Office
You'd Never Guess This Toronto Home Has An Office With A Secret Room
Photography, Alex Lukey
Office
You'd Never Guess This Toronto Home Has An Office With A Secret Room
A third-floor home office has an intriguing secret: a concealed (and cozy!) multipurpose room.
Most makeovers end with a big reveal that guests can ooh and aah over. Not this one. “Our intention was to create a secret room that was unknown to visitors,” says designer Alyssa Moscovitch-Young. Her brief, from homeowners Andrew and Tina Feindel, was to turn the third floor of their Toronto abode into a work-from-home space with a twist. “They wanted an office where Andrew, a financial adviser, could host clients, but also a spot where their kids – Matthew, 2, Sophie, 6, and Jake, 8 – could play and do homework out of sight,” says Alyssa. The 600-square-foot attic offered a blank canvas of drywall, flooring, and a partition wall that became a key player in the design. Alyssa transformed the wall with custom bookshelves and millwork that form a Zoom-worthy backdrop for the office area and also disguise a built-in door: the tall shelf on the right opens to reveal the sweet surprise of a study under the eaves. The different zones upend the rule book (how many homes have a secret room?), yet adhere to style continuity with aplomb. “I layered in touches of warm colours like cognac, rust and mink in both spots, along with soft textures and curvy shapes to create a nice flow,” says Alyssa. “It’s now a warm and welcoming space where both the parents and the kids can work their magic.”
DESIGN, Alyssa Moscovitch-Young, Harper Gray Design. MILLWORK, Ashburne Designs. PAINT, Classic Gray OC-23, Benjamin Moore. ARMCHAIRS, Elte. COFFEE TABLES, Mary Ratcliffe Studio. COFFEE TABLE TOP, Marble Treasure. WALLPAPER (behind millwork), Phillip Jeffries. The Frame TV, Samsung.
“This renovation has it all: secret passageways, hidden rooms and a place for both adults and kids to enjoy.”
Set to work
A custom desk with leather-inlay top defines the office area. Designer Alyssa Moscovitch-Young chose a nuanced shade of mink grey for it and softened its edges, which are echoed in the lounge area’s curvy furniture and offer a nice counterpoint to the sharp angles of the ceiling. The double-sided monitor includes a Samsung The Frame TV that faces away from the desk; it’s where the kids play video games. White oak millwork is dressed up with a backdrop of wallpaper, and rust-tone dividers add warmth and depth. An organic-shaped rug throws in more curves and echoes the colour palette.
“No secret password required! This bookshelf subtly conceals a doorway to the kids’ study.”
“There’s a secret bar behind one of the bookcases – just lift a back panel to reveal the surprise of glasses and spirits.”
Style secrets
PAINT, Imagine That P5221-52D, Para Paints. DESK CHAIRS, Design Within Reach. SOFA, Creative Custom Furnishings. COFFEE TABLE, Stylegarage. OTTOMAN, Cocoon Furnishings. LOUNGE CHAIR, small CUSHION, Elte. SIDE TABLE, Elte Mkt. SCONCES (above desk), Cedar & Moss. SCONCE (above sofa), In Common With. WALLPAPER (behind shelves), Memo Showroom. Large CUSHIONS, West Elm.
“I wanted the different zones to tie together stylistically,” says Alyssa. As well as repeating the office’s colours and curves in the kids’ study, she continued the millwork, both behind the office wall and around the sofa. Open shelves display books and mementoes, while the built-in desk, with sconces above, is ideal for homework. The cushy sofa is a pullout, should the family have overnight guests.
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