Home tour: A Victorian house in Toronto with an art deco twist

Works Office and Gillian Segal Design partner up to create this modern masterpiece at Toronto’s The Annex

Looming over its residents with a grand four floors and 3800 square feet of space, this beautiful 4-bedroom and 4-and-a-half bathroom Victorian-styled home is nestled within The Annex, one of Toronto’s most vibrant and historical neighbourhoods, a primarily residential area littered with Victorian and Edwardian houses that were built in the late 1800s to early 1900s.

Looking at the mansard roof and quirkiness of the front facade, these distinct architectural features are common features of their time and transport you straight back into the Victorian era.

Above The mansard roof and quirky front facade are iconic features of their time, now given a modern twist

Their client is a family of four, a husband-wife duo living there with their two kids, an older son and a toddler daughter. Having purchased this house as a full-time family home, Works Office of Brian O’Brian Architecture was hired to help complete their renovation efforts.

Seeing the need for an interior designer to complete their client’s vision functionally and aesthetically, O’Brian contacted Gillian Segal, chief designer and founder of Gillian Segal Design, for her expertise.

“The client engaged us when she had already been working with Brian for some time and needed an interior perspective,” says Segal. “When we came onto the project, their concept was already very exciting and fresh: modern updates to a traditional Toronto home with art deco references. We immediately fell in love with the project and were ready to start working from the get-go.”

Above Checkered flooring and a few key pieces create a playful welcome at the front door

Above There are plenty of interesting art deco pieces that scattered across the house

“In all our projects, our greatest inspiration stems from our clients and the unique personality that each project naturally develops,” said Segal. “Our client said she wanted her home to be bold and unique, with lots of colour incorporated wherever we could.”

These words were practically music to Segal‘s ears. Given a concept requiring them to think out of the box, the home used a colour-infused blend of contemporary, traditional, and art deco-inspired elements.

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Photo 1 of 2 This expansive main living room provides plenty of sitting room, accompanied by practical eye-catching pieces

Photo 2 of 2 The high window and interesting placement of the skylight take advantage of natural light to illuminate the living room

Coming in mid-construction, Segal notes the house had already begun taking on a curved layout, a style she appreciated and a signature design of her work.

“During my first walkthrough with the client, she mentioned her concern with the existing bay window on the south side of the house, which was then positioned at the middle landing of a stair,” remembers architect O’Brian.

“As such, we decided to play around with it, and this window soon became the genesis of all the spatial and formal geometries of the house. We used its implied circle to create the cylindrical lightway that is now central to the building, spinning all the other spaces of the house from that point,” continues O’Brian.

Colours and textures in the study are kept more mature in reflection of the client’s husband

Photo 1 of 3 The dining room

Photo 2 of 3 The dining room

Photo 3 of 3 Colours and textures in the study are kept more mature in reflection of the client’s husband

Upon entering the entrance, guests are greeted by an expansive first floor, the open concept layout sharing many central areas of the house: the dining room, the living room, and the kitchen.

“I love all the art deco pieces that we managed to incorporate throughout the house. One of my favourite pieces in the living room is the ‘chainmail’ silver chairs. They’re such a cheerful addition that you wouldn’t expect in the living room, but they’re surprisingly comfortable to sit on,” chimes Segal.

Rounded corners and hues of brown in the kitchen give off a homely sensation to the kitchen

Marble countertops, earthy hues, and square tiles for the kitchen backsplash create a Mediterranean feel to this kitchen

Photo 1 of 4 Rounded corners and hues of brown in the kitchen give off a homely sensation to the kitchen

Photo 2 of 4 Marble countertops, earthy hues, and square tiles for the kitchen backsplash create a Mediterranean feel to this kitchen

Photo 3 of 4 Marble countertops, earthy hues, and square tiles for the kitchen backsplash create a Mediterranean feel to this kitchen

Photo 4 of 4 The kitchen features earthy tones that is complemented well with natural sunlight

Central between the kitchen and main living room space lies the uniquely rectangular stairwell. “When I first got a look at the house, I was enamoured by the spatial thread that weaves its way through the building,” says O’Brian.

“That’s why I paid careful attention to the crossing of the rectangular stairs with the cylindrical lightway, making sure that everything was aligned perfectly at all angles.”

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Photo 1 of 5 This lightwell is the home’s main centrepiece and overall design inspiration

Photo 2 of 5 This lightwell is the home’s main centrepiece and overall design inspiration

Photo 3 of 5 This lightwell is the home’s main centrepiece and overall design inspiration

Photo 4 of 5 This lightwell is the home’s main centrepiece and overall design inspiration

Photo 5 of 5 Closeup of the lightwell

In the bedrooms, Segal sticks to simple colours for each bedroom, preferring to play with the different shades, textures, and carefully curated art deco pieces that provide a sense of whimsy while maintaining comfort.

A more playful touch is emphasised in both the children’s rooms, with artfully textured carpets and stuffed animals acting as focal points that double as comfortable and age-appropriate deco.

Neutral colours keep the room warm and cosy

Their son’s room is comfy and spacious, with a touch of playfulness coming from the toy giraffe in the corner

Their younger daughter’s bedroom is similar to their son’s, kept simple while playing with textures and accompanied with a dash of playfulness with the stuffed elephant and colourful artwork

Photo 1 of 4 Neutral colours keep the room warm and cosy

Photo 2 of 4 Their son’s room is comfy and spacious, with a touch of playfulness coming from the toy giraffe and framed drawings

Photo 3 of 4 Their younger daughter’s bedroom is similar to their son’s, kept simple while playing with textures and accompanied with a dash of playfulness with the stuffed elephant and colourful artwork

Photo 4 of 4 Art deco pieces can enliven even the simplest of rooms

“One of my favourite rooms in the house is probably the powder room,” notes Segal. “I think that all of the lighting in this project was really special, and I particularly love the Josef Hoffman pendant we got to place in the powder room.”

The skylight and window act as nature’s picture frame of the sky, providing picturesque views as you chill in the bathtub

The pinstripe wallpaper provides a retro touch to this bathroom

Photo 1 of 4 The skylight and window act as nature’s picture frame of the sky, providing picturesque views within the powder room

Photo 2 of 4 Bold marble countertops are another signature style for Gillian Segal

Photo 3 of 4 Contemporary cement tiles are used to create the classic checkerboard print

Photo 4 of 4 The pinstripe wallpaper provides a retro touch to this bathroom

“I think traditional references paired with elements of unexpected quirk give this home gravitas while still allowing it to feel approachable rather than merely for the aesthetic,” opines Segal. “We wanted to create a space that feels warm, playful, and sophisticated all at the same time, and I think we managed to do just that.

When asked to describe how she feels about the home in one sentence, Segal merely exclaims, “Bold!”

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Credits

Photography

Ema Peter

Topics

Home Tour Canada Toronto Creative Interior Design International Interior Design Designinspo

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