Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2024 - 71

a non-polyurethane finish. Instead, the wood
will be treated with natural oils that build up
protection over time.
" It provides a beautiful floor that feels nice and
wears really well, " said Snow.
Kitchen appliances are all gas-free, while the
melamine and laminate cabinetry panels and
Caesarstone counters are more sustainable than
fully natural materials thanks to their lower upfront
carbon footprint and durability that leads
to a longer life cycle.
When possible, the firm works with local artisans
and craftspeople. In this kitchen, the lighting
fixtures were handmade by the clients' friend,
whose studio is nearby. The sinks were hand built
by Toronto fabricators, one from the Caesarstone
used for the counters and the other from a piece
of marble the fabricator had on hand.
" Producers are recognizing how important
sustainability is and how much more they could
be doing, " said Snow. " There are so many product
and material options out there. We can find what
we like without having to sacrifice look, feel or
quality. "
BATHROOM LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS
Sustainable structural and material choices like
those in the kitchen are found throughout the
house. The third-floor bathroom - the parents'
new oasis - features locally built millwork and
laminate panels for the vanity base. The countertop
and sink were custom made locally of durable
Corian. Low-flow plumbing fixtures were
installed here and in all bathrooms. To bring in
natural light, the team added a skylight to this
room, too.
" The bathroom is in the attic, so they already
had the space, we just converted it to usable
space, " said Snow. " But that means some ceilings
are low. The skylight adds a feeling of openness. "
The skylight faces north, so while it lets in
light, it does so without pulling in much heat.
Air circulation is made possible by an operable
window in the shower.
While renovating from the inside out, necessary
because of the need to preserve the façade,
the team improved the insulation of the home
and properly waterproofed it. They replaced a
LEFT The kitchen décor
emphasizes the focus on
harmony with the environment
with natural white oak-look
cabinets and soft curves on
the island.
" Softening the corners of
everything became a priority
in the house, " said Andrew
Snow, associate, Dubbeldam
Architecture + Design.
" We also added the arches
throughout, partly to hide
ducts. It's more interesting to
not see everything all at once
- you are surprised around
every corner. "
BELOW The main bath was
created from the former attic
space and benefits from
radiant in-floor heating, natural
light courtesy of a skylight and
shower window and a custom
vanity made from durable
materials. The floor tile is from
a discontinued line that had
enough available to complete
this eco-friendly space.
forced-air system with high-velocity air conditioning
ducts, which minimized the ducts that
run through the house and made them easier to
hide, opening up the livable space.
For months when the goal is heating the home
rather than cooling it, the team chose radiant
in-floor heating, a more discreet and effective
way of heating a house, according to Snow. Heat
rises, so when your feet feel warm, your whole
body feels warm.
(ECO-)FRIENDLY ADVICE
Through years of research and experience, Snow
has seen the benefits of designing with sustainability
in mind.
" Try to build it in at the beginning and integrate
it rather than tacking it on after, that way
it's less likely to get cut, " said the architect. " In
the past, these things were the first to get cut
over budget concerns, but clients are becoming
more future oriented and are willing to invest in
these costs. "
But there is still plenty to learn.
" We spend a lot of time figuring out what
products to use, testing them, using them on
multiple projects and going back to check them
out later, " he added. " Talk to as many other designers
as possible. They are also constantly researching
and specifying new materials, so learn
from their mistakes rather than working in your
own bubble. "
SOURCES: DESIGNER: Dubbeldam Architecture + Design; GENERAL CONTRACTOR: DDF Contracting Ltd.; PHOTOGRAPHER: Riley Snelling KITCHEN BACKSPLASH & COUNTERTOP: Caesarstone;
CABINETS: Custom designed by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, fabricated and installed by La Fabrika Millwork with Egger melamine and laminate; COOKTOP: Monogram;
FAUCETS: Kallista and Perrin & Rowe; FLOORING: Moncer; GLASS DOORS: Bauhaus Doors; HOOD: Falmec; LIGHTING: DA Ceramics and Liteline; REFRIGERATOR: Fisher & Paykel; SINKS:
Custom by CB Marble MAIN BATH BACKSPLASH, COUNTERTOP & SINK: Corian; FAUCETS: Cabano; FLOORING: Moncer; LIGHTING: Lambert & Fils & Liteline; MIRRORS: Custom designed by
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, fabricated and installed by Glass Showers and More; VANITY: Custom designed by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, fabricated and installed by
Lakeland Interiors; PAINT: Benjamin Moore; SKYLIGHT: Velux
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