Toronto Two Storey Home Redesign – Main Floor

Posted on: September 17th, 2010 | 39 Comments

It’s Friday, September 17, 2010 and today we need your help with the design of a real life renovation project in Toronto! Mike, a long time member of the Slow Home community, has submitted plans and photos of his house in central Toronto and is looking to us to come up with a design strategy to transform both the main and upper floors.

The house is just over 1,000 square feet on the two levels and this week we are going to focus on the main floor. Click on the player below to watch John and Matthew’s telephone interview with Mike so you can understand what he is hoping to achieve with the project.

To see the floor plans and photos of the project in more detail, click on the links below.

We need your help to design the main floor of this house. Mike is looking for an open plan with a good living, dining and kitchen space. He is not requiring a main floor guest bathroom, but does need a better front entry – possible with a vestibule.

Toronto Home Redesign – Main Floor – PDF
Toronto Home Redesign – Main Floor – Demo
Toronto Home Redesign – Main Floor – Full Symbol Library

Take some time to work out a floor plan and post it to the site and let’s have a discussion! Make sure to tune in tomorrow at 10am Pacific/ 11am Mountain and 1pm eastern to join John and Matthew for the LIVE workshop where we will be working through the design for this house. We would love to have as many of your designs included as possible, so if you could submit them to us (preferably by Friday evening!) we would love to include them in the discussion tomorrow!

We look forward to seeing all of your schemes! Make sure to join us on Saturday!

  • BradW

    Mike – Since the place is completely gutted why not move the column over to the staircase to fully open up the space?
    Also, I noticed brickwork and a window under the porch – is there a full foundation and basement space under the porch?
    A lot of exterior brick repair has been done so that raises questions…I am hoping that the basement/foundation is dry and in good repair.
    Have you thought about HVAC routing?

  • BradW

    And the tree in the front has got to go :)

  • Paul C

    Further to Brad W’s comments, what are/is the dimensions/status of the front porch?

  • BradW

    [img]shs1plana.jpg[/img]

    Despite my earlier comments, I kept the column in this design. Change the rear windows to a modern sliding door, change the rear door to a picture+casement window at counter height, unify the interior with a dark oak wood floor, unify the exterior by painting the brick and installing all new windows and doors, find a vintage butcher block to contrast the modern kitchen cabinets and stainless appliances, install a custom low media shelf in the living room to support the TV and store components.

    The existing decks and porches should have railings added to ensure safety and compliance with local building codes

    The basement should be used for laundry, storage, a bathroom and a rec room.

    In the spirit of this weeks rain water question, consider something to deal with the front downspout.

  • Mid America Mom

    Exciting!

    Hi- we have the ability to have legal basement apartments in the city. This was a rental so wondering is it Mike’s intention to use that as his own space or close off the stair leading downstairs? Need to know if it should be walled or not.

    **Paul, I am not sure where this is in the city but my experience is these are like 4/5 deep. Does that mimic yours as you are in the business?**

    Mid America Mom

  • Paul C

    MAM, not wanting to dwell too much on the minutia, I think your assessment is spot on as from the pictures it does not appear overly deep. Parking also seems to be from the front and as per Brad W, there is a window in the base of the porch which would suggest a basement, although not uncommon to this vintage of home, maybe a cold storage room. A place to hang the supersata and stack the pickled beets. I digress…

  • Terri

    [img]tostudio2.jpg[/img]

    This is my first approach. I’ve put two double french doors on the back; however, if this is too much brick busting, then I’d leave the LR window as is and expand the existing door opening to convert to the double glass.

    This plan is not designed for those that do a lot of “entertaining.” The kitchen is compact, as is the banquette seating. There is room for a desk, for those that are work-at-homes, etc.

    I’ve incorporated the supporting post into the wall beside the fridge. There’s room to put the wall on the stair side of this post, so that the post would then take up the back right corner of the fridge vestibule. I expect it would be drywalled. The back of the fridge does not need to go full height, but it could to allow over-fridge cabinet. The built-in shelves behind the sink would extend about 8 inches higher than counter height to allow a backsplash. The back of the pantry has display shelving built in.

  • Terri

    Just noticed that I forgot to erase the dotted line over the sink–no overhead cabinets at all.

