Toronto Whole Home Renovation

The renovation at 20 Ellsworth Avenue was designed to expand the home's footprint while creating brighter, more functional living spaces for modern family life. Working alongside the architectural team at Stone's Throw Design Inc., the project combined a rear addition with a comprehensive renovation that thoughtfully blends new construction with the home's original character.

The basement was expanded and underpinned to create a spacious recreation room, a flexible study and guest bedroom, a full washroom, and ample storage. Mechanical systems were modernized throughout with a new high-efficiency furnace, cold-climate heat pump, and upgraded electrical service.

The new rear addition transformed the main floor with a custom kitchen that opens onto a suspended concrete patio through French doors. A large picture window and two operable skylights fill the space with natural light, while a new powder room and hardwood flooring throughout complete the updated layout. Upstairs, the main bathroom was fully renovated, and fresh paint throughout the home provides a clean, cohesive finish.

A standout feature of the project is the handcrafted kitchen, designed and built in collaboration with Blue Skies Handmade Kitchens. Every cabinet was custom built using traditional inset face-frame construction, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and solid brass hardware before receiving a hand-brushed finish that seamlessly blends with the home's original millwork.

At the centre of the kitchen sits a one-of-a-kind cherry prep table, crafted from a tree felled during the 2013 ice storm and carefully milled and stored for over a decade before finding its home in this project. Low- and zero-VOC finishes were used throughout, and every handcrafted cabinet was designed to be repairable and refinishable—creating a beautiful kitchen built to last for generations.