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May 03, 2023

Slideshow: Custom woodwork transforms a cookie

Photo By Joel Esposito Photo By Joel

Photo By Joel Esposito

Photo By Joel Esposito

Photo By Joel Esposito

Photo By Joel Esposito

Photo By Joel Esposito

TORONTO -- Harty House is like a suburban oasis following a major renovation project led by Toronto-based design firm Atelier SUN. The remodel design, incorporating custom cabinets and millwork, helped convert a cookie-cutter builder home into a minimal and tranquil living space.

Harty House, located in Ajax near the east border of Toronto, was built in the 1980s as part of a mass-produced development, replete with excessive structural elements such as columns and beams in the space.

"It is such a challenging site," noted Andrew Sun, principal of Atelier SUN. "We were surprised to see seven columns floating in the middle of the ground floor within an 850-square-foot floor area. We had to incorporate the structural elements into the function and aesthetic of the design by minimizing the visual clutter of the existing condition and effectively creating a minimal and comfortable living experience."

The new-look foyer has a welcoming nook wrapped in wood panels, integrating bench seating, a shoe rack, and a closet, creating a cozy atmosphere at the entrance of the house. Adjacent to the foyer, a floating staircase crafted by D2 Woodworking serves as an extension of the millwork. A wood panel stair wall not only acts as a privacy panel that marries the structural support of the stair, but also acts as a canvas that captures the artful shadow casting off the steps.

A central beam and column in the main living area are wrapped by wood finishes, with bronze-colored accent details at the top and bottom. This acts as a sculptural piece that frees most of the original load-bearing walls in the space. The living room and workspace are on one side of the open floor plan and are designed with wooden millwork fabricated by Gold Palace Woodworking, which integrates storage, display, and flip-down tables. The kitchen and dining areas wrapped with wood panels are located on the other side. Wooden pocket doors lead to the hidden pantry, a dog shower, and a separate entrance to the garage.

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