Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes
Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes
By Bert Archer | January 2, 2014
By Bert Archer | 01/02/2014
An actor and a TV writer create a dramatic turning point for their mid-century bungalow
By Bert Archer | Photographs by Kristin Sjaarda
Before Yannick and Shantelle Bisson moved into their three-bedroom East York bungalow in 2007, Shantelle was a freelance writer, and Yannick was a gigging actor booking the occasional movie of the week. With three daughters to support, Yannick would often turn to contracting to help pay the bills. The couple’s luck changed that year when Yannick landed the lead role on CBC’s popular detective series Murdoch Mysteries. A few years later, feeling squeezed for space (and a little more flush), the Bissons went hunting for a bigger house, setting their sights on Rosedale. But the more they looked, the more they realized how much they loved their little cul-de-sac overlooking the Taylor Creek ravine and wanted to stay put. They hired the architect Gordon Ridgely who, along with Upside Developments, transformed their bungalow into a series of interlocking cubes. Yannick pitched in, too: he crafted the fireside bench out of pine beams salvaged from a 200-year-old barn used on his show. In more ways than one, this is the house that Murdoch built.
252040 (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-01.jpg 1000 667 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Kristin Sjaarda"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-01/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-01 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252041 The <strong>Zac Ridgely</strong>–designed CrissCross chandelier is made of nickel-plated steel that reflects the canopy LED lighting (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-02/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-02 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252042 The Bissons spent six months looking for a distressed-wood dining table before finding this pine one at Hardware on Queen East. The Eames-inspired lucite chairs provide a nice contrast (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-03/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-03 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252043 Smoked glass pendant lights with tungsten filament bulbs cast a warm glow over the cool countertops. The couple chose sculptural light fixtures to help break up the angular room (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-04.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-04/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-04 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252044 They found the walnut bar stools at Nuevo on Caledonia Road (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-05/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-05 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252045 The Scavolini kitchen includes cabinets made from a durable faux walnut laminate (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-06.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-06/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-06 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252046 (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-07.jpg 667 1000 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Kristin Sjaarda"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-07/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-07 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252047 The Bissons are especially proud of the floating staircase, made from steel and scratch-resistant ipe wood (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-08.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-08/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-08 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252048 Toronto artist <strong>Harv Glazer</strong> works with antique Japanese parchment paper (he calls it “pornigami”) (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-09.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-09/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-09 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252049 The couple bought their Herman Miller lounge and ottoman through EQ3 (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-10/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-10 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252051 Luceplan’s Hope light fixture hangs ethereally above the oval pedestal tub in the master bathroom overlooking the ravine (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-11.jpg 667 1000 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Kristin Sjaarda"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-11/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-11 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252052 The house was reoriented to take advantage of the southern exposure. Six huge sliding windows open onto the ravine Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-12/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-12 0 0
252053 (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-13.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-13/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-13 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252054 <strong>Zac Ridgely’</strong>s award-winning Nest chandelier hangs in the front hallway (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-14/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-14 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
252055 The vintage Roche Bobois wall unit, which houses Yannick’s collection of Victor Hugo books, was rescued from a “shagadelic pad in Rosedale” (Image: Kristin Sjaarda) Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes Great Spaces: transforming an East York bungalow into a series of welcoming cubes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow/slide/great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-15/ great-spaces-east-york-bungalow-15 0 0
(Image: Kristin Sjaarda)
What does that mean – a series of welcoming cubes? What cubes, I read the item, viewed the photos, I completely have missed any notion of cubes – it is a lovely home, but cubes – I am totally at a loss as to comprehend what or where cubes come into this? Did I miss seeing these interlocking cubes? I love the lighting fixtures they are stunning and I do like the light that seems to come in through all the lovely windows. Very nice indeed.
Cheers
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