The Annex earned its name honestly — it was annexed into the City of Toronto in 1887, and the housing stock dates from that period. Today, the neighbourhood is defined by brick and sandstone Victorian row houses, three-storey semi-detached homes, and the occasional mansion along St. George Street and Philosopher’s Walk. What sets The Annex apart is the renovation culture. These are long-term renovations undertaken by owners who know what they want: open-concept layouts that respect the original floor plan, bathrooms that bring modern functionality into century-old rooms, and home offices carved out of former bedrooms. The glass work reflects that ethos. Interior partitions divide living space without killing the natural light that pours through tall Victorian windows. Shower enclosures are built to be both functional and unobtrusive — glass that disappears so the original tile and trim do the talking. Every install carries our 5-year workmanship warranty.
What we install in The Annex
The Annex building stock is predominantly late-Victorian and Edwardian semi-detached and row houses, with some mid-rise apartment buildings along Bloor Street and Dupont.
Interior glass partitions. This is our most popular product in The Annex. Open-concept renovations are standard here, but homeowners still need to separate a home office, a playroom, or a dining area from the main living space. We install floor-to-ceiling tempered glass partitions with minimal aluminum or oak frames. For privacy, we offer frosted glass, switchable smart glass, or etched bands at eye level. These partitions let light from the original front bay window reach the back of the house. Our partition permits FAQ for Toronto covers when a permit is and isn’t required.
Frameless shower enclosures. The Annex bathrooms are often tight — converted from secondary bedrooms or extended into former closets. We build custom enclosures that fit these irregular spaces: neo-angle units for corner showers, sliding-door systems for tight clearances, and zero-threshold designs for curbless renovations. We use 10 mm tempered glass as standard, with polished chrome or matte black hardware. Our small-bathroom shower FAQ covers the layouts we work into most often.
Glass railings. Front porch steps, rear deck staircases, and basement walkouts. The Annex has many semi-detached homes with raised front porches and rear three-storey additions. We install frameless glass railings with stainless steel base shoes and handrails. For front-facing installations visible from the street, we coordinate with the City of Toronto building permit process.
Custom mirrors. Foyers, powder rooms, and dining rooms. The Annex’s original homes have tall ceilings — 10 to 12 feet is common — which means standard mirrors look undersized. We fabricate oversized mirrors with polished edges that fill the wall proportionally, and we offer frame options that match the home’s original trim profiles.
Common projects in The Annex
Open-concept glass partition walls. A homeowner has removed a load-bearing wall between the living and dining room and needs a visual divider that does not block light. We install a full-height glass partition with a single swing door, using 10 mm tempered glass with a frosted privacy band.
Victorian bathroom shower retrofit. The original bathroom in an Annex row house is often a narrow room with a claw-foot tub and no separate shower. Homeowners replace the tub with a walk-in shower and install a frameless glass enclosure. The challenge is working within the existing plumbing wall — often shared with the neighbour in a semi-detached. We design enclosures that align with the existing drain location.
Rear addition glass railing. Many Annex homes have rear extensions that create a raised patio or second-storey deck. We install frameless glass railings along the edge of these additions. The railing prevents falls while preserving the view into the garden — critical in homes where the backyard is the only outdoor space.
Basement stairwell glass panel. Some homeowners remove the wall beside the basement stairs and replace it with a glass panel to bring light into the lower level. We install a single sheet of tempered laminated glass anchored at the floor and ceiling.
What makes The Annex different
Party walls. Most homes are semi-detached or row houses sharing a common wall with neighbours. Running anchors, hinges, or brackets through a party wall requires careful planning — you cannot assume the wall is plumb, and you cannot penetrate too deep without consulting the neighbour. We use surface-mount and post-mounted systems wherever possible on shared walls, and we always verify wall thickness and composition before drilling.
Floor slope. Annex homes are old enough that floors are rarely level — a difference of 1 to 2 inches across a 12-foot room is normal. For glass partitions we fabricate each panel with a custom-angled top and bottom cut to match the actual floor and ceiling planes. For shower enclosures we use adjustable-height hinges and compensation frames that allow the glass to sit plumb even when the floor is not.
Ductwork. Victorian homes in The Annex often have retrofitted forced-air heating with ducts running in the ceiling or through interior walls. We identify duct locations during the site measure and design around them by adjusting hinge placement or panel width.
Ontario Building Code compliance. Secondary suites and basement apartments are common here. Any glass railing on a basement walkout or secondary-unit entrance must meet code for guards — minimum 42 inches with no openings large enough for a 4-inch sphere to pass through. We factor this into every railing design.
How to get started
Book an in-home site visit. We measure the space, assess wall construction, and discuss your design goals. We provide a detailed written quote within two business days. Once approved, we fabricate your panels (two to three weeks in our shop) and install on a schedule that works with your renovation timeline. We coordinate with your general contractor where needed.
Have a project in The Annex?
We do free in-home consults across the GTA. Call 416-897-0767 or email [email protected].
Areas we also serve nearby
- Yorkville
- Rosedale
- Forest Hill
- Toronto city pillar
- Frameless shower enclosures
- Office / interior glass partitions
- Glass railings
- Partition permits in Toronto FAQ
- Small bathroom shower glass FAQ