Hamilton Street Renovation
The design of this space called for wood wall panelling, coffered ceilings and moldings — all in keeping with the style of the owners’ primary residence in Toronto that they sought to reproduce in their smaller Vancouver condominium.
A fresh start
We demolished the condo interior, choosing to reframe the space. We went with wood panelling for the walls and attached wood moldings rather than drywall. Both offered increased durability within the small space, and as the wood lines up perfectly with the straight lines of the millwork and custom limestone fireplace mantle, we were able achieve tighter tolerances than we could have with drywall.
Maximizing height
To maximize the expansive, close to nine-foot ceilings of the condo, we got creative. After removing the pre-existing ceilings, we resized all the ductwork to fit a lower profile ceiling and used the coffers around the perimeter of the room for the mechanical chase, which kept the highest part of the ceiling as open and tall as possible. We also ensured the heating loops beneath the wide-planed white oak flooring added minimal height to the floor.
Hidden details
This small, clean space required complex preplanning to accommodate its hidden elements. A smooth, slow-close pocket door hides a stacking washer-dryer while allowing for the adjacent integrated fridge to open unobstructed. The entry area, complete with artwork, lighting, console and plug, required exact positioning while maintaining as much wall depth as possible. We chipped and cored into the concrete wall behind to recess the electrical box instead of simply adding a piece of plywood that would have reduced depth.