Our Projects - Vina Mynr Quintal Architectural Domains

We don't just design buildings - we solve problems. Every project here started with someone's vision and ended with something they actually love living or working in. Take a look around and see what caught your eye.

Completed 2023

Riverdale Modern Residence

The clients came to us with a typical Toronto semi that was, let's be honest, kind of a mess. They wanted something that felt spacious but didn't lose that neighbourhood charm everyone loves about Riverdale.

We opened up the main floor completely - knocked out some walls that weren't doing much anyway - and added these huge south-facing windows. Natural light just pours in now. The kitchen flows right into the living area, which is what they wanted for when family visits.

Project Type Residential Renovation

Square Footage 2,850 sq ft

Location Toronto, ON

Timeline 8 months

View Full Case Study

Dundas West Commercial Hub

This one was a bit tricky. Old warehouse space that hadn't been touched since the '80s, and the owner wanted to turn it into a mixed-use spot with retail on the ground floor and offices upstairs.

We kept the exposed brick - would've been criminal to cover that up - and worked around the existing structural beams. Added skylights on the top floor 'cause the offices were getting zero daylight. Now it's got character and actually works for modern businesses.

Key Features:

Heritage facade preservation
Energy-efficient HVAC systems
Flexible office layouts
Rooftop terrace access

12,400 sq ft Commercial 2022

Interior Design

Yorkville Penthouse Suite

Client wanted luxury but not the stuffy kind. We went with clean lines, lots of marble (the good stuff), and custom millwork throughout. The view's incredible, so we made sure nothing blocked it.

Toronto, ON 2023

3,200 sq ft • 4 months

Sustainable

Leslieville Eco Home

These folks were serious about sustainability. Solar panels, rainwater collection, geothermal heating - the whole nine yards. And yeah, it actually looks good too, not like some science experiment.

Toronto, ON 2022

2,100 sq ft • 10 months

Heritage

Queen Street Heritage Restoration

1920s building that needed some serious TLC. We restored the original details - those corbels and cornices don't make 'em like that anymore - while updating everything behind the walls to current code.

Toronto, ON 2021

8,600 sq ft • 14 months

Back to Projects

Case Study: Riverdale Modern Residence

Sometimes the best projects are the ones where you get to fix what's been bugging homeowners for years. This was definitely one of those.

The Challenge

Walk into most Toronto semis from the '60s and you'll see the same thing - choppy rooms, dark hallways, kitchen stuck in the back corner like an afterthought. This house? Had all of that plus some weird additions from previous owners who clearly didn't talk to an architect first.

The family had three kids and worked from home sometimes, so they needed spaces that could actually multitask. Oh, and they wanted to keep the budget reasonable, which meant we had to be smart about what we touched.

Before

Cramped, disconnected rooms
Minimal natural light
Outdated mechanical systems
Poor kitchen workflow
No home office space

After

Open-concept main floor
Floor-to-ceiling windows
High-efficiency systems
Chef-friendly kitchen island
Flexible work nook

Before: Dark and segmented

After: Bright and flowing

Our Approach

First thing we did was take out that wall between the kitchen and living room. It wasn't load-bearing (we checked, obviously), and removing it changed everything. Suddenly you've got this 30-foot sightline from the front windows to the backyard.

We added a steel beam across the ceiling to support the second floor - you don't even notice it 'cause we integrated it into the design. Then we redid all the windows on the south side. The old ones were single-pane and basically useless. New ones are triple-glazed, which sounds fancy but really just means lower heating bills.

For the kitchen, we convinced them to shift the island about 18 inches. Seems small but it completely fixed the traffic flow. Now people aren't bumping into each other when someone's cooking and the kids are grabbing snacks.

Technical Specs That Actually Matter

Structural

W8x18 steel beam, engineered lumber joists, reinforced footings

Windows

Triple-glazed low-E, argon fill, U-factor 0.22

Insulation

Spray foam R-40 walls, R-60 attic

Heating

High-efficiency furnace 96% AFUE, radiant floor in kitchen

Electrical

200-amp service, LED throughout, smart home ready

Finishes

White oak floors, quartz counters, matte black fixtures

The Results

They moved back in last spring, and honestly, the transformation's pretty wild. The place feels twice as big even though we only added about 150 square feet with a small bump-out at the back.

Best part? Their heating bills dropped by almost 40% that first winter. The new insulation and windows weren't cheap upfront, but they're gonna pay for themselves in a few years. Plus the house is just way more comfortable - no more cold spots or drafts.

The family says they actually use every part of the house now, which wasn't the case before. That's what good design should do - make spaces work for how people actually live, not just look nice in photos.

Got a project in mind?

Let's grab a coffee and talk about what you're thinking. No pressure, no sales pitch - just honest conversation about whether we're a good fit for what you need.

Let's Talk