TINY HOUSE DOUBLES IN SIZE

2610 Addition in Toronto

I never add space ‘just to add space’ to a home. I add only the amount needed to add amenities as well as spaciousness. I know how a house works and I am always conservative with the additional square footage because every square foot costs.

Then there is the issue of local building codes and complying with any neighborhood covenants of requirements. I know what they are before I begin.

PROBLEM

The residential lots in Toronto are very narrow. Often the space between these lots is only wide enough to bring the garbage from the back to the front.

This two-story house was quite small. It included a single car garage (A) that required people to go through a screened porch (B), up some steps and into the kitchen (C). There was no coat closet, place for shoes, just a countertop in the kitchen to put things down on. Not great.

The front door (D) enters the home into a narrow hall (E), next to an equally narrow stairway (F).

The only living space is a living room (G) with a fireplace. Next to that is a dining room (H) which was used because there was no place else to eat. This home was tight and uncomfortable. With no bathroom on the main floor. The single bathroom [not shown] on the second floor had to be used.

The laundry was in the basement [not shown].

The family wanted to invest in this home and add space necessary to make it a great home.

SOLUTION

To get from the garage (A) directly into the home, we had to sacrifice the screened porch (B) which was cold in the winter, and then to start the addition (I). We bumped out further (J) to have a coat closet by the entrance from the garage.

Another addition (K) was just beyond the dining room (H). We retained the exterior windows and added opaque glass (L.). New windows on the side wall were added, along with a long built in buffet.

We wanted to add a large family room (M in the back for the view and access to a new deck (N) and a wonderful kitchen (O) This kitchen had an eat-on island and a closet style pantry (P) .

I enlarged the center hall by reducing the size of the living room (G) which will have only soft chairs and be used as a conversation room.

Crucial closets (Q) were added to the center hall, as well as a narrow ½ bath (R). Adjacent to that, is a small laundry room (S).

You will notice that along the center hallway there are bubbles (T) of space to help with circulation,

A covered front porch (U) extends across the house (V) large enough to sit on.

MARCIA LYON is a professional residential remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects locally and several other areas across the US and Canada. Like Creating Spaces on Facebook! Reach Marcia at archimeatus@gmail.com; or phone 515-991-1300. Her website is www.creatingspacesdesign.com Her Substack column is at marcialyon.substack.com