  • BradW

    Terri – included the signature banquet I see :) … I get what you are trying to do but I think the frig is in a questionable location…

  • Jim G

    [img]20100917toronto01.jpg[/img]

    Jim G

    I was confused about the stairway. I do not think there is a landing on the stairway to the second floor. There are not enough steps to cover the vertical distance. The landing is on the basement stairway and is for the side entrance, which is at ground level. When you enter the side entrance you should also be able to go up 3 or 4 steps to the main floor. I kept this in mind in my re-design. I would be inconvenient to go outside to go down to the basement.

  • Kirk

    Brad W – I dont know where you live but here in the city of Toronto cutting down a tree is a big no no! I love trees but your homes foundation and drainage and might not love that tree so much. Mike I agree that the tree should be removed but give Urban Forestry a call first. Good luck with the project. This new format is a great additon to this already great website.

    Well done Mr. Brown and Mr. North!

  • BradW

    Kirk,

    I suggested Mike consider removing the tree. If he requires permission to do so is another matter. As you suggest, the City of Toronto, in their infinite wisdom and desire to continue to increase costs and property taxes, does have a Private Tree By-Law. The intent of the by-law is to protect significant old growth trees from damage or destruction. The by-law “regulates injury or removal of privately owned trees which measure 30 cm in diameter or more as measured at 1.4 m above ground level.” It is not clear from the wording if they are referring to the tree trunk diameter. If so, Mike can remove the tree should he choose, however, it is worth a call to the Urban Forestry for clarification.

  • Mike

    Hi all,thanks for your input, let me just clarify a couple of things.

    Brad W.
    The column replaces the narrow hallway wall that was there.
    It was a big deal to get engineered, I wanted no posts at all but to get the span I would have to have very deep 14-16″ i-joists from side to side and then I would loose the ceiling height. Then the carpenters had this look of $$ in their eyes!because they would have to notch each joist into the brick wall.
    So I opted for a flush mount steel I-beam and welded a 1/4″ plate on the bottom so I get full height. The challenge now is the HVAC, since I can’t go over the beam the idea was to run ducts up in the corners. So far the idea for a cold air return was in the wall across from the post (on the fireplace wall), to run a 8″ x 20″ duct up to second floor.

    The front porch is 18″ across x 8′ deep it was built by previous owner it is block and brick and is not insulated, just used as a cold storage room. Seems solid as I have dug around to parge the block walls I did see footings.

    The tree is just hiding the mess, there were actually 2 of them and the raccons were climbing up and onto the porch roof, so I removed 1 and trimmed the other but I haven’t trimmed for awhile. The sun sets in front and does provide shade in summer but I know what you are saying and I might “replace” this tree with something else.

    When I was removing the first tree, there just happened to be 3 city workers nearby and one “newbie” questioned the other, “is this one of ours”, being on my side of the property line and of a certain diameter it was OK to remove.

    MAM;
    the whole house was a rental as a single family home, the basement would be too small (by my standards and probably any legal standards also); I am gulity of living in suburbia and I am trying to convince my wife to move back into the city, into a small house less bills for me less cleaning for her and less yard work for me too. But she can’t visualize the finished product.

    I would like to do all structural changes now, if we decide to move in we will go with better finishes otherwise I will rent out for a few more years and then move in; at that point and don’t mind upgrading a blacksplash or a faucet.

    Jim G.
    you are correct the landing in the plan is at ground level for the side door, currently it is a very tight radius, and is very dangerous there are 4 steps in a 3′ area. So the side door stairs coming up into the main floor are an issue.

    thanks to everyone again
    Mike

  • Mike

    sorry for the typo s/b “The front porch is 18 feet across”
    mike

  • Anonymous

    [img]1_shs12demo.jpg[/img]

    This was challenge and took some time.

    I have used french garden doors an opted to replace a door with a window at the back of your home.

    The front entry has a frosted glass wall with an attached key shelf, ala John Brown.

    A closet encloses the support column, and long low cabinets flank the fireplace.

    Hope you like some of what you see

  • Frances GF

    Sorry, not using my computer. Forgot to add my name!

  • Paul C

    Hi Mike,
    Not sure I completely understood what remains where the living room fireplace use to be, can you expand upon pls.

