There are a million design lessons to be learned from this Toronto renovation. But the most powerful may be this: Always get a second opinion.

After all, Shelley Simmons and Paul Haley (a creative director and a realtor, respectively) wouldn’t be living in their dream space—a contemporary retrofit of a classic Victorian three-story row house—if they hadn’t asked their friend, Claudia Bader, for her thoughts on their already-approved plan for finishing their third floor.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Bader is the creative director of the local firm Creative Union Network, and as it turns out…she had some opinions. “There was no spatial quality, no real consideration for light, and no consideration for what they wanted from the space,” she says. And so, Bader took over the project with a far more ambitious game plan.

The former attic would become a 650-square-foot multipurpose oasis that would serve as Shelly and Paul’s bedroom—but also a yoga studio, office, and lounge, complete with a spa-like bathroom. The couple were so inspired by Bader’s work that soon the renovation plans expanded to include the second floor, which holds the bedrooms of kids Finn and Inès, and the ground floor, where the main living areas are located.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

But it’s that third floor—the one that kicked off the whole project—that really is the crown jewel. “We call it the apartment,” laughs Shelley. “When we close the pocket door, we escape from the kids. We’re self-sustained—it’s a separate sanctuary.” Since there’s no attic anymore, the rain isn’t muted when it comes down—a surprise sonic feature that Shelley says adds to the coziness.

Before: Stairwell

After: Stairwell

The eight-foot-tall, triangular window at the end puts a contemporary twist on the classic Victorian bay-and-gable facade. It also helps pull light into the narrow space, which lacks northern and southern windows. “We really wanted to make sure the center of the floor plan wasn’t too dark,” says Bader. An inset balcony separating the vanity area and the lounge adds another hit of natural light—and has just enough space to perfectly fit a yoga mat.

Before: The Front Room

After: The Front Room

The programming on the floor below is a totally different story. The hallway here is so narrow that it’s not even up to code. To avoid the feeling of being squeezed through the space, Bader sought a solution that would keep this sandwiched level airy and bright: a floating, perforated-steel staircase leading down from the parental suite.

The thin steel mesh is mounted sturdily to the building—not a wobble to be found—but from certain angles, at certain times of day, Shelley insists that those ascending the staircase look like they’re floating on air.

After: The Bathroom

This effect is enhanced by the LED strips that line the stairway. Bader (gently) pushed for the family to incorporate accent lighting like this as much as possible. “Paul was worried the place would be dark, but I said listen: It’s a house, not an office,” recalls Bader. “You want overhead lights for cleaning your house, but otherwise, you want mood light.”

You’ll find a soft glow in the kitchen above the windows, integrated into the bathroom cabinetry, lining the fireplace and the staircase, and accenting other moments in the home. “The family only turns those strips on. That’s their main lighting.”

To round off the renovation, the team gave the kids’ bedrooms on the second story a material refresh (with crisp white paint, new millwork, and white oak flooring), and they rebalanced the ground-floor living area by shrinking the oversized kitchen and establishing a cohesive open-concept layout.

After: The New Third Floor

Though the design of this home may have been sparked by a last-minute consultation, the results aren’t simply a punch-up: They’re a revelation. “When friends tour the space, every time without fail they’re like ‘Whoa,’” says Shelly. “It’s so honest and profound...it’s almost an overwhelming delight. And I get it.”

More Before & After Stories:

A Toronto Couple Level Up Their Dingy Attic Into a Spa-Like Suite

Two Architects Bring Balance to a Shaky Toronto Home

Project Credits:

Architecture and Interiors: Creative Union Network / @creativeunionnet

Builder/General Contractor: Steve Harris, Harris Builds / @harris_builds_toronto

Structural Engineer: Blackwell Structural Engineers / @blackwellengineers

HVAC: Off Grid Design

Metalwork: Calan Srigley, CLS Welding / @clswelding

Cabinetry: Enrich It Woodworks

Soapstone: Great Mountain Soapstone / @greatmountainsoapstone

Backsplash, Countertops, Custom Vanities, Shower Surround: Surface 1 / @surface1oakville

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Before & After: There’s a Light in the Attic of This Reimagined Toronto Row House