Reno of Summerhill home is a blend of classic luxury and modern simplicity

When Norm Chang first bought his home in Toronto’s tony Summerhill neighbourhood, he didn’t plan to live in it. At 30 years old and unmarried, the 3,500-square-foot, $1.9-million house felt too large for one person. Instead, Mr. Chang, who works in finance, decided to rent it out and live in a converted downtown loft.

After marrying his wife, Rana, and starting a family – daughter, Alex, and son, Theo – Mr. Chang began to notice the challenges of loft living with growing children. “Noise travels through the floors,” he says, now in his 40s. “Neighbours complained about the sound of little feet running around.”