This semi-detached home is in the heart of the Junction—a cool neighborhood in Toronto. “It had good bones, but the homeowner wanted to revamp the design to better suit their style,” says interior designer Ariel Apter. “She’s single woman who purchased her first house—a big thing to do with the prices here in Toronto! She was looking for a space that she could host, live in, and call home for many years to come. She wanted to bring in some European flair into the home and make it feel warm and welcoming.”

Ariel’s firm, Studio AA, was tapped for the renovation. “The whole house was basically fully gutted, though no walls were relocated, and it was always as ‘open concept’ as it is today,” she explains. “By reworking the kitchen layout and adding a small island, we completely changed the way the space feels and made it much more open to the rest of the space.” Studio AA brought in ACC Millwork, and Royal Stone Countertops for installation of the Cava Surfaces stone. In additional to the natural stone, she added texture through the Venetian plaster hood. 

In each bathroom, she continued the “French farmhouse” feel with thoughtful details, including an asymmetrical mirror and rounded tambour vanity. The living and dining areas feel warm and welcoming with leather accents, wall sconces, and a nod to the green of the kitchen.

Construction took four months, Ariel tells us. “When she saw the finished space, she was super happy and super excited to get into her new home!”

My scope consisted of designing each room, starting with floor plans. We did millwork drawings, construction drawings, selected fixtures, and finishes, and assisted with furniture & décor at the very end!