Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Wanda Ely's Boston featured in Designlines

Boston, an East End Toronto redesign by Wanda Ely (BES '96, BArch '98) was .

Drawing from an eclectic mix of inspiration including the high-contrast photography of Bill Brandt, nautical design, and the bold, curving forms of rocky Icelandic landscapes, This narrow semi-detached house was completely reconfigured to create a private refuge for a well-traveled couple who both work from home. The result is a living sculpture animated by light, shadow, art, and nature.

Read the full feature on and visit to see more.

photograph of a house interior

Abandoning conventional layout constraints that didn’t suit how the clients like to live, allowed for a radical spatial reconfiguration. Areas for working, reading, bathing, and sleeping are woven together seamlessly within one cohesive space.

photograph of a house interior

A neutral palette of stony greys allows the books, plants, and objects to pop as the main source of colour and visual texture. Integrated, dimmable LED lighting transforms the bookshelves into a sculptural, ambient light source at night, and highlights the eclectic displays of treasured objects.

photograph of a house interior

The majority of the floor is dedicated to the home office and extensive library which features sculptural bookshelves that undulated across the wall.

photograph of a house interior

The foyer visually connects the ground and second floors. Here you look up to see the custom perforated metal guard and handrail, which offer a peek of the reading bench and library beyond. New skylights in the existing sloped roof, along with new window openings, allow generous amounts of west light to cascade down into the space, and cast dramatic, ever-changing shadows against the white walls and millwork.

photograph of a house interior

The ground floor is also entirely open concept, with carefully defined living spaces that unfold in sequence as you move deeper into the house. A continuous bank of millwork flows along the south wall of the whole floor, transforming from a kitchen, to a dining banquette, to a living room credenza and closet.

photograph of a house interior
1 / 5
Abandoning conventional layout constraints that didn’t suit how the clients like to live, allowed for a radical spatial reconfiguration. Areas for working, reading, bathing, and sleeping are woven together seamlessly within one cohesive space.
photograph of a house interior
2 / 5
A neutral palette of stony greys allows the books, plants, and objects to pop as the main source of colour and visual texture. Integrated, dimmable LED lighting transforms the bookshelves into a sculptural, ambient light source at night, and highlights the eclectic displays of treasured objects.
photograph of a house interior
3 / 5
The majority of the floor is dedicated to the home office and extensive library which features sculptural bookshelves that undulated across the wall.
photograph of a house interior
4 / 5
The foyer visually connects the ground and second floors. Here you look up to see the custom perforated metal guard and handrail, which offer a peek of the reading bench and library beyond. New skylights in the existing sloped roof, along with new window openings, allow generous amounts of west light to cascade down into the space, and cast dramatic, ever-changing shadows against the white walls and millwork.
photograph of a house interior
5 / 5
The ground floor is also entirely open concept, with carefully defined living spaces that unfold in sequence as you move deeper into the house. A continuous bank of millwork flows along the south wall of the whole floor, transforming from a kitchen, to a dining banquette, to a living room credenza and closet.