  • Terri

    [img]tostudioproj3.jpg[/img]

    This time I didn’t change the window or door openings on the back; but I still think a glass door is needed where the solid core door is now.
    I see Frances had a similar idea to mine with the closet in the middle. It would be handy to both the front and side doors here.

    I’ve also indicated a glass wall beside the front door to create a separate entry. This piece would be set into some kind of frame so that it floats. Depending on personal taste, either wood or metal.

    The dining room area would also need a similar separation from that stairwell. (I misread the plan and didn’t realize those are the stairs from the side door, so depending on how “ugly” a view it is down to this door/landing, the wall would be solid or other– slatted or glass, etc.)

  • Terri

    On the discussion of the tree…if it’s too close to the porch, maybe you could plant another in the mid space instead. Being on the west side, it’s probably a good idea to have that extra shade in summer. You might also consider skylights on the porch roof over the front window as the neighbours have done so that in winter there’s more light.

    BradW,
    Do you think the fridge is wrong cause it’s at the beginning of the galley? Or is it my partial wall behind it that doesn’t seem to work?

  • BradW

    Terri – the fridge (frig) is a large mass to place in the middle of this smallish open space…same goes for the closet in the second scheme…I do like your second design better

    Drapes in the front window and curtains on the porch provide shade. I think a smaller landscape will compliment the renovated home better…

    The stairs are a problem…

  • Matthew North

    Kirk – John and I want to thank you for your feedback about the site – we really appreciate it! Also, great post about the tree today!

  • Mike

    Paul C:
    in the living room what remains is the “bump out” from the old fireplace box; it was also clad with brick making it protrude into the living room too much.
    so what remains is just a hollow brick facade, in case I want to use the cavaity as a chase for a gas fireplace, otherwise this can be taken down. The chimmeny has been taken down to the roof. The outside wall of the fireplace is flush, i.e. the fireplace box does not stick out beyond the outside wall.

    There are 2 small leaded glass windows on either side that “some” people want me to leave, personally I would enclose as there is very little light coming in and they are not very energy efficent.

    thanks, mike

  • Karli

    [img]stairs6.jpg[/img]

    Loved other’s ideas, and do agree that this is a challenging project. I didn’t really get into the details of windows and doors, etc. but I did have a couple ideas.
    Keeping an open foyer is the key here. I noticed others placed the closet on the left as soon as you open the door, re-creating that narrow-hallway feeling that was previously in the house. True, its not as hallway-ish as before, but it could still create a claustrophobic feeling. Attached is a photo of the side of a stairway being turned into a closet-like space, which I think is really cool. This may not be your “style”, but its one solution.
    If an actual closet isn’t completely necessary, you could always use a coat tree or some hooks on the wall behind the door.
    Liked what Terri did in the second design with the placement of the closet being on that column. If the column ends up being free standing, you could turn it into a gorgeous “room divider” or even create an arch out of it.

  • Terri

    BradW,
    I have to agree that the fridge is quite a mass for the centre–I just thought I could incorporate the post there. Think I’ll try a little rearranging now…

    Karli,
    I like using the space under the stairs for storage. The nice thing about your example is the way you would organize belongings and keep them that way since they’re so visible. No digging through dark corners.

  • Terri

    [img]tostudio21.jpg[/img]

    I revamped my first plan (as per discussion with BradW re: fridge), and while I was at it, popped in a half bath, just in case… I thought that the banquette seating could do double duty as a desk area, if a laptop is all that’s required. :)

  • Terri

    Sorry, forgot to add that I turned the closet and the post is now exposed, so the pantry needn’t have a full-height wall to twin with the partition I used to have next to the post.

  • Mid America Mom

    [img]tofrstflr2.jpg[/img]

    Hello! Hope all is well Mike et all.

    I really wanted a front kitchen but have had a hard time with it. So here it is in back.

    The back window is now a french/slider. The old door is now a large window (mind you I am no architect so if these are cost reasonable I have no clue). For dining I showed a built in 20″ wall to wall bench with a slight return on one end. This will offer the significant other and you plenty of storage. Of course you could build in seating on the south wall straight, or do a slight return on either or both ends, OR opt for a one sided bench and other sides chairs. A 5 foot freestanding table is used but a 4 foot with removable leaf would work well too.

