Williamson Williamson reconfigures Edwardian home for empty nesters in Toronto

Toronto architecture firm Williamson Williamson renovated a 1910s Edwardian house in the Annex neighborhood for empty nesters Eric Stevenson and Carolyn Livingston. Rather than adding space, the architects reorganized the interior through sectional adjustments and targeted insertions. The back third of the house was rearranged: the kitchen floor was lowered almost to grade, the house extended six feet, and a wall of wood-framed Lepage windows opens onto a rear terrace. A deep overhang and automated shades control western light. Outside, brick tiles by Peterson Tegl reference the neighborhood's red brick. Color bridges old and new: an aquamarine front door, dark sage green kitchen cabinets, and an ocher powder room drawn from restored stained glass. Scalloped INAX tiles in the kitchen echo curved plaster molding in the front rooms. An arc in the kitchen marks a pass-through to the dining room, which has a conical plaster ceiling rising to a circular skylight. Upstairs, the back of the second floor became a primary suite with walk-in closets, deeply recessed windows, and stainless steel panels for privacy. Front rooms retain original trim and window openings. The renovation preserves the house's street presence while updating it for a new stage of life.