Kaleidoscope House is located in Toronto, and it was built by Paul Raff Studio. What’s so special about this home? It features a mirrored staircase that is a focal point of the house.
The focal point of the home is a reflective staircase, which Paul Raff Studio designed to catch and reflect light, as well as various views, to create a complex and kinetic three-dimensional spatial play. The piece creates a kaleidoscopic effect. Mirrored panels cover one side of the balustrades, creating a continuous reflective band as the stairs dogleg up through the house. The material helps to distribute light across the three floors.
Upon entering, the first space past the foyer is a dining room with walnut floors, which also showcases the mirrored stairs. A step down beside a built-in planter leads to a living room and kitchen, with floors covered in Loire limestone tiles to reflect sunlight from the garden. This open-plan layout allows light from the fully glazed walls at the back to penetrate all the way to the entrance.
A sauna, office, and playroom are located in the basement. Upstairs, a master bedroom with en-suite, two children’s bedrooms, a guest bedroom, and two additional bathrooms surround the staircase. White walls and high ceilings inside make the interior resemble an airy loft, rather than a suburban home.
Paul Raff Studio covered the exterior in zinc and scattered the elevations with expansive square windows. One of the south-facing windows on the upper floor is shaded by a set of angled louvres installed above.