    Kitchen is double galley. The island side has drywall a bit up from the floor to contain any mess from the stove. I would go for a slide in model with a downvent. The other wall houses a two foot pantry, 2.5 wide refridge, place the dishwasher next to the double sink.

    I kept trying to move the front door closer to the south wall. If you go for vestible exterior placement should not be hard with the 8 foot depth of the porch. I would take 5 for it. The entry has a closet near the living. In the Living the firebox is flanked on each side with shelving. Time for a flatscreen mount either above the fireplace (I do not recommend this but some like it) or to the side. A seven foot couch is in front of the window and a modern fainting couch (see IKEA) is near the kitchen.

    :)
    Mid America Mom

  • Theresa@NY

    [img]slowhomemikeintorontoalt1.jpeg[/img]

    Here goes…
    I put he table in the kitchen and additional bar stool seating at the counter behind the sink. The back door swing is switched; I didn’t change any of the openings since it’s a brick house and that probably gets expensive and difficult.
    There isn’t a closet at the front door – just an area to hang coats and stash boots behind the front door. It could be a shallow millwork cabinet or just hooks on the wall. There is room at the back door for a full depth closet.
    I straightened the stairs going down and left space for an opening – was going to create a vestibule but I don’t think there’s enough space. If the stairs going to the basement are finished nicely there could be just a rail or glass panel along the stairs – the door to the outside could be glass to get more light and air in.
    Since I’m working in “Paint” I tried to use color to clarify counters v. wall cabinets v. full height cabinets but it got a little out of hand…

  • Mid America Mom

    [img]tofrstflr4.jpg[/img][img]tofrstflr5.jpg[/img]

    Hello did two plans. One with living in front and one in back.

    The vestible holds a generous 5 by 2 coat closet so no need for one inside. Doors and windows are same as existing.

    The front room in either plan has shelves from the firebox over to the wall.

    The focus was on the island. Features of it: 1. has a wall facing the living for wall mount tv. 2. Has a walled in desk for laptop or forgo that and place in bookshelves or cabinets. 3. The double sink is on the other side of the study wall. 4. overhang is at 15 inches 5. seating for two 6. Room to add dishwasher.

    Goodnight!
    Mid America Mom

  • Frances GF

    Brad,

    I really like your kitchen layout, it allows the dining table to be centred on the french doors. The butcher block is a nice addition, it is appropriate for the age of the house.

  • Terri

    M.A.M,
    Nice to see another bench seating in your plan. ;)

    Theresa@NY,
    We welcome your colorful plan! I like your idea of straightening that staircase, making the flow more straightforward (and simple).

  • BradW

    [img]shs1planb.jpg[/img]

    Plan B for Mike tries to clarify the basement stairs.

  • BradW

    [img]shs1planc.jpg[/img]

    Plan C for Mike develops the porch into a dining area and vestible. The kitchen moves to the middle including an island which integrates the post. Living is now at the back with gas fireplace as a focal point. The stairs to the basement have been straightened.

  • John Brown

    [img]finalforjohn.jpg[/img]

    Hi Everyone,
    Thanks for the great session. Fun and interesting. Here is the plan that Matthew and I presented.

  • Mike

    Brad; in plan C how many extra feet are you adding on to the back?
    thnx Mike

  • Mid America Mom

    Terri if you are out there… I did not attempt to place counters under the front window. I thought Mike would probably not want to change that window. Maybe I will post one that I attempted.

    Mike hope today helps!

    Mid America Mom

  • Terri

    Hi MAM,
    I did try a counter under the window, but I had trouble with the closet as I’d put it by the door. John moved his unit out from the front wall, which gave more counter length; although I’m wondering if it would be difficult to use that 21/2 depth at a right angle… I like his idea to get light into the entry though.

    Mike,
    I’m wondering if you’re totally confused now, since so many ideas have been offered! :)

  • Terri

    Mike,
    In BradW’s Plan C, I’d say he’s using the complete 8 ft depth of your front porch for the dining but not expanding out the back at all. Is that correct, BradW?

  • BradW

    Mike – nothing added to the back…just used the existing porch