1914 – St. Charles Hotel, Yonge Street, Toronto

Demolished circa 1935.

“The St. Charles Hotel, located at the corner of Bay and Richmond streets, Toronto, presents many interesting features. It lends an unusual and attractive appearance in its novel treatment; the light cream terra cotta piers, with their panelling extending to the frieze, furnishes an upward motive; the window trimmings and marquise in bronze harmonize with the general color scheme; the exterior, with globe lights at the intersection of each pier with the frieze above, provides adequate lighting to give the proper effect in the evenings.

In designing the St. Charles, the height was fixed, as wood joisting, which has been employed in this connection, is only allowed in buildings not exceeding thirty-five feet. Otherwise the structure is absolutely fireproof. consisting of steel, brick and terra cotta on a concrete foundation. In limiting the height of the entire building for the reason stated above, the dining-room, barroom, etc., were forced to forego high ceilings, and consequently had to be designed in low relief. The dining-room, forty by sixty feet, is rather spacious for the height, which appearance has been counteracted 1>y the constructional columns being encased in very large piers, the bold effect being softened by trellis work with shirred silk behind. Within each pier and at the top have been placed changeable lights, which throw out a softened glow, ranging from a delicate red to a light green. The walls of the room are finished in a Belgian gray, the trellis work being a pale green with light blue strips enclosing it, which shade is also found in parts of the cornice. On the ceiling the beams have a trellis band with sufficient foliage to give it a slight touch of home comfort; the large panels are of cream effect with a greenish band around, from which in low relief stand out the Tango dancing figures, revealing a desire to eliminate period and historic ornament and depict instead one of the chief functions which enters into modern social life. From each of the nine ceiling panels hangs a lighting fixture of silver finish, which, with the wall brackets of like material, furnish ample artificial illumination. The six large windows are draped in old rose curtains, a shade similar to that found in the screens and large centre rug.

Fully as interesting as the dining-room, but quite differently decorated, is the barroom. The floor is of square red tile, and the seven-foot dado of a variegated mat glaze tile, with a pre- dominating bluish tone and wide recessed joints. The portion above the dado when finished will have a conventionalized design representing the seasons; the ceiling ivory white to give proper value to the semi-direct lighting scheme of dull bronze fixtures, each one having eight small frosted globes