East York House

East York House is a new family home in Toronto’s east end. The project replaces a cherished house where our clients had lived for many years, but which was not a candidate for renovation due to a multitude of necessary repairs and crumbling foundations. When it came to rebuilding, they sought a design that reflected their values and lifestyle: a home that is thoughtfully designed, exceptionally built, and suited to the rhythms of everyday family life.

Neighbourhood context and neighbourliness was paramount to our clients. The front of the house echoes the familiar lines and shapes of the surrounding homes. At the back, our clients wanted to align the rear wall of the new house with the neighbouring homes, even though they were allowed to build deeper. It was important to them to preserve a cohesive backyard “streetscape”.

On the exteriors, a soft grey palette marries modernity with traditional forms, reinterpreting local vernacular elements such as horizontal siding, dormers, steeply pitched roofs, and shingles, further blending into the aesthetics of the street.

This home spans four-levels, balancing a compact footprint with spacious interiors. The design fosters connection, with a central kitchen for gathering, intimate living areas, and flexible spaces that adapt to the family’s needs. Overall, the home provides 2,800 square feet of living space within a modest footprint.

The main floor begins with a side-facing entry with custom, furniture-like cabinetry, leading into a calm front sitting room. Just beyond, the kitchen anchors the center of the home with a large island and different zones for preparing, staging, and gathering. The kitchen is paired with a straight-run stair flooded by three generous skylights above that bring light down to the main floor. At the rear is the dining space that opens onto a terrace built over a basement-only extension.

The basement is longer than the above-grade house to create a flexible recreation room, which is brightened by a large window looking out to the backyard. The decision to expand only the basement meant that light could be brought into the rec room without compromising on space for the outdoor dining area above. The basement is also home to a gym, sauna, storage, and mechanical room.

The upper floors accommodate family life with care. The second floor contains a study for remote work, and two equally sized children’s bedrooms, each with built-in desks, dual closets, and a shared bathroom. The top floor features a multipurpose den for music, homework, and games, as well as the primary suite complete with bedroom, walk-in closet, and bathroom.

Throughout the home, natural light and open circulation define the spaces: an open-riser stair and careful skylight placement bring daylight to every level. This source of light throughout the day is so important that the overall opening for the stairs was made wider than the stairs themselves, providing clear space for light to flow down.

Built as an all-electric house with high-performance construction methods, the home is as efficient and low-carbon emitting as it is comfortable. The envelope incorporates Zip sheathing, exterior insulation, airtight construction, and high-quality windows and doors.

Mechanical equipment is distributed across multiple floors to keep temperatures consistent and balanced year-round, with each floor being controlled by a separate zone.

Attention to detail extends to both visible and hidden elements. Structural shoring was installed along both sides to enable construction on the tight infill site without disruption to the neighbouring homes.

The result is a modern home that is efficient, durable, neighbourly, and intimately tailored to the life of the family it shelters.

Builder: H. Burke Custom Builders
Photography: Nanne Springer