Victorian Bones - Modern Soul
STORY JANET WHITE BARDWELL | PHOTOGRAPHY JASON HARTOG
Featured in The Best of Ontario - Toronto | York Region - Late Summer/Fall 2025
Tucked away on a quiet street just steps from Yorkville’s bustling epicentre, Gary and Lynne Jonsohn’s home carries its Victorian charm with quiet confidence. Built in the 1880s, it’s a three-storey semi-detached with all the historical cues. But step inside and the story changes. Sleek finishes, structural steel, a floating staircase and tripleglazed windows create a bold, contemporary interior – a total transformation led by a trusted builder, designer and the vision of two determined homeowners.
The couple moved into the home in 2002 and their first job was to repaint the home’s mostly “Pepto-Bismol pink walls,” says Gary. That first refresh led to years of slow and steady upgrades, including a bathroom renovation after a fire in 2007 and a basement dig-out in 2012. But the full-scale reinvention didn’t come until 2018, triggered by a cracked kitchen counter. “A kitchen reno was definitely on the books, and it wasn’t long before we decided that the home in its entirety had to be redone,” he says.
To tackle the project, the Jonsohns turned to de Blois Built Inc., led by Mike de Blois. “A couple of years before doing our renovations my son did a very extensive rebuild of his house,” says Gary. “It was a challenging project, and Mike and his crew handled the job like pros. He is very easy-going, but always on the ball. We did go out for bid on the project with two serious contenders. I had a sense of trust with Mike and it was a good choice.”
Mike says the multi-floor overhaul was a dramatic and interesting challenge. “Our goal was to retain the character of the home’s Victorian features, while modernizing and enhancing the home’s elegance,” he says. “We wanted to honour both the history and character of the home as well as Gary and Lynne’s sophisticated modern aesthetic.”
To support the dramatic new layout, a steel moment frame – supplied and installed by Scarboro Steel Works Inc. – was threaded from the basement to the second floor. “These allowed us to dramatically open up the interior and build the striking steel single stringer staircase with cantilevered treads and landings,” says Mike. The sculptural stair was paired with glass and custom railings by Mrail, while the floating treads on the basement stairs were cut from solid oak by AV Hardwood. Sunlight pours in through that open stairwell, animating the space with shifting patterns and lightness.
The stair now serves as both a functional core and visual anchor of the home. Opening up the walls surrounding it and inserting large triple-glazed window assemblies from NeüFenster transformed the home’s natural light and flow. Gary says that replacing the original single-pane windows and doors was essential, as they leaked extensively and offered little insulation. Though the upgraded Internorm/NeüFenster units came at a significantly higher cost, he believes the unmatched quality made them worth it. During installation, they discovered the existing window openings were out of square, which led to rebricking most of them. Rebricking was handled by Priory Construction, ensuring clean lines and a tight envelope.
Inside, the design team at U31 Inc. – led by partner Neil Jonsohn – worked alongside architect Robert Micacchi of Micacchi Architecture Inc. to create a minimalist interior that respects the building’s age while embracing bold modernity. White oak flooring by AA Floors & More Ltd. creates a luxurious natural foundation. The new kitchen is sleek, grounded by high-end custom cabinetry from Multiflex Custom Cabinet and Millwork Solutions, stone countertops from Stone Masters and durable porcelain flooring sourced from Weston Tile and Stone Tile International, installed by Shieldtile. An elegant touch comes from the minimalist floor grilles by Fittes Vents, selected on the recommendation of de Blois, says Gary.
On the main level, a fireplace from Marsh’s Stoves & Fireplaces adds a focal point, where sleek mouldings from Brenlo Custom Wood Mouldings & Doors define the space. Poplar trim was used throughout, and the walls were finished with precision by Modern Brush Painting. The new open layout and modern architectural details provide a striking backdrop for the couple’s eclectic mix of Mid-century modern furniture and curated art, allowing each piece to stand out.
A design hiccup in the dining room turned into one of the home’s standout features. “Initially this was done with a fancy Italian tile,” says Gary. “Unfortunately, once the lighting was installed it showed every flaw and misalignment and had to be taken down. Our project foreman understood what I was after and said he could create the same look with wood fluting, and bingo! It was perfect.” The rich, rippling grain of the wood draws the eye upward from the fireplace, shifting in character as sunlight moves across throughout the day – adding depth, warmth and continuous visual interest.
Upstairs, other fine details include sleek, frameless, shower glass from Chapin Glass in the striking en suite with fixtures from Roman Bath Centre and discreet pocket doors from Dayvan with KN Crowder hardware. A firerated shutter from Garage Doors & Service Ltd. adds protection between floors, installed with expert coordination.
Gary says the entire process was seamless and the de Blois Built team was professional and knowledgeable. “During construction we moved out of the house, but were lucky enough to rent a house on the street. Because of the close proximity I was able to answer questions quickly,” says Gary. “Not sure how much of a nuisance I was, but I was in and out of the house a few times a day.”
Mike credits the success of the build to the couple’s commitment and vision. “The whole process was quite smooth actually,” he says. “The strong communication and connection we had was really the foundation. The outcome is reflective of the strength of the connections on this project, especially given what a big deal it was to integrate a steel moment frame into a heritage building. Their ability to visualize things was great – they had a clear understanding of what they wanted and were able to communicate that to us.”
The result is a home the Jonsohns genuinely enjoy every day. “We love living in our house,” says Gary. “I get a kick daily walking down the stairs into the kitchen to get a morning coffee.” OH