two vibrant paintings completed by a Canadian artist Julia Veenstra which capture  Canada’s dynamic landscape in vivid colours and serve as an inspiration for the accent colours throughout the home. Down both main corridors, beautifully framed pieces by the local Osgoode Company are displayed and highlighted by burnished brass picture lights, each of which were selected by the homeowner to reflect meaningful places to him.

Acting as a transition space into the home from the garage is the two- part mudroom. It’s easily accessible from the outside, ensuring the home stays clean and mud can be washed off after hiking through the surrounding forests. Sometimes the design of a space requires us to consider the needs of pets as well. To ensure the client’s furry friends are comfortable and happy in the space we also designed a dog shower and integrated food and water stations. A door separates the dog wash room space from the extended mudroom hallways that lead toward the central pod and feature an abundance of storage space.

Wandering down the custom staircase, the clients can take advantage of an expansive and inspiring gym which features state of the art equipment. Adjacent to the gym is a cedar clad rock sauna, promoting overall health and wellness through the traditional practices of Finnish steam bathing. Additionally, the basement features a music room, where instruments have been displayed and are easily accessible to encourage use.

The success of this project could best be described by this quote from the client; “I’ve never been more excited to share my space with family and friends! The team listened to my wish list and brought each item to life in a way that fused the architecture and interior design together perfectly. The pod design and outdoor kitchen are perfect for entertaining and help bring the outside in. The result is a cozy, comfortable and practical home that perfectly suits my lifestyle and I couldn’t be happier.”

Although this house was exquisite and beautifully designed, it was stark and uncomfortable to live in. As interior designers, we had to reinvent the space in such a way that respected the exquisite architecture and most importantly the goals of the new owners. This project was a balancing act of design to create a comfortable and contemporary interior that both the new owner and the original architect would love.

Interior Designer: Dana Kosich, ARIDO
Design Firm: Hiatus Design Ltd.
Design Team: Carol-Anne Blackburn, ARIDO; Kelly Breiter, ARIDO
Photographer: Lauren Miller

Our strategy for the layout and planning of this interior was to keep the space open, utilize natural light, embrace the stunning views of the ravine, and improve flow from one room to the next. We aimed to enrich spaces that were vacant and integrate the desired function in the most elegantly minimal way. 

Successful open concept does not mean empty, it means optimal flow and creating a sense of intimacy within a larger space. This was achieved through defining the function with spatial and visual cues. For example, in the living room, the bar was tucked away in a niche yet discreetly celebrated with a wash of light and drama of natural stone slab. Also, to integrate the functionality of the kitchen in an open space, panelled walls, built-in appliances and secret doors to pantries and storage were artfully designed.

To achieve better flow within the interior, one of our  design solutions addressed moving the dining room closer to the living room. We added a second set of stairs into the sunken living room to connect the two spaces. Level changes defined the living room and created a subtle separation from the dining room while still allowing for views of each space. Bringing these two rooms closer together reduced vacant space allowing for a new family room, and created a sense of intimacy in the spaces. 

Since our client was extremely particular and said he was “allergic to glare”, one of our main tasks was to update the 20 year old lighting. The goal was to see the effect of the light not the light itself, thus eliminating glare. All the ceilings were stripped to the rough framing to allow the lighting and ceiling details to be redesigned.

For this reason, the amount of visible objects and lighting fixtures located on the ceiling was deliberately minimal. Through the use of continuous reveals and recesses in the ceiling we managed to conceal everything from motorized blinds, mechanical diffusers, to lighting. The slatted wood detail in the media room concealed much of the overhead lighting above the seating areas. 

In the master bath we allowed the dramatic veining in the marble wall slabs to contribute to the colourful effect in that space. By eliminating the tub and repositioning the vanity away from the big window, the light and stunning unobstructed ravine views now flow into the bathroom.

Many of this home’s existing elements were carefully evaluated and its greatest features were maintained. Rather than remove and dispose of the existing ash hardwood floors, we chose to preserve them. Opting to patch, repair,  and refinish utilizing LEED certified low VOC matte sealers. The existing floor to ceiling mahogany windows and doors were incredible, and allowed for the interior spaces to flow beyond and embraced the changing views of the ravine.

Rather than replace these windows where the seals were gone, they were lovingly restored. In the living room, we kept the massive limestone mantle and introduced colour by choosing to clad the existing black brick with a multicoloured marble slab featuring vigorous gold, powder pink, and dark grey veining.

Majority of the interior doors were repurposed as most had concealed hinges and some had very cool pivoting hardware. In the foyer, we kept the mahogany frame and partition wall that separated the foyer from the powder room. With some restoration, it was re-used and combined with newly designed doors. These new doors made of raised grain mahogany with a textured wash stain and antique mirror created subtle reflections in a less predictable way. 

Our respectful approach celebrated the exquisite architectural elements of this house and with deliberate minimal detailing we designed spaces that create perfect flow and embrace the surrounding views of the ravine . Our clients love their home, and the original architect even gave it an approving nod.