Single-detached dwellings
2,265 of 3,300 occupied private dwellings in the structural-type group.
Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills / Toronto
Custom Home Builders in Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills
Architectural design, permits and construction.
Custom homes, renovations and additions designed around the property.
Consider the house, arrival, garden and everyday living spaces together before fixing the design and construction scope.
From design to warranty
One team from your first plans to warranty support.
Fixed price, agreed upfront
Your agreed scope, allowances and exclusions clearly set out.
Custom design around your life
Designed for your family, your property and your lifestyle.
Follow your project from anywhere
See progress, schedules and updates in your client portal.
HCRA licensed and insured
Review our HCRA record and ask for insurance details relevant to your project. View our HCRA record.
250+ completed projects
Renovations, additions and custom homes across Toronto.
Renovations, additions and custom homes
Begin with the setting, then shape the home.
For a home in Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills, the design conversation should include more than floor area. The position of the entrance, the outlook from principal rooms and the relationship between the house and landscape all influence how the property feels and functions.
Grand Design Build can help compare a major renovation or addition with a custom home. Use one clear brief for the rooms, privacy, outdoor living and features you want to retain, then assess the work each option would involve.
Our Toronto portfolio
Spaces to help shape your plans.
Browse exterior and interior details from our wider project collection. These images illustrate the work; they are not presented as completed projects in this neighbourhood.
Contemporary home with stone cladding and a broad paved entrance
Double-height living room with tall windows and a fireplace
Rear exterior with a glazed balcony, dark cladding and brick walls
Small white kitchen with a timber range hood
Stone front elevation with tall black-framed windows
Brick house with tall black-framed windows and a raised front terrace
Long kitchen island under a coffered ceiling
Living room with a carved fireplace and dark wood flooring
Local housing context / 2021
A detached-home neighbourhood with different building histories.
The City’s 2021 profile records 68.6% of dwellings as single-detached homes. The largest single original-construction period is 1960 or earlier, at 22.4%; it is not a majority of the housing stock. Later alterations and replacement homes still need their own property review.
Originally built in 1960 or earlier
740 of 3,300 occupied private dwellings in the construction-period group.
The City’s replacement housing guidance for former North York considers the building and site together. Its discussion of landscaping, driveways, roof form and building mass is useful when preparing the design brief; applicable zoning still needs a separate address-level check.
Source: City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles, 2021, Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills (041). Each measure uses its own published total; rounded counts may differ. These area figures do not establish what can be built at an individual address. View the source workbook.
Official neighbourhood reference: Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills (041). Use the City’s address lookup to select the correct profile.
Before the scope is fixed
Give the architecture and the site equal attention.
Plan the arrival without letting the garage lead
Compare the entrance, driveway and garage with the front rooms and landscape. The North York replacement housing guidelines consider the visual prominence of garages and paved areas. Use that relationship to test the design rather than choosing the facade in isolation.
Locate the rooms for privacy and outlook
Mark the views you value and where neighbouring windows or outdoor areas face the property. Plan side and rear elevations with the same care as the front. Window locations, screening and room uses should be considered together as the house takes shape.
Check slopes, trees and protected areas
Record visible changes in level and existing trees before settling the footprint. Where a ravine or natural feature may be involved, check the City’s address map and proposed activities. Do not assume every property in the wider neighbourhood has the same constraints.
Compare retention and replacement on the same basis
Use the same room schedule and finish priorities to compare an extensive renovation, an addition and a new build. Record what remains, what is removed and what must be investigated. Include external works and connections to the garden in the scope comparison.
For the property and proposal, the City’s preliminary zoning review information explains the available review routes.
Sources: Find your official Toronto neighbourhood · North York replacement housing guidelines · Tree and ravine protection · Zoning reviews and building records
What we do
Design, permits and construction for the whole project.
1
Architectural Design & Permits
Develop the architectural brief and required application work with the property review. Coordinate building placement, form and site questions together.
Explore architectural design & permits
2
Renovations
Plan an extensive home renovation around the rooms, structure and details worth retaining. Include services and finishes in the same scope.
Explore renovations
3
Additions
Extend the house with a clear connection to existing rooms and outdoor space. Review elevations and circulation alongside the additional floor area.
Explore additions
4
Custom Homes
Develop a custom home around the site, room schedule and landscape priorities. Coordinate the design and construction scope before work starts.
Explore custom homes
5
Laneway / Garden Suites
Assess a separate dwelling as a distinct site proposal. Review access, placement and the main house relationship before assuming a suite is feasible.
Explore laneway / garden suites
6
Project Management
Coordinate the agreed work, project decisions and construction sequence. Record inclusions, responsibilities and changes as the design develops.
Explore project managementHow the work moves forward
From the first conversation to handover.
Work through the property, scope and decisions before construction. Keep responsibilities and changes recorded as the project progresses.
Discuss your project
Discuss how you want to live
Start with what works, what does not and the changes that matter most to your household.
Review the existing house
Assess the layout, structure and relevant site conditions before developing the renovation approach.
Develop the design and scope
Coordinate the rooms, structural approach, services and finishes. Review inclusions, exclusions and responsibilities before construction.
Prepare the approval work
Coordinate the drawings and applications required within the agreed scope, including a Committee of Adjustment application where needed. Allow for review comments and further information. The proposal identifies how City fees, Committee fees and survey costs are handled.
Manage the construction
Sequence the work and trades around the project plan. Keep decisions and changes documented, with updates through the project coordinator.
Review and hand over
Walk through the finished work, record outstanding items and agree the follow-up. Confirm the applicable closeout and warranty documents.
Planning questions
Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills project questions
Is a custom home the right choice for this property?
It depends on the existing building, the rooms you need and how the proposed home would use the site. Compare the structure and features worth retaining with the work required to change them. A large lot or a preferred exterior style does not by itself settle the renovation-versus-rebuild decision.
Which design guidance is relevant to a replacement home?
The City publishes replacement housing guidelines for the former City of North York covering building form, site layout and landscape. Confirm their relevance to the address alongside current zoning and any other property requirements. They are design guidance, not an approval for a particular building.
Can the design include changes to the driveway and garden?
Include those changes in the initial brief. They affect how the home is approached and how outdoor space is used. Describe what you want to retain and review the proposed landscape and driveway work with the building, rather than leaving them as assumptions outside the scope.
Does being near a ravine restrict every part of the property?
The applicable boundary and proposed activity need to be checked by address. Use the City’s protection map and identify the work being considered, including grading or retaining structures. The review should establish the relevant requirements before the design is fixed.
What do you need for a first discussion?
Send the address, survey and existing plans if available, along with photographs and a short room brief. Note whether you are considering renovation, an addition or a custom build, and which parts of the house and landscape you particularly want to retain.
Toronto
Related north Toronto guides
Start with your home
Plan the home and the property as one project.
Share the address and your priorities for the house, garden and everyday living. We can discuss the design options and the information needed to define the next step.