Modern Hilton House With Open Interiors And Skylights

The dining room and kitchen are united, they are filled with natural light, with wishbone chairs and dark grey kitchen cabinets with white countertops

The dining room and kitchen are united, they are filled with natural light, with wishbone chairs and dark grey kitchen cabinets with white countertops

The Hilton House, which dates back almost 100 years, is located east of the Wychwood Barns arts centre, northwest of Downtown Toronto. Previously divided into two apartments, the building was returned to a single family home, which was renovated by StudioAC to give it more spaces for entertaining.

The clients wanted the designers to maintain the street presence of the home, while opening up the interiors and modernizing the space. StudioAC removed partition walls on the ground floor to create an open-plan living space running front to back.

A single-storey, timber-clad extension was added to the rear, providing more room for the kitchen and incorporating skylights for better natural illumination. Between the lounge and dining areas there is a fireplace, which forms a partial divide. A white box surrounds the hearth and a black flue sticks out of the tip, while a wood-lined compartment on the side is used to display flowers.

A simple material palette of white-painted and wooden surfaces is contrasted by the dark grey kitchen island and cupboards, and stainless steel appliances. Ancillary spaces like storage, a mud room, a bathroom and the stairs are all concealed behind a built-out wall.

On the level above, the open-style layout is repeated. The master bedroom and ensuite occupy one side of this storey, with a dressing area in between. Marbled flooring and hexagonal tiles are used across the bathroom, marking the change in function from the sleeping area’s wooden floor and white walls. The master bath features a large open concept shower and a cantilevered vanity mirror that stretches beyond a large frosted window.

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Skylights bring more natural light to the kitchen, industrial stools are great for the breakfast space

Skylights bring more natural light to the kitchen, industrial stools are great for the breakfast space

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The lamp is a brass one, and there's a window here too to bring outdoors inside

The lamp is a brass one, and there's a window here too to bring outdoors inside

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The living zone is separated from the dining space with a fireplace wall, which is seen on both sides, and there's a colorful artwork

The living zone is separated from the dining space with a fireplace wall, which is seen on both sides, and there's a colorful artwork

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The storage is hidden behind wooden panels and the coffee table doubles as an ottoman

The storage is hidden behind wooden panels and the coffee table doubles as an ottoman

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The master bathroom is done in white and marble, there's a large double vanity with much storage

The master bathroom is done in white and marble, there's a large double vanity with much storage

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The bedroom features a bed, a colorful geo rug and a baby's crib

The bedroom features a bed, a colorful geo rug and a baby's crib

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This is how the house looks from outside, it's covered with light-colored wood

This is how the house looks from outside, it's covered with light-colored wood