{"id":608086,"date":"2026-07-28T11:14:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/608086\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T11:14:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:14:31","slug":"gillian-gillies-designs-a-warm-net-zero-ready-toronto-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/608086\/","title":{"rendered":"Gillian Gillies Designs a Warm, Net Zero Ready Toronto Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the rapidly densifying landscape of Toronto, where a growing array of boisterous architectural statement pieces compete for attention, a new home designed by interior designer <a href=\"https:\/\/gilliangillies.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Gillian Gillies<\/a> stands as a welcome reprieve. Sustainability, so often associated with clinical engineering, soaring towers, expansive campuses, and stark, performance-driven aesthetics, is here reimagined as a \u201cwarm embrace.\u201d Located in the upmarket \u201curban village\u201d neighborhood of Leaside, the Net Zero Ready Home project proves that advanced environmental stewardship and joyful, idiosyncratic interiors can coexist.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-607718\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3.-GillianGilliesInteriorsNetZeroReadyToronto-10-800x640.jpg\" alt=\"A modern dining area with a marble table, light blue chairs, patterned wallpaper, a large plant-themed photo, and built-in bench seating with assorted cushions creates an inviting space inspired by Gillian Gillies Net Zero Ready Home design.\" width=\"800\" height=\"640\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photography by Doublespace Photography<\/p>\n<p>The project is the result of a tight collaboration between Gillian Gillies (the designer\u2019s eponymous practice), <a href=\"https:\/\/dewson.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Dewson Architects<\/a>, and builders <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cliffandevans.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Cliff &amp; Evans<\/a>. While the technical foundation is rooted in passive house principles\u2014featuring meticulously tested air and moisture control layers to ensure a consistent year-round temperature\u2014the sensory quality of the home is defined by texture, color, and family connection. \u201cComfort was paramount,\u201d Gillies says, \u201cand that meant a home that was properly constructed as well as [comfortable furniture].\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-607719\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7.-GillianGilliesInteriorsNetZeroReadyToronto-8_-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Modern kitchen designed by Gillian Gillies in a Net Zero Ready Home, featuring light wood cabinets, a curved island with three white barstools, blue accent wall, and pendant lights. A plant and decorative items are arranged on the counters and shelves for a stylish, sustainable ambiance.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photography by Doublespace Photography<\/p>\n<p>Gillies, originally from Edinburgh, brings a sensibility rooted in the permanence of neoclassical and Georgian architecture, translated here through a palette of natural materials including white oak, walnut, and wool. Each room is tailored to its intended function, while bold floral wallcoverings and textured tile add personality. Rather than the sterile \u201cnewness\u201d typical of contemporary high-performance homes, the interiors embrace deliberate juxtaposition.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-607720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4.-GillianGilliesInteriorsNetZeroReadyToronto-29_-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"A cozy bedroom with floral wallpaper, a bed with colorful pillows, a wooden nightstand, built-in shelves, and large windows overlooking green trees embodies the thoughtful design seen in a Gillian Gillies Net Zero Ready Home.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photography by Doublespace Photography<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t perfectly match textiles,\u201d Gillies explains. \u201cInstead, we like a little bit of tension, a little bit of a mismatch that makes the home feel more settled.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This philosophy is most evident in the communal spaces, where the design explicitly fosters human interaction. A double-sided sofa in the living room invites simultaneous yet distinct modes of engagement. A floating box window seat in the foyer provides a quiet nook for reflection. The color story\u2014a grounding base of greens and blues punctuated by vibrant flashes of yellow and red\u2014mirrors the family\u2019s love of travel and the natural world.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-607721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5.-GillianGilliesInteriorsNetZeroReadyToronto-28_-800x1067.jpg\" alt=\"Bathroom in a Gillian Gillies Net Zero Ready Home with dual sinks, light wood vanity, yellow accents, large mirror, wall-mounted lights, green walls, framed art, and a toy tractor on the counter.\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photography by Doublespace Photography<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the four-story structure, strategically placed architectural and decorative lighting shapes the mood. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lutron.com\/us\/en\/controls\/systems\/homeworks\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Lutron HomeWorks system<\/a> seamlessly transitions the atmosphere from energetic to intimate. Sculptural pendants from Montreal-based boutique producers <a href=\"https:\/\/lambertetfils.com\/en-us?srsltid=AfmBOoqnTFCR3_eJUQ3BcEUn49BtCJB6Rw3HwAK-E8qpFfujupeVWCSJ\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Lambert &amp; Fils<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gabriel-scott.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Gabriel Scott<\/a> add a layer of contemporary craft. Vintage Brazilian furniture and Oaxacan woven baskets reinforce the space\u2019s warm, tactile quality.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-607722\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/12.-GillianGilliesInteriorsNetZeroReadyToronto-27-800x1067.jpg\" alt=\"Children\u2019s bedroom in a Gillian Gillies Net Zero Ready Home, featuring a climbing ladder, built-in shelves with books and toys, a white desk with a chair, flowers, and a framed botanical artwork on the wall.\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photography by Doublespace Photography<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, this Toronto home stands as a testament to the idea that thoughtful architecture can improve everyday life. By prioritizing the wellbeing of both the planet and a specific family, Gillies created a structure that does more than just store carbon; it\u2019s a space that holds life in all its complexity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe create homes to be lived in and not simply looked at,\u201d she says. In striking this careful balance, the designer has created a home that will undoubtedly last through the generations.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-607726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/6.-GillianGilliesInteriorsNetZeroReadyToronto-5_-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Modern living room with wooden floors, a staircase, built-in shelves, a plant, contemporary furniture, and minimalist decor in neutral and warm tones\u2014designed as a Gillian Gillies Net Zero Ready Home for stylish and sustainable living.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photography by Doublespace Photography<\/p>\n<p>                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Adrian-Madlener-Design-Milk-Headshot-100x100.jpg\"  loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" class=\"avatar\" alt=\"\"\/>                                    <\/p>\n<p>Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design. With a focus on craft-led experimentation, he covers designers and makers who are pushing the boundaries of their disciplines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the rapidly densifying landscape of Toronto, where a growing array of boisterous architectural statement pieces compete for&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":608087,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[267],"tags":[365,362,363,364,366,18,117,19,17,256871,100280,15935],"class_list":["post-608086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-eire","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-net-zero-smart-homes","tag-sustainable-design","tag-toronto"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116997317058939649","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=608086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608086\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/608087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=608086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=608086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=608086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}