Little Italy House in The Globe and Mail
Little Italy House in the Globe and Mail
Dave LeBlanc—This would be a classic case of “he said, she said” if it weren’t for the fact that everyone involved is so darn happy. The “he” is architect Adam Thom; he says this renovation and addition to a Manning Avenue house in Toronto’s Little Italy was modest. “She” is Mary Bredin, homeowner, busy single mom and harried television executive, who says a great deal of money was spent.
Of course, both are correct based on individual perspective. The buying and selling of architecture can be a battleground. What clients ask architects to do and the budget they allot are often at odds; on the other hand, architects may push for costly things because they want their clients to have the very best, while clients worry that family and friends will question why so much was spent on items most people pick up at the big box store.
“Don’t forget, architects can save money, too,” says Mr. Thom, firing the first salvo. “Considering that you’re doing an addition and considering that you’re redoing a kitchen, they can be very progressive in coming up with clever ways to give you a great space that doesn’t need to cost too much.”
And this is one great kitchen. Bespoke all the way, it’s a feast of colour—from its rusty red shaker cabinets by Gibson Greenwood to a big floating panel of Josef Frank wallpaper—as well as a tiny temple of light via the new pop-out that cradles an informal dining table. There’s also a new powder room behind the kitchen so Ms. Bredin’s 83-year-old father doesn’t have to climb stairs when he visits, a window-bench in the formal dining room, and a new, large coat closet at the front of the house. And all of these have been squeezed into a typically narrow downtown footprint without making things look the least bit crowded.