Dark grey cladding, snowy white interiors and ample natural light feature in this home with a basement apartment, designed by Canadian studio D'Arcy Jones Architects for an extended family.

The house is tucked between two multi-storey homes from different eras. One was built in the 1980s, while the other dates to the early 1900s and was the childhood home of one of the clients. The new residence was constructed on a relatively slender lot that the client's family had owned for many years.
The design team set out to create a "quietly modern" house that respects its context.

The street-facing elevation features three large windows, an offset entrance, and a sunken driveway that leads to a below-grade garage. A concrete walkway traverses a small, landscaped yard and directs visitors to a slightly elevated front door. Encompassing 2,600 square feet (242 square metres), the home has a clear and fluid interior layout.

The public spaces are located on the ground level. In the kitchen and dining area, sliding glass doors open onto a wooden deck, which in turn steps down to a verdant backyard.
The kitchen features white cabinetry and an island made of red oak ? a material traditionally used for flooring in parlours and dining rooms. A dark grey dining table is surrounded by Odger chairs from IKEA. Suspended above is an Augustin lighting fixture from Jieldé, a company started in the 1950s by French designer Jean-Louis Domecq.

Throughout the dwelling, the team created a...