South Hill House is a renovation, restoration, and addition to an older brick home designed by the architecture firm StudioAC. The home, located north of downtown Toronto, features a wide variety of custom woodworking including hidden storage, floating vanity, and a large walk-in closet with stone-faced island, fabricated by cabinetlab, a local bespoke manufacturer.

There is no mistaking what is new vs. old, but the new addition utilizes a brick chosen to match that of the existing house, and to pay homage to the greater Toronto vernacular. Across the façade of the existing house, built openings were respected and referenced when conceiving interior layouts. In the addition, expansive panoramic openings were used to bring in natural light and to expand the perspective across the leafy, tree-filled neighborhood.

Upon entry, one is greeted with a foyer space that frames a new whimsical and softer geometry denoted by curved openings, stairs, and double height spaces. This curvaceous approach also acts as a diagram to contrast new vs old. Existing openings and room divisions remain rectilinear, while new openings in the addition and incisions through the existing structure have softer edges, drawing the eye across, up, and through the project.

A minimalist pallet of wood floors and white walls helps maintain the play of light throughout the project, which is a main theme in the home and changes as the sun tracks across the property. Subtle accent materials, including stone at fireplaces, steel at kitchen islands, and a fashion-boutique-inspired pallet within the closet, are introduced where a more robust approach is required.