Steel Beauty: a wonderfully mod metal box near Dupont and Shaw
Steel Beauty: a wonderfully mod metal box near Dupont and Shaw
By Lucy Dusko and Peter Saltsman | November 5, 2014
By Lucy Dusko and Peter Saltsman | 11/05/2014
By Lucy Dusko and Peter Saltsman | Photographs by Derek Shapton
The People: Steve Bugler, the 52-year-old owner of Radiant City Millwork, and Valentina Nedelcu, a 52-year-old engineer.
The Place: A mod, 1,300-square-foot house near Dupont and Shaw.
Bugler and Nedelcu bought their property from a semi-retired metalworker in 2008. They tore down the existing rental house and, with input from architect Michael LaFreniere, designed a steel-clad box. Bugler and his three-man crew did all of the framing and most of the finishing, including walls of custom windows (Bugler’s specialty) in the front and rear. But on the side of the house that hugs the laneway, he limited himself to a single, high window to showcase the rusted-steel exterior—and keep passersby from seeing inside.
297017 Owner <b>Steve Bugler</b> designed and built all of the windows, which are framed in African sapele wood. (Image: Derek Shapton) Steel Beauty: a mod, 1,300-square-foot house near Dupont and Shaw https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-01.jpg 667 1000 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-laneway-steel-beauty-dupont-shaw/slide/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-01/ great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-01 0 0
(Image: Derek Shapton)
297018 The living room takes up half the main floor. Nedelcu and Bugler decided they’d rather have fewer rooms and make each one bigger. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-02.jpg 667 1000 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-laneway-steel-beauty-dupont-shaw/slide/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-02/ great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-02 0 0
297019 Bugler and Nedelcu collect chairs. Bugler’s first was the Barcelona chair, which he bought in the States several years ago. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-laneway-steel-beauty-dupont-shaw/slide/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-03/ great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-03 0 0
297020 The photograph is an overhead shot of the Flatiron Building in Manhattan. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-laneway-steel-beauty-dupont-shaw/slide/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-04/ great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-04 0 0
297021 Bugler also designed and built the skylight above the staircase, which is framed by walnut slats that extend up to the roof. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-05.jpg 667 1000 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-laneway-steel-beauty-dupont-shaw/slide/great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-05/ great-spaces-lane-change-steel-beauty-05 0 0
It’s an elegant and much-admired exterior. We’re two doors west of it and sometimes I just go and stand beside the laneway that separates us and admire the structure. I especially appreciate its not over-the-top size. They’ve used the lot to best advantage.
I also like the front garden which is so private that most people walk right by it without realizing anything is there.