ALDERWOOD

Evergreen Elegance

Client Goals & Needs:This family of four needed significantly more space and functionality. They envisioned a home that felt open and airy without following a traditional open-concept layout. A strong sense of personality, including unique design features and a love for cooking and books, was central to their vision.

Project Type:Second Story Addition with Integrated Garage

Square Footage:3,000 sq. ft. + Basement

Location:Alderwood, Etobicoke

Services rendered:

Architectural drawings
Phase 2 planning
Permits and application
Interior design
Construction

Finished two-tone kitchen viewed across a walnut marble-topped island with arched reeded end. — Kitchen

Vertical shot of the green lower cabinets and cream uppers running to a pro range and panel-ready fridge column. — Kitchen

Teal lower cabinetry with cream uppers, brass pulls and a handmade zellige backsplash. — Pantry

Sage green built-in cabinetry with oak shelving, brass hardware, and a globe chandelier in a bright dining area. — Coffee station

Close angle of a stained oak island with an arched fluted end panel beside a bright dining zone. — Kitchen island

Open plan kitchen view with a wide stained oak island facing a glass slider and a tall green pantry column. — Full kitchen

Angled kitchen view showing cream uppers — Full kitchen and island

Wide galley view of a finished two-tone kitchen with oak floors, marble island, and pro range along the run. — Stainless steel finishes

Living room with built-in linear fireplace and cantilevered oak bench beneath tall windows. — Fireplace with integrated bench

Finished hallway with natural oak stairs, warm white walls, and an arched opening to a kitchen. — Arched doorways

White oak open-tread staircase beside an arched entry to a built-in mudroom. — Arched doorways

Warm white entry with an arched opening, natural oak stairs, pale floors, and clean Toronto renovation detailing. — Arched doorways

Rich green wallpaper, brass fixtures, and a white floating vanity add colour to a compact Toronto bathroom. — Powder bathroom

Powder room with a floating oak vanity and arched mirror against green botanical wallpaper. — Powder bathroom

Long bright upper hallway with recessed ceiling lights and light oak flooring. — Hallway

Built-in linen closet with open door revealing birch plywood interior and adjustable shelves. — Cabinetry finishes

Built-in cream mudroom meets a white oak open-tread stair with an arched mirror accent.

Mudroom with oak bench and patterned tile niche leading through an arched hallway to a navy front door. — Mudroom

Modern bathroom vanity with marble slab wall, brass fixtures, oak drawers and twin white basins.

Primary bath with marble vanity wall and emerald tile shower behind clear glass.

Emerald vertical tile shower with hammered brass rainfall head and recessed niche. — Primary bathroom shower

Empty bedroom with square casement window and glass exterior door overlooking bare trees. — Bedroom

Blush pink bedroom with white spindle dresser, double closet doors and oak floor. — Bedroom

Naturally lit double-vanity bathroom with arched gold mirror and floral wallpaper accent wall. — Bathroom

Empty sage-green bedroom with brass flush-mount ceiling light and bright casement window. — Bedroom

Laundry detail showing dark green cabinets, a graphite utility sink, and a handmade zellige backsplash. — Basement laundry room

Spa bathroom with frameless glass shower, cedar sauna and terrazzo tile floor in a finished basement. — Basement bath

Interior of a cedar home sauna with tiered benches and a vertical cedar ladder over terrazzo tile. — Sauna

Spa-style basement bathroom with cedar sauna, slatted walnut floating vanity and round mirror above terrazzo tile floor. — Basement bath and sauna

After the renovation, Evergreen Elegance project

Before

After

Design inspiration

The design drew inspiration from bold architectural elements that translated into the use of deep green tones and repeated arched motifs throughout the home. These choices brought both softness and style to a structure that was built with purpose and strength.

The result

To accommodate the full-size garage on a narrow lot, the team engineered a creative solution: building a new foundation wall inside the basement footprint to bring the garage within zoning limits, avoiding the need for committee approval. This structural move allowed for an upper-level office above the garage. The basement was fully dug out and fitted with heated polished concrete floors, creating a sleek, modern gym and wellness area. The main floor was raised to 10-foot ceilings, enhancing the sense of vertical space and airiness. Clever zoning throughout the home allowed for privacy, natural light, and personality, without sacrificing flow.

The finer details

Upward view of emerald tile shower showing brass rainfall head and valve stack.

Linear electric fireplace on a white partition wall with a yellow tulip accent above.

Close detail of a walnut island end panel with reeded arch and marble waterfall edge.

Tight macro of the reeded arch wood panel on the custom kitchen island end.

Kitchen vignette with brass gooseneck faucet, stainless apron sink, tulips and challah on a wood board.

Detail of green and gold botanical wallpaper with peacocks and stylised trees.

Close view of built-in closet slab doors with long polished brass bar pulls.

Warm white built-in shelving lines an organised closet corridor with natural oak flooring.

Client testimonial

“Julie and Chris rebuilt our modest bungalow into a two-storey home, and from the beginning to the end of this huge undertaking, have been exceptional and trustworthy partners. They have a commitment to timeliness and honesty rarely seen in the construction industry.

The design process was executed well, with Julie taking honest feedback and refining the design until it was perfect. Julie has a unique ability to take a few inspiration photos and turn it into a comprehensive, beautiful design. She is candid and has an excellent vision – always looking out for the client. Chris goes over and above, managing trades and ensuring all the permitting and inspections go smoothly. As with any project, when difficulties arose, they both handled them professionally, were open to engagement and feedback, and did everything in their power to make us happy. Our home was built on time and on budget and we couldn’t be happier with our choice to trust them many months ago.”