At the end of a hectic workday, defined by endless meetings and constant decision-making, the last thing this client — a busy professional living and working in Toronto — needed was another environment that demanded attention. So when it came time to renovate their townhouse in the city’s Deer Park neighbourhood, their brief to interior designer Jolene Kessler of Ebuild Construction was to create their own personal sanctuary. In line with the idea that a clear space equals a clear mind, Kessler took a subtractive approach to reduce visual clutter and, in turn, design a frictionless space that radiates calm. The transformation wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise of contractors Steven Eisner and Kris Muenzberger, who worked closely with Kessler to execute the design with meticulous attention to detail.

On the ground floor, the typical narrow townhouse layout — separated dining and living zones flanked by a staircase — was the primary constraint. Kessler’s first order of business was to take down the partitions and open up the space, removing conventional interior elements like door frames and visible baseboards to craft a home where every element enhances, rather than detracts from, the experience of daily living. “We worked on managing datum lines, choosing classic materials and providing a weightless, effortless feel as you wind through the space, ensuring every floor is functional and tailored to the client based on day-to-day life,” she explains.

Then, it came time to add structure back into the open plan. Kessler reorganized the space around a sculptural marble island that becomes both the functional and visual heart of the home. Rather than introducing a separate dining area, which would fragment the layout, a dining table is tacked elegantly onto the island, turning the kitchen into a hub for daily life and entertaining.

A palette of natural materials fosters a sense of calm: European oak millwork, courtesy of Trevisana, is paired with marble, mixed metals and leather. True to Kessler’s pared-back approach, superfluous design details are kept to the bare necessities. In lieu of hardware, for instance, the door handles are integrated directly into the cabinetry. These ergonomic and tactile features epitomize quiet luxury, considered with the same rigour as the major design moves.

In such a restrained setting, the wrong appliances would compete for attention. Gaggenau’s suite of handleless appliances was the obvious choice, conceived as an integral element of the architecture rather than an addition to it. Beyond seamless integration, these appliances deliver professional-grade performance to residential settings.

“Gaggenau is my first choice for projects of this scale,” says Kessler. “Their products are intuitive, precisely engineered and inherently quiet. The appliances are meant to fit in with kitchens like integrated furnishings, contributing to an environment that feels effortless and enduring.” Take the induction cooktop, whose sleek surface heats up instantly for efficient meal prep, or the touch-latch fridge and freezer, which disappears into the cabinetry entirely. Where the appliances are exposed — for instance, the combi-microwave and oven were placed at the end of the island — Gaggenau’s longstanding dedication to handcrafted precision, durable materials and minimal interface design is on full display.

Through careful study of the client’s daily routines, Kessler has designed a kitchen expertly attuned to their lifestyle, locating appliances based on natural flow. Tailored to a host’s delight, a beverage station carves out space to unwind at the end of a busy day. “Gaggenau appliances and features provide the opportunity to customize and upgrade the client wishlist,” says Kessler.

This content was published by Azure on behalf of Gaggenau.