Header: Younes Bounhar / DoubleSpace
On a quiet street in Toronto, House 117 stands out through its heavy materials and a layout that balances large scale with personal comfort. The project grew from a partnership between Izen Architecture and DS Interiors, where the interior designer also lives in the home. This shared perspective is visible in the way the exterior shell and the interior rooms follow one single logic.
Facade defined by rhythm
The grey brickwork is the first detail people notice. These bricks are twice as long as the standard size, creating a stretched, horizontal look across the front of the house. Near the ground, the masonry flips to a vertical orientation. This change in texture makes the base of the building feel distinct and gives the upper floors an elevated appearance.
Deep-set windows with sharp metal edges cut into the walls to keep the profile clean. The designers used the same black metal for the interior staircase railing, pulling a piece of the outside world into the centre of the home.
Lighting the core
The staircase acts as the spine of the house, serving as a channel for sunlight. Specific openings in the roof and walls pull light deep into the middle of the floor plan. The daily routine gets a lift from this focus on brightness—a skylight sits directly inside the main shower, which changes the mood of the room as the sun moves throughout the day.
The entrance is also more accessible than it first appears. While the main living areas are raised, the front door sits at street level. This layout removes the need for a long climb to the front door, making arrival feel easy and grounded.
Warm wood and hidden details
White oak flooring provides a soft contrast to the grey brick and black metal. On the main floor, this wood wraps up the walls to enclose the central rooms. This clever move creates boundaries between the living spaces without the need for heavy walls that would block the view or the light.
Small details do a lot of the heavy lifting here. Baseboards are tucked into tiny gaps in the drywall for a flush look, and the ceiling lights are built directly into the plaster to avoid bulky plastic rims. Large doors slide completely into the walls, giving the owners the choice between a private room or a totally open floor plan.
A moody, modern kitchen
The kitchen stays dark and bold with black wood cabinets, black granite counters, and black faucets. A massive natural stone island with high-contrast veining sits in the centre to break up the dark tones. Floor-to-ceiling windows run alongside the space, ensuring the moody colours feel sophisticated rather than cramped.
In the family room next door, a three-sided fireplace sits under curved wood panels. The dining area is built for large gatherings, fitting eighteen people around a table made from two huge slabs of natural stone. An LED rope light hangs above it like a piece of glowing art, adding a loose, creative touch to the disciplined room.
Private spaces with a spa feel
The bathrooms use a similar strategy of high-end, consistent materials. The powder room feels private and moody thanks to cove lighting and smoked mirrors. In the main bathroom, large tiles cover the floors, the walls, and a built-in bench to create a unified look. The use of black granite and black fixtures here mirrors the kitchen, keeping the entire home’s aesthetic tied together from start to finish.
House 117 shows the impact of a limited material list. A focus on long bricks, black metal, stone, and wood results in a home that feels solid and permanent. Here, the architecture uses natural light and sharp technical details to make the daily experience of the home feel intentional.
Source: v2com newswire
