Hockley Valley Farmhouse

Building On the Charm of a Toronto Family’s Hockley Valley Getaway

A weekend retreat for a Toronto family, this Victorian-era farm house offers a complete departure from the chaos of city life, even though it’s just an hour’s drive north. Our team worked with an architect on a contemporary addition to the original house, a charming brick structure with gingerbread trim.

The two-storey extension houses a generous family room and a games room, each anchored by a striking fireplace. The lower level’s laid-back space features a massive brick fireplace built with a three-dimensional pattern that lends a sculptural quality to the wall. Upstairs, the elegant family room boasts a bespoke dining table made from locally reclaimed elm, and the hearth is crafted from local fieldstone. Other textural details in the new build include a tactile stair rail, designed by an artist who handcrafted the piece from wood and raw steel.

The orientation of the addition was determined by our team, as were the fenestrations, each carefully aligned to offer the best views of the landscape outside – the pond, the trees and the valley beyond. From outside, the annex’s proportions blend seamlessly with the original house and maintain the original character – something this place has in abundance.