Home tour: A textile designer’s minimalist Toronto home with a beautiful spiral staircase designed by Burdifilek

Located in a quiet neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada, this timeless home designed by Burdifilek is an idyllic retreat from the homeowners’ colourful lives

When you imagine the inside of a textile designer’s home, an explosion of vibrant colours and textures might come to mind. But for this busy couple who work in the textile design and real estate industries, all they wanted for their home was a calming, functional, and comfortable space that they could return to after a long day at the office.

Guided by a pared-back design philosophy, Toronto-based interior design firm Burdifilek designed this home with the aim of curating a tranquil, timeless space that exuded understated elegance. With a neutral colour palette and natural finishes, Burdifilek transformed this spacious 8,000 sq ft property into a cosy sanctuary, while providing a respite from the vibrant colours and bold patterns that dominate the homeowners’ work environment.

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Above The home is finished with a contrast of white, black, and light oak tones

“It was important for her to come home to a calming environment,” shares Diego Burdi, creative director and co-founder of Burdifilek. “The ask was [for the interior to be] “almost colour free”. An exploration of limited custom finishes was paramount. For example, one finish for all the millwork in the home exemplified the idea of a limited pallet to support future decisions for upholstery, furniture pieces and art.”

Burdifilek took the clients’ unique requests not as a restriction, but as an opportunity, choosing from a limited palette of crisp white, black, and wood tones, while experimenting with a tasteful selection of finishes. “The monochromatic colour palette with a study of texture and finish reinforces the tranquil character of the residence,” says Burdi.

Photo 1 of 4 The front entrance of the living room, showcasing a Glas Italia Kooh-I-Noor mirror by Piero Lissoni and a custom glass coffee table by Burdifilek

Photo 2 of 4 Another view of the living room, featuring two Chelsea armchairs by Molteni&C and a Malta sofa by Caste Design

Photo 3 of 4 Burdifilek designed this custom stone carved vanity for the main floor powder room

Photo 4 of 4 The study is furnished with a Snooze lounge chair by Ochre and a Connetable desk by Liaigre

Visitors entering the home are greeted by an intimate living room near the entrance foyer that sets the tone for the rest of the house. A coffee table made of a poured glass slab sits in the centre of the room, pairing beautifully with a custom fireplace, both designed by Burdifilek. Together, they act as a warm welcome to the home by creating a combined sense of grandeur and serenity.

Also on the main floor are the separate dining and study rooms, which are divided not by doors, but by oak millwork thresholds that reach the high ceilings. The entryway of the dining room serves as a frame, emphasising a geometrical chandelier designed by Vincenzo De Cotiis. With wood-panelled walls and large windows that let in natural light, the study serves as both a lounge area and a focus space.

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Above The oak millwork threshold to the dining room perfectly frames this chandelier by Vincenzo De Cotiis

Above Ceiling-height entryways create a sense of seamless flow throughout the space

With a seamless, intentionally composed flow throughout the main floor, visitors are drawn towards the great room, which comprises the family living space, the kitchen, and another dining area. As the largest of all the rooms, it is the focal point of all gatherings and has become the homeowners’ favourite space in the house. “The great room and kitchen can accommodate large and informal gatherings, and it flows beautifully to the terrace as an extension of the main floor,” shares the homeowner.

The neutral colour scheme is reiterated in the great room with a black Lou dining table by Minotti and the light oak millwork that mirrors the rest of the house. Nine custom-milled oak floor-to-ceiling cupboards are prominently lined against one wall in the great room. In one of them, a hidden bar creates a theatrical moment when its two full-height doors open to reveal its dark Macassar ebony finishes, bronze fixtures, and mohair velvet walls.

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Photo 1 of 3 The living area in the great room, featuring Mandarin chairs and Pacha side tables by Liaigre

Photo 2 of 3 The kitchen and dining area of the great room, featuring the Lou dining table by Minotti and Grace dining chairs by Poliform

Photo 3 of 3 The concealed service bar designed by Burdifilek, with a Pampa sofa by Holly Hunt

At the heart of this home is a grandiose custom spiral staircase made from Thassos marble. Bathed in natural light from a pitched skylight above, the Burdifilek-designed blackened steel balustrades form a stark contrast against the crisp white marble steps, giving a modernist, monochromatic feel. The eye-catching staircase draws visitors to the second-floor landing, curated with a stone sideboard console by Burdifilek and a striking three-dimensional artwork by Dennis Lin.

Occupying the second floor is the spacious master bedroom with a large ensuite bathroom, a sitting area, and a dressing room. Once again, the colour palette of the master bedroom is kept simple and tasteful, using light oak wood tones and whites contrasted by dark furniture, including another custom fireplace.

Photo 1 of 5 A top-down view of the spiral staircase, featuring the Ralph Pucci Bulb round table by Eric Schmitt

Photo 2 of 5 The staircase landing, with a painting by Samuel Dejong

Photo 3 of 5 The Burdifilek-designed Thassos marble spiral staircase

Photo 4 of 5 A pitched skylight above the staircase

Photo 5 of 5 Detail of the custom designed blackened steel balustrades by Burdifilek

As a designer herself, the homeowner Bonnie Goodman-Bloom, director of design at wallpaper and fabrics company Crown Surface Solutions, worked closely with Burdifilek on the design concept for the home. “I have been familiar with the firm for a number of years,” shares Goodman-Bloom. “Diego and I see design in the same way and he understood our vision for a home of classic design, understated elegance, and timelessness.”

The personal style of the homeowners was inevitably reflected in the overall design of the home. “This was a unique situation as we were working with a designer on their own personal space,” explains Burdi. “It was an amazing collaboration, and yes, every blank wall is wallpapered!”

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