Re-inventing a century-old home for a modern family of four in Toronto’s exclusive Lawrence Park North neighbourhood was a challenge that interior designer Catlin Stothers took on with gusto.
Built in 1912, the 2,800-square-foot, three-storey house had passed through the hands of three generations before Ron and Jo Ann Dizy bought it in 2003. Rather than raze the building, which was crying out for an overhaul, the owners decided to renovate. The couple wanted to modify the building without increasing its footprint, but hoped at the same time to create more space and let in as much light as possible.
Much of the interior was divided into small areas, so their objective was to create a floor plan that would make better use of available space and be more welcoming. A long narrow corridor running from the entry to the rear of the house was a thoroughfare. The family dreamed of turning it into a functional yet calm and orderly space.
Stothers put her methodical, detail-oriented approach and problem-solving talent to work, getting the most out of the limited square footage. With touches of traditionalism and splashes of contemporary whimsy, her design grabs the eye.
