This welcoming 1905 Arts and Crafts–style home once belonged to two elderly brothers who had never remodeled during their decades of possession. When bought by architects Ginger Sorbara and Douglas Birkenshaw, the century-old home had amazing period details, like a grand stairwell and nice background, that they could blend with more modern components. The couple place to function, extending and modernizing the storied house with a glassy improvement when retaining and relishing its amazing layers of patina wherever possible.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Ginger Sorbara and Douglas Birkenshaw, his daughter and their two sons
Location: High Park/Roncesvalles neighborhood of Toronto
Size: 5,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 5 baths
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From that vantage point in the end of the backyard, the century-old house and its glassy modern extension look like an island in a sea of green. However in need of landscaping, the inviting backyard supplies opportunities for outdoor dining and play.
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The rear extension’s floor-to-ceiling windows create a glass block that overlooks a big wooded ravine lot. Sorbara confined her silk-upholstered living area furniture to a cream wool rug so the set seems to float on the dark walnut flooring.
While there were numerous late nights renovating, working collectively on their family home was a simple collaboration for this couple. “We wanted it to be the best it may be; there was no room for ego or being right,” says Sorbara.
Furniture: Knoll
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Graphic, scientific and fine arts objects occupy a low bench running along one side of the living room. Sunlight pours through the sails of a version.
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The extension also features a modern fireplace plus a custom crosscut Eramosa rock mantel. Sorbara designed the wall to protrude and to shelter the rock.
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The kitchen flows down into the dining area, since the original house was previously grade. Thoughtfully mismatched chairs surround the table.
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In the kitchen, spacious shelves hold a range of treasured objects, including two lifesize felt rabbits around the upper shelf. The kitchen and main floor hall cabinetry is made from rift-cut walnut. Sorbara’s uncle and cousin — John and Dylan Barlow — did all of the millwork in the home.
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A multifunctional cutout on the left side of this kitchen offers sitting space, a perfect framework for flowers and art, and a glance in the home’s original Arts and Crafts staircase.
The home opens to a broad, classic front hall, with the original pocket doors resulting in the original drawing room on the right side.
Abigail Pugh
Sorbara had the storied interior recorded when the couple moved in. The pictures, shot by photographer Greg Pacek and Sorbara, were displayed at the Toronto’s Telephone Booth Gallery in an exhibition titled Call Home: Domestic Narratives. The photographs, combined with documentation of chosen missing items from the last homeowners, such as film stills and family snapshots, were published in a book that accompanied the display.
Pacek’s prerenovation photographs look in every remodeled room. This particular image, capturing yellowing oil-painted partitions and dim wood ceiling accents, is of the front room, which now serves as the kitchen.
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The original stairwell — the backbone of this house — unifies the three tales. Sorbara deliberately left the stairway as untouched as possible, letting its dark timber and hefty form comparison with the home’s blank white walls.
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These pale wood sliding doors beyond the master bedroom offer a stunning framework to the landing and staircase. The children’s bedrooms, a toilet and a guestroom are located to the left and right of this half-story rise pictured here.
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The 2 sons wanted to keep sharing a room when they moved into this new residence. Their bedroom space has a bed large enough for both of these, so each night is a sleepover. The room has plenty of wall storage in stylish plywood cross sections.
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Upstairs, Sorbara’s open-layout office space features heat-treated oak floors and alternately serves as a hive of activity for the boys and her harbor.
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A lengthy custom-built cabinet runs beneath one side of the roof. Colorful Plasticine clay testifies to just how much the 2 boys love here.
Since the house is on a ravine, the couple’s application to reestablish was initially turned down. “We needed a one time opportunity to consider and reconsider the drawings,” says Sorbara. This resulted in a beautiful coincidence of timing: The licenses came through 100 years to the day after the initial construction permits for the house were accepted. Pictured here is your building permit the couple eventually got for your renovation.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Sorbara
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The welcoming Edwardian exterior of the house is semitimbered from the Tudor revival style. The residence sits on a gorgeous 200- by 50-foot great deal near the peak of a little mountain, surrounded by huge sculptural old oak and maple trees.