“Imagine a terrace with the most spectacular private skyline of Toronto available only to you.”
LOCATION
Downtown, Toronto
Size
1000 sq/f.
photography
Vinh Le
YEAR
2024
TESTIMONIAL
"I felt like they really went the extra mile to understand and deliver on my vision for my space. I just wish I had more spaces to renovate to work with them again."
Nicole & Kory
take a tour
Watch Luca take you through this private oasis in the heart of downtown toronto.
Our vision focused on creating fluid zones for lounging, dining, and cooking—all while honouring the terrace’s panoramic vistas and existing structural elements. They wanted their home to be a place they could host lavish parties for 100 people – which they have – and also be a wonderful private sanctuary in the heart of the busy downtown core.
We placed the primary furniture grouping with a large sectional and fire pit by the entry to the terrace so that they can enjoy the full panoramic view of the skyline when lounging here.
A massive custom island in slatted cedar and weather-resistant sintered stone peninsulas out from an exterior wall to create a divide between the main seating and dining area. Built-in appliances and plenty of storage space allow for easy entertaining with counter stools opposite the prep area.
The layout of the terrace had to work with the existing location of the gas line and exterior outlets to ensure connectivity for the integrated lighting systems and the BBQ were optimal.
The condo board was very reluctant for us to relocate any existing mechanical and electrical outside so our design had to ensure connections were minimal.
We chose the dining area to be in the corner of the terrace to maximize the views every guest at this table would have of the city.
The trickiest part of designing this private terrace was that there was no water line outside! The builder of the condo never installed one, and when we applied to the condo board to try and add one, our application was rejected. This posed a significant problem with the design because using real plants on a terrace of this size would be a nightmare to maintain without a water source.
Our clever solution to this problem was to utilize artificial plants and hedges everywhere that are all UV protected from the sun. Every single plant and hedge on this terrace is fake, which ensures a constant lush green oasis look our clients were hoping for while also keeping the mess of shedding leaves and soil non-existent.
Tucked away around the corner is another large seating area that has a custom twenty-foot-long L-shaped bench in the same slatted cedar finish as the island for unity. A task area was added with a round table for working outdoors with the most beautiful backdrop for Zoom calls, in addition to a more formal seating area to maximize how many guests this terrace can host. It also allows our clients a lot of versatility to have different experiences based on where they are.
Furniture, planters and millwork were specifically chosen and designed for their durability from sun exposure and also their weight to withstand wind gusts. Planters were weighed down and strategically placed throughout the terrace along railings, providing protection from wind or against the exterior walls of the suite so they would not blow over.
The placement also had to allow us to run wires to connect all the lights in the cleanest way possible. Integrated lighting in planters, the kitchen island, around furniture and in the custom L shaped bench was incorporated throughout the entire terrace design so that the colours, hues and timing all work harmoniously together and create different moods.
Vibrant accent pieces reflect their eclectic style, bringing personality and playfulness to this elevated oasis in the heart of Toronto. The result is a seamless blend of city spectacle and intimate retreat.
an oasis in the sky
When our clients purchased this unit directly from the builder, the terrace was completely empty and they wanted it to feel like a private oasis in the sky with a lush, tropical vibe. This was a huge challange because the suite did not have a waterline outside and limited exterior electrical outlets.
a blank canvas
To achieve a lush, tropical vibe without a waterline or complex maintenance, we sourced artificial, high-quality, UV-resistant outdoor greenery. We also solved the technical puzzle of limited electrical outlets by strategically mapping out moody accent lighting, ensuring the terrace remains a functional private extension of the home after dark.
the final layout
During the design phase, we played around with different layouts of where the cooking, sitting and eating areas should be and ended up with this final configuration based on the location of existing services and also the orientation of the views.
