What’s Happening at Designström: Four Major Projects Nearing Completion
Designström is closing out the year with significant momentum as four major residential projects enter their final stages across Bennington Heights, Riverdale, Carlaw, and Kitchener. Each home represents months of coordinated planning, technical detailing, and design refinement, and each is now transitioning into its finishing phases—the point where the design intent becomes visible and the home’s identity truly emerges.
Our Bennington Heights project has been one of the studio’s largest undertakings, beginning as an almost complete teardown aside from a few preserved brick walls. With entirely new construction, this home was designed with a modern blend of transitional and contemporary elements. The millwork profiles, lighting selections, and finishes strike a balance between clean modern lines and subtle traditional warmth. High-performance envelope details and modern building standards have transformed this once aging structure into a comfortable, efficient home. Interior finishes are nearing completion, with final detailing, lighting installation, and appliance setup scheduled in the coming weeks. The project is approaching its final stretch, where the architectural framework and material selections come together to reveal a cohesive, calm, and functional home.
Our Riverdale Passive Home is also nearing completion, with progress accelerating quickly. The interior millwork installation is finished, revealing the warm, Scandinavian-inspired palette that anchors the home’s atmosphere. Stone countertops and surfaces are scheduled for installation later this week, adding another layer of refinement. Plumbing and lighting fixtures are anticipated to be installed in approximately two weeks, after which the interior will be close to fully operational. Furniture is scheduled to arrive in the second week of December, marking the beginning of the final styling phase. This project embodies a thoughtful union of high-performance building principles and quiet, modern interior architecture—an approach that supports long-term comfort, reduced energy use, and a highly functional lifestyle.
Over on Carlaw, the project has reached an exciting milestone with the installation of the custom-designed wine case. Positioned alongside our tailored millwork, this feature adds sophistication and visual presence to the main living area. The craftsmanship and integration reflect the attention to detail that drives much of our work. Countertops and backsplash installations are scheduled for next week, followed by the final stages of interior painting. With these major elements nearly complete, the space will transition into the finishing phase by December, when lighting, hardware, accessories, and final details will be installed. The Carlaw project is a strong example of how custom millwork and well-considered material choices can elevate a compact urban footprint.
In Kitchener, one of our most distinctive projects is transforming a century-old brick farmhouse. This home has undergone a full interior redesign that respects its heritage while introducing clarity, warmth, and modern functionality. Millwork installation is complete, hardware is in place, and countertops will be installed shortly. The contrast between the home’s original character and the new refined simplicity is striking, offering a blend of rustic charm and contemporary precision. Once countertops are installed, the project will move into its final phase: plumbing hook-ups, backsplash installation, painting, and finishing touches. The transformation has been remarkable, turning a dark, compartmentalized interior into a cohesive, bright, and highly functional living space.
Across all four homes, several themes have defined the work this year. The first is a strong emphasis on storage, with nearly every project incorporating custom millwork, mudrooms, pantry solutions, or built-in cabinetry. Toronto’s older homes rarely offer optimal storage, making custom millwork a critical tool for organizing daily life and maintaining a calm environment.
Another theme is improved flow and circulation, with families seeking more open sightlines, better transitions between rooms, and layouts that support modern living. The projects in Riverdale and Bennington Heights, in particular, required significant reconfiguration to overcome structural constraints and outdated subdivisions typical of early-1900s homes.
We’ve also seen an increased interest in high-performance design, from better insulation and mechanical systems to Passive House–inspired detailing. Clients are prioritizing comfort, air quality, and reduced operating costs, especially in older homes where drafts and temperature imbalance are common.
Perhaps the strongest theme is a continued preference for warm, modern simplicity—muted palettes, natural materials, subtle contrast, and quiet detailing. Homeowners are gravitating toward long-lasting, unobtrusive design that layers texture and materiality rather than statement pieces. This aligns naturally with our Scandinavian-influenced approach, where function, warmth, and clarity lead the design.
As these projects move toward completion, we are preparing for final walkthroughs, delivery coordination, styling, and photography. Meanwhile, our team is planning for four new projects beginning in early 2026, each bringing its own challenges and opportunities.
This final quarter of the year has been both demanding and deeply rewarding. Watching these homes reach their final stages reinforces the importance of thoughtful planning, strong technical documentation, and close collaboration with trades and consultants. These projects represent the best of what we strive to do: create homes that are functional, warm, and grounded in quiet sophistication—spaces that support daily life with clarity and intention.
