Timeless Kingsway Home Blends Classic Design with Modern Family Living
In Toronto's established Kingsway neighborhood, a newly constructed custom home stands as an oasis of calm for a busy family of four, two dogs, and their entrepreneurial pursuits. Designed by Joan MacAlpine of Joan & Co. and built by TPM Custom Homes with For Walls & a Roof, this residence masterfully combines timeless aesthetics with practical functionality for a psychotherapist and movement-studio owner, her entrepreneur husband, and their two active teenagers.
A Collaborative Vision for Serene Living
The family, longtime clients of MacAlpine who had previously collaborated on four projects including their businesses, cottage, and former home, sought a dwelling with specific qualities. Top priorities included creating a timeless, unpretentious character infused with serenity, warmth, and abundant natural light. Equally important was implementing a well-ordered layout where everything has its place, establishing an essential foundation for a stress-free environment.
"They loved the Kingsway neighborhood and actually invited me to tour several houses with them—both renovations and tear-downs," explains MacAlpine. "They jumped on this property as soon as they saw it. It featured a beautiful, big south-facing backyard with ample room for a pool and pool house, which they desired. The lot was also heavily treed with numerous evergreens; despite proximity to neighboring houses, there's a genuine feeling of privacy." This lush greenery directly influenced MacAlpine's selection of natural, organic materials throughout the interior spaces.
Exterior Harmony with Neighborhood Character
Though newly constructed, the home's exterior maintains consistency with its older neighbors through thoughtful architectural choices. A simple twin-gabled profile and traditional white-painted brick walls create familiar streetscape appeal. The brick treatment utilizes special custom-tinted mortar that eliminates maintenance concerns typically associated with traditional painted brick, ensuring lasting beauty without excessive upkeep.
Thoughtful Interior Spaces for Family Life
A vintage-inspired oak front door—a replica of a charming Door Store find that was unfortunately the wrong size—opens into a four-square vestibule featuring classic black-and-white tumbled marble tile flooring. To the right lies the dining room, while to the left sits a cozy sitting room MacAlpine affectionately calls a "snug," inspired by the client's grandmother.
"It's a small room away from the main action of the house," she elaborates. "It's designed for reading and reflection, intimate conversations, and paperwork at a small desk." Built-in bookcases displaying family mementoes, travel souvenirs, and literary collections, combined with a quartzite-trimmed fireplace and elegant hammered-glass chandelier, cultivate an atmosphere of cozy comfort.
Opposite the snug, the dining room achieves formal elegance without stuffiness. Under twin linen and brass pendant lights, a custom pedestal oak table with velvet-backed chairs comfortably seats eight, while a generous sideboard along the side wall accommodates platters and overflow items for entertaining.
Central Hub Connecting Living Spaces
From the vestibule, a pair of oak-trimmed archways frames a short central hallway that serves as the home's main organizational hub. This transitional space provides a relaxed entrance to the more family-centered areas, seamlessly connecting the living room on one side with the kitchen on the other. Here, the house basks in natural light streaming through generous windows overlooking the garden, which span almost the entire length of the rear elevation.
The living room features a cast limestone fireplace surround and recessed alcoves for display and storage, creating an inviting, timeless ambiance. Throughout the home, MacAlpine's warm, natural palette and unfussy detailing foster the serene atmosphere the family prioritized, proving that thoughtful design can transform even the busiest household into a peaceful retreat.
