Design, comfort and location come together in Simone Carr-Smith's Mount Pleasant duplex

Simone Carr-Smith and her husband, Colin Smith, had a large list of must-haves when it came to finding a new home. The couple had been living in Winston Heights, but with their daughter, two dogs, and Carr-Smith's mom and aunt living with them, the home had become too small for their needs. They wanted a fresh floor plan – one that could comfortably accommodate three generations – and a convenient location in the northwest, close to the inner-city and to high-ranked schools. It also had to appeal to the couple's diverse aesthetic sensibilities, blending both modern and traditional elements. So, when Carr-Smith's cousin, Saville Homes founder Sheldon Appave, mentioned that he was building a duplex in Mount Pleasant, the couple jumped at the chance to partner with him and build their dream home from a blank canvas.