Block Party

A statement staircase and contrasting palette set the scene at this celebratory makeover of a century-old townhouse

A Roncesvalles Edwardian is a riot of colour thanks to Aamp Studio’s redesign

An open mind and a willingness to take risks define this Roncesvalles-area home, one replete with texture, millwork and large swathes of colour. The three-storey Edwardian-era semi underwent an overhaul that knits together the ideals of one creative family and the inventive minds at Aamp Studio. The owners, one a lawyer with an affinity for art and woodworking, the other an educator and avid quilter, initially approached Aamp to expand the third-floor footprint, but the architects’ vision for the whole house proved too irresistible.

Anne-marie Armstrong and Andrew Ashey of Aamp Studio proposed an open-plan concept centred around a dramatic staircase. A striking black and white palette introduces bold contrast and depth throughout the home. “Texture and colour were something the clients really embraced from the beginning, and that gave us a chance to play with various aspects,” says Armstrong.

The architects, who worked with Plan A design–build, began by opening up the main level, tearing down dividing walls and transforming a series of small rooms into a single light-filled space. White oak populates the living room, while a stained black version

takes on verticality with the contrasting staircase. Upstairs are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a family room that leads into a spacious home office. The latter two are separated from the more intimate spaces by a large pocket door, a feature that Aamp Studio used throughout the house to create privacy and openness as needed.

The top of the staircase spills onto blackstained oak flooring – a deliberate material change that acts as an artful endnote. The entire third storey is dedicated to the owners’ private quarters: a large master bedroom with an airy ensuite bathroom and an east-facing roof deck. The connection to the outdoors is a theme that runs throughout the design, making this once dimly lit home look and feel a lot larger than its modest 210-square-metre floorplan. The narrow townhouse also gained a deeper sense of depth and volume thanks to Aamp Studio’s ability to deliver on the clients’ enthusiasm for contrasting colours and textures. AAMPSTUDIO.COM

OPPOSITE Copper finishes warm the high-contrast kitchen. Pendants from EQ3; hardware from Schoolhouse Electric and CB2; Rubinet faucet. ABOVE White oak is the star here, trimming the window–mirror hybrid and running across the floors (by Graf Brothers). Bench from DWR; rug from Quasi Modo. BELOW Colour-blocking starts upon entry with a welcoming green-on-green focal wall and swathes of black and white. Mutina tile from Stone Tile covers the fireplace; art by Cleon Peterson and Sara Andreasson; armchair from Drechsel Studio.

ABOVE Large-format Marmoker tile demarcates the primarily oak and Quartex kitchen custom-built by O’sullivan Millwork Inc. LEFT Black-stained oak flooring spans the third-floor master suite. A pocket door slides between the vanity and cabinet to separate the bedroom from the bathroom. BELOW The second-floor bathroom is another high-impact space, wrapped with blue starbursts (from Saltillo) and white subway tile. Tub by Mirolin; Moen shower system; Ikea stool.

See more of Aamp Studio’s redesign at dlm.ag/blockparty