4 min readTurning a blank slate “builder basic” space into a dynamic, layered home isn’t quite as easy as it seems. While it can be freeing for a designer to walk into a space void of any preconceived intentions, all that emptiness can feel like just as much a burden as it is a blessing.
At first glance, this 4,000-square-foot Toronto home promised exactly what most new builds do: a foundation that was clean, functional, and entirely forgettable. When designer Lisa Lev stepped in, in collaboration with Studio Sonny, she set out to transform the space into a warm, color-infused family home—all without any historic bones or context cues to work off of.
Rather than fully gutting the interior, the team reimagined both the layout and aesthetics, opening walls, redesigning the kitchen, and layering in millwork to create an environment that both fulfilled the brief and stood on its own merit. In the kitchen, what seemed like a simple structural tweak—removing a small wall to improve flow—uncovered a major support post running through the entire house. The solution required extensive work below, including jackhammering the basement floor and painstakingly sourcing limestone tile to match the original. The effort was worth it, and the kitchen now successfully presides as what Lev calls the home’s “conversation piece.”
In fact, the modern cook space is where Lev and Studio Sonny’s design ethos is most effortlessly distilled. With teal cabinetry, a tile-clad island, and a colorful, vining light fixture, it perfectly encapsulates the streamlined yet playful aesthetic seen throughout the rest of the home. “Function is always top of mind, but it doesn’t need to stand in the way of beauty,” says Lev. “The cabinetry layout was created with great intention, for homeowners who love to cook, entertain, and gather as a family.”
That same philosophy unfolds effortlessly throughout the rest of the home, where a blush-toned custom sectional anchors the living room, a breezeblock partition filters light in the family room, and terra-cotta tiles warm the primary bath. Lev’s aesthetic throughline—one of “color, pattern, and texture” is used generously and with confidence throughout. No longer is the home resigned to builder-grade anonymity, instead becoming a confident (and colorful) backdrop for embracing life’s many moments.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Lisa Lev Design and Studio Sonny
Location: Toronto, Canada
The Space: A four-bedroom, five-bathroom home across 4,000 square feet
KITCHEN
Shades of teal unite the materiality in the cook space.
Modern aesthetics meet gentle curves in the kitchen, which features recurring rounded edges on the island, range hood, banquette, and more. Throughout, saturated hues—including, most notably, upper cabinetry swathed in West Coast by Benjamin Moore—help the space stand out and “live more like a living room” at the homeowner's request. “Besides providing the functional requirements requested by our client, we treated this space as a living space, and therefore, it does not have the traditional 'kitchen-y' look,” says Lev. “Instead, we focused on injecting color and interesting details, like the standout light fixtures and tiles on the island.”
FAMILY ROOM
A wallpaper-clad panel hides the television.
Adjacent to the kitchen, the family room nods back to the cook space through a strategic use of color and shape, like the custom media cabinetry made from the same oak as the kitchen cabinets. “The brick screen behind a portion of the sectional was conceived as an idea to block the end of the sectional from the views on the other side, as well as allow light to filter through from the rear windows,” adds Lev.
LIVING ROOM
What was once a kids' play space is now an adult-only lounge.
Once filled to the brim with toys, Lev transformed the living room into a chic adults-only zone meant for entertaining and relaxing. A channel tufted sectional anchors the space and adds color, while a graphic fireplace—complete with a bench covered in Clé tile—brings the funk.
DINING ROOM
A vintage dining set gets the star treatment.
“The dining room is a more neutral space than some of the other spaces,” Lev says of this room, which she papered in a graphic yet subtle wallpaper and matching Roman shades. A piece from the client’s art collection holds center stage.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
A subtle blue on the ceiling emulates the sky.
“The primary bedroom is a large space, so we were tasked with making it not feel empty and cold,” says Lev. To help, she added a comfy seating area where the family gathers in the evenings to watch movies and chill. A grasscloth wall with oak trim adds warmth and texture, while a trio of sculptural Noguchi lights adds an ethereal feel overhead.
PRIMARY BATHROOM
Warm tones offset the blues seen throughout the rest of the home.
“The goal for the primary bathroom was to create a Mediterranean feel that is calm and peaceful,” says Lev of the sunlit space, which incorporates three different tiles, all in shades of orange.
GIRLS BATHROOM
There are seven different tile finishes in this bathroom alone.
Designed for the owner’s young daughters, this dynamic bathroom unites the home's various color schemes—including its anchor hues of oranges and blues—through a slew of creative tile choices. You’ll find them everywhere, from the exterior of the tub and the perimeter wall to the shower.
About the Designer
Lisa Lev is the owner and lead designer behind Lisa Lev Design, based in Toronto, Canada, and offering full-service interior design and project management. Lisa’s approach is holistic; each client’s needs and resources are thoughtfully balanced with creative solutions for the evolving world within each family environment.
