Perched fifty feet above Lake Ontario at the edge Scarborough’s natural geological sight, the Fishleigh Drive Residence is a Taylor Smyth Architects designed house that embraces the views of the Bluffs as a blueprint for inspiration.
The house is focused on a two-story great room, skylit along one side, and fully glazed at the back, with large sliding doors that open out to the backyard and swimming pool.
Photo credit: Doublespace Photography Inc.
An exterior planter extends inside, along with a vertical screen of oak slats, to define the separation between the great room and dining room. An open feature stair winds through the center of the house up to the 3rd floor roof terrace, specifically requested by the client where they could enjoy views of the lake above the tree canopy.
The clients, Jesleen and Jihad, a young professional couple expecting their first child, approached Taylor Smyth to design a new residence, having been impressed by one of their other contemporary houses nearby — House on the Bluffs, winner of the People’s Choice Award for the Ontario Association Design Excellence Awards.
Photo credit: Doublespace Photography Inc.
Photo credit: Doublespace Photography Inc.
Outside, the white stucco walls and black metal accent panels are combined with warm oak-look phenolic panels (Trespa) on the garage door and soffits, chosen for their no-maintenance composition, important considerations in Ontario’s widely fluctuating summer and winter climate.
The material palette inside features light oak floors throughout, with accents of both white and black large-scale porcelain, the former reproducing the rich patterns of Statuario marble. The second floor contains three bedrooms. The master bedroom features a spacious and luxurious ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet, where the white and black porcelain slabs are combined to create a dramatic contrast.
Since moving into the house, the client has welcomed their second child and the house has become a frequent destination for large extended family events. “My daughter loves it here,” Jesleen says. “Every morning she comes down to the living room and says, ‘hello world! She likes to wave out to the birds and the trees.”
