A FAMILY AFFAIR
A custom, multi-generational residence inspires connection in `Second Shaughnessy'
From the exterior, Nanton II residence stands majestically with its Tudor-style facade, blending seamlessly with the adjacent traditional estates in prestigious Shaughnessy. But step inside, and the home is a sleek, high-tech and exciting expression of the new.
This juxtaposition of Old World and modern represents the homeowner's family history on this very lot. The client had grown up in the pre-existing home at this address, a pre-1940s era structure her parents purchased after they immigrated to Canada.
By the time she approached JHA Architecture + Interior for this project in 2016, the client was married with three children of her own and ready to create a multi-generational residence where her aging parents could also live.
After the client shared her very specific vision of what she wanted for the home, JHA Architecture + Interior founder John Henshaw and lead interior designer Joy Chao went to work on the layout, taking into account the family's anticipated traffic patterns and adjusting the orientation of the home to south-facing to maximize the amount of natural light. Different from many other architectural firms, which bring interior designers on to a project after the plans are drawn up, Henshaw and Chao take a more holistic approach to their work. “My team and his team will work together (from the outset) so both the interior space plan and exterior architecture work seamlessly,” Chao explains.
It was important for the client that the new build incorporates some aspects of her childhood home while maximizing space. “Because the home is in the `Second Shaughnessy' area (between King Edward and 33rd Avenue), even though she preferred a contemporary home, she didn't want the house to be jarring in her neighbourhood,” says Chao.
The client also wanted a grandparents' suite and a study area on the ground floor, which was unusual considering the standard main-floor layout is a den, living room, dining room, kitchen and eating area.
The result is a five-bed, fiveand-a-half-bath residence that allows seven people of three generations, with three differing lifestyles, to enjoy their busy lives both independently — and together.
The home is designed with one large L-shaped kitchen, nook and dining room expansive enough to accommodate all seven residents. Ample ceiling-height cabinetry, expansive porcelain countertops, a kitchen island, two sinks, large Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and a pantry ensure there's enough space for everyone, whether they're preparing meals for one big feast together or the kids are fixing a post-activity snack while the grandparents make themselves a late breakfast.
In the basement is an office where the homeowners run their audiovisual business and a second kitchen for hosting clients. On the main floor is a den where the parents have been known to watch the news while the kids hang out and play Minecraft.
The client's sophisticated taste is expressed throughout the home by using contrasting colours, hard and soft textures, angular and circular lines, and different materials including metal and glass, as well as beautiful built-in millwork and natural materials including marble, walnut and oak.
Artwork and avant-garde lighting and furniture, like silk a red-and-white striped silk sofa chosen by the client, add effortless flair. Sustainability was top of mind in this build, as is the case for most of Henshaw's projects. A full three inches of exterior insulation in the building envelope, as well as spray foam in the attic, boost energy efficiency and comfort, keeping the home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The high-tech home also features remote-controlled blinds and roller shades in most principal spaces.
Nanton II was completed in August 2019 before the pandemic, but it wasn't until the summer of 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions began to lift, and the family had been living there together for many months, that the design team was able to go in to take photos and see how the residents were using the space. “We were able to see all three generations enjoying each other and interacting in the house. It was really satisfying to see how well it worked out for them,” Chao says.