Architect: Wanda Ely Architect
Project: King Plus Condo
Location: Toronto, Canada
Photography: Scott Norsworthy
King Plus Condo by Wanda Ely Architect is a project that combines two penthouse units in a new downtown Toronto condo building for a young family of two professionals and their young daughter. Inspired by their African and Indian cultural heritages, the design employs a palette of warm, rich, earthy materials, vibrant pops of saturated colour, and intricate patterns, deployed within a clean and efficient floor plan that receives abundant natural light.
The focal point of main living space is a feature millwork wine storage wall that wraps onto the ceiling to help spatially define the dining area as a space separate, but connected to the kitchen, and living room on either side. While the overall gesture within the space is simple and bold, the intricate geometric patterns draw abstract inspiration from the couple’s ethnic heritage.
Upon entry to the main living space, the feature millwork frames a view to the living room beyond. A cascade of glass pendants hang effortlessly over the dining table, suspended from a vibrant red slot in the ceiling.
Pegs thoughtfully located within the pattern of the back panel support wine bottles.
The living room is oriented towards a custom fireplace and TV wall and utilizes a unique furniture layout that can easily accommodate family movie nights, evenings entertaining guests by the fire, or a peaceful afternoon reading a book by the window with a view over the city.
A custom kitchen is tucked into an alcove to provide some separation from the rest of the unit, while still maintaining visual and auditory connections, to interact with guests, and keep an eye on the little one. The kitchen receives generous amounts of light and opens onto a generous outdoor terrace.
The rich warmth of walnut millwork is a common thread throughout the project. Here, a horizontal bar of upper cabinets float against the contrasting cool and irregular linear striations of a backsplash tile.
The main corridor was conceived as a gallery-like space, including dramatic lighting, precisely located to illuminate the couple’s unique collection of sculpture and art, with dramatic views over the skyline beyond.
The colour and texture of a wall-covering is reminiscent of copper, and, when combined with moody lighting to elevate the experience along this corridor into something unique and meaningful for these clients.
The powder room features a vibrant pop of saturated colour that complements a dark tile on one wall.
The warm glow of pendants dangling to the side of the powder room mirror provide an alluring warm glow.
The main bathroom on the ground floor features a material palette that is luxurious, yet calming. Intended to be shared by their daughter and overnight guests, the bathroom accommodates a full size tub and walk-in shower.
A walnut vanity provide plenty of storage space for toiletries and linens. Two elegant white wall sconces provide diffuse lighting around the sink and mirror, and are a subtle, restrained nod to tradition while keeping the overall tone distinctly modern.
Marble tile wraps three walls of the bathroom, with the fourth wall reserved for an intricate feature mosaic tile in glass and marble, so unusual and ornate that it begs for a closer look to investigate.
The master bedroom upstairs features a sophisticated material palette that is rich, refined, and elegant. During the day, the bedroom features stunning views over the city of Toronto; when the curtains are closed at night the room transforms into a cozy adult retreat.
Materials and fixtures are carefully selected and paired with furniture sourced to develop a unique language that speaks to the clients’ personalities, desires, and way of life.
Bedside pendant lights sparkle and glow near the headboard, casting a dazzling geometry of warm shadows around the room.
The bed is oriented towards a wall featuring a wall-covering of oversized gold medallions that extends beyond, down the corridor.
Sliding closet doors along the corridor leading to be bedroom are an efficient solution to providing the required closet space within a downtown condo building.
The ensuite accommodates a double vanity with a semi-recessed walnut medicine cabinet between the two sinks, with one door opening in each direction, for him and for her.
Small glass pendants hang elegantly on either side of the vanity. The semi-recessed medicine cabinet slides into the wall between the mirrors.
Ornate patterns on a strip of feature tile glimmer in the shower, thanks to special lighting that emphasizes the tile’s reflectivity.