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Sam Sacks Renovates a Toronto Townhouse From the Inside Out

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Sam Sacks Renovates a Toronto Townhouse From the Inside Out

The ground floor of a semi-detached Toronto townhouse is rarely generous with light. In the Mathersfield Project, designer Sam Sacks inherited a floor plate further complicated by a structural wall dividing the living and dining areas from a sunken kitchen and family room at the rear – two zones occupying the same house but operating independently of each other. Rather than restructuring the floor plate, Sacks moved the existing opening into alignment with the living and dining rooms, then enlarged it. A set of custom steel and glass bifolding doors now spans the threshold – present when the house needs to function as two rooSam Sacks renovates a 4,600-square-foot Rosedale townhouse in Toronto, transforming a dated, contractor-grade interior into an architecturally considered homems.

The decision to work with the existing architecture rather than against it governs the renovation’s broader logic. The home’s original construction was generic contractor work – drywall bulkheads, boxy proportions, and surfaces that carried no particular intention. Sacks corrected this through addition rather than demolition. High traditional baseboards and custom plaster crown molding in the living and dining rooms give the principal rooms presence. A low-profile beamed ceiling in the kitchen and family room pulls the spaces coherently together, while Versailles-pattern oak floors on the ground level ground the whole composition.

Minimalist living room with a modern armchair, bench, potted plants, small fireplace, and large window overlooking a garden with blooming white flowers.

The powder room on the main floor is where Sacks took her biggest risk. A pedestal sink in hammered brass sits against deep Venetian plaster walls – a pairing that works because both materials share a deliberate surface texture, one cast, one applied by hand. On the second floor, the primary ensuite moves through white Volakas marble, Venetian plaster, and zellige tile, materials that sit in tension between the coolness of the stone and the irregular surfaces of the ceramic. The third-floor ensuite finishes in lime green marble.

Modern dining room with a wooden table, six chairs, pendant light, and large windows framed by glass doors, letting in natural light and offering a view of greenery outside.

Throughout, the staircase connecting these floors was rebuilt from scratch. Boxy pickets gave way to a continuous white oak handrail and powder-coated metal posts – a detail that was emphasized since the stair is visible from multiple levels and its original design undermined the architectural ambitions of every room around it.

A stylish living room with a marble fireplace, two furry armchairs, a round coffee table, and a framed portrait above the mantel. Natural light enters through a window with curtains.

Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, marble countertops and backsplash, wooden island with two stools, gold fixtures, and a vase of greenery on the counter.

Modern kitchen with marble countertops and backsplash, gold faucet, large stove, built-in cabinets, circular light fixture, and a bowl of artichokes on the counter.

A built-in wooden kitchen cabinet with a marble countertop and backsplash, brass fixtures, a decorative lamp, and cups on a shelf.

Modern kitchen with light wood and white cabinetry, marble countertops, a brass faucet, green plants, and a white sofa with a floral pillow in the foreground.

A modern living room with a white sofa, two patterned pillows, a vase with flowers on a coffee table, large windows, and built-in cabinets. Shrubs are visible outside.

A modern dining room with a round table, dark cushioned wooden chairs, vases with flowers, beige curtains, pendant lights, and a window showing a brick wall outside.

A wooden staircase with white vertical railings curves upward, seen through a doorway in a softly lit, minimalist interior.

A hallway with a pink rug leads to an open door, revealing a room with a window, beige curtains, and two mustard-colored armchairs.

A minimalist bedroom with a bed covered in a striped blanket, two brown armchairs, beige curtains, and a window letting in natural light.

Modern bathroom with double sinks, large mirrors, wood cabinetry, brass fixtures, and green plants on the counter.

A modern bathroom with a freestanding white bathtub, beige towel draped over the side, marble backsplash, gold fixtures, and a vase with tall flowers on the ledge.

A small bathroom features a gold pedestal sink, wall-mounted gold faucet, oval mirror with gold and white frame, two round wall lights, and a textured beige towel on the wall.

Entryway with a black double door, a fern in a gold planter, a round wooden chair, two duck figurines on the floor, and a portrait of a woman hanging on the wall.

View more information on Sam Sacks’ website.

Photography by Lauren Miller.

Leo Lei translates his passion for minimalism into his daily-updated blog Leibal. In addition, you can find uniquely designed minimalist objects and furniture at the Leibal Store.

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