Houzz Tours
House Tours
Houzz Tour: An Industrial Penthouse Apartment in a Converted Warehouse
Dark wood floors mixed with pristine white walls and plenty of steel detailing give this loft apartment its cool, industrial edge
Built in 1910, this former department store warehouse became one of Toronto’s first successful loft conversions of the late 1990s. But a previous redesign had covered over the loft’s original ductwork and exposed ceilings, so the homeowners brought in designers Ryan Martin and Amy Kent to bring back the authentic industrial look, seen through a Modernist lens.
More subtraction took place when a doorway between the living room and dining room was removed. ‘Now, the larger, doorless opening creates a much better flow and connects the two spaces,’ Martin says. Two built-in bookshelves on both sides of the opening are oak veneer with the same dark stain used on the oak floors.
The wall of windows with views of the Toronto cityscape faces west and receives lots of natural light in the afternoon. Electric solar shades can be lowered to filter sunlight without obscuring the spectacular views.
A bar made of oak veneer has been fitted in an alcove on the other side of one of the built-in bookcases in the living room. The concrete-topped, steel-base dining table on wheels is a new design, but it appears as if it could have come straight off the building’s original factory floor.
Dining chairs, Idolf, Ikea. Chandelier, Endless Straight by Jason Miller, Roll & Hill.
A bar made of oak veneer has been fitted in an alcove on the other side of one of the built-in bookcases in the living room. The concrete-topped, steel-base dining table on wheels is a new design, but it appears as if it could have come straight off the building’s original factory floor.
Dining chairs, Idolf, Ikea. Chandelier, Endless Straight by Jason Miller, Roll & Hill.
Two custom-made horizontal steel shelves line a wall in the dining area and are used to display the homeowners’ collection of white crockery. ‘We wanted to do something interesting on this wall that was both visually appealing and functional,’ Martin says. The sideboard underneath the shelves is also a custom design, and features the same oak veneer and hot-rolled steel used throughout the apartment.
Shelves and sideboard, Parallel General Contractor Corp.
Shelves and sideboard, Parallel General Contractor Corp.
A decision to forego a kitchen island with bar stools in favour of one with bookshelves demonstrates the homeowners’ love of the culinary arts. ‘They really enjoy cooking, and it was necessary for them to have easy access to their collection of cookbooks,’ Martin says. ‘They also prefer the family to gather at the dining table for dinner and conversation rather than around an island.’
Pendant lights, Elte.
Steal clever ideas to add personality to your kitchen
Pendant lights, Elte.
Steal clever ideas to add personality to your kitchen
The marble splashback with a leather, or distressed, finish continues the charcoal and white colour palette featured throughout the apartment. ‘This marble is rough and textured and, here, has a matt finish that works so well with the other design decisions we made,’ Martin says. ‘A shiny, smooth marble would’ve looked completely out of place.’
Splashback, Greystone marble, Ciot.
Splashback, Greystone marble, Ciot.
Large format (12x24in) tiles of Greystone marble, this time with a shiny finish, line the cloakroom walls, while a thin-profile basin, an unframed oval mirror and a single milk glass wall light are among the other highlights. ‘The apartment has three other bathrooms with plenty of storage so this was designed to be a pretty powder room – plain and simple,’ Martin says.
Mirror, 28th Street by Yabu Pushelberg, Avenue Road. Floating sink, Wetstyle.
Check out expert tips to make the most of a cloakroom
Mirror, 28th Street by Yabu Pushelberg, Avenue Road. Floating sink, Wetstyle.
Check out expert tips to make the most of a cloakroom
The master bedroom is a mostly white space with a large window offering views of the surrounding cityscape. The simple steel frame headboard continues with the edgy theme, while a print featuring a crosscut image of a tree trunk hangs above the bed. ‘The space is very industrial, so it was important to bring in some images of organic material to ensure it does not feel too sterile,’ Martin says.
Bed, Parsons, Room & Board. Artwork, Willow Wood 2, Art Squared. Dresser, Hudson, Room & Board.
Bed, Parsons, Room & Board. Artwork, Willow Wood 2, Art Squared. Dresser, Hudson, Room & Board.
A bespoke wardrobe made from hot-rolled steel brings the same striking material found on the living room fireplace surround into the master bedroom. ‘With hot-rolled steel, the colours that come out of the process can vary quite a bit. This wardrobe has a lot of blue tones that have been picked out with the turquoise chair and blue rug,’ Martin says.
Chair, Beetle, Gubi. Rug, Graffito by Kelly Wearstler, The Rug Company.
TELL US…
What do you like about this home? Tell us in the Comments below.
Chair, Beetle, Gubi. Rug, Graffito by Kelly Wearstler, The Rug Company.
TELL US…
What do you like about this home? Tell us in the Comments below.
Sponsored
Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore
Who lives here A family with three young children
Location Toronto, Canada
Size 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Designer Croma Design Inc
‘Subtraction was truly addition when it came to the living room,’ Martin says. By removing the plasterboard from the ceiling, he exposed the original ducts and pipework and replaced a black granite fireplace surround with a hot-rolled steel floor-to-ceiling design as the former was too shiny for the subdued look of the new interior. Hot-rolled steel has a rough texture and a grey finish with random highlights ranging from blue to purple, while cold-rolled steel has a smooth texture with a solid grey finish.
Sofa, Mary, Montauk Sofa. Leather chairs, Berkeley Square, Avenue Road. Coffee table, Floating Square, Martha Sturdy. Rug, Carnival by Paul Smith, The Rug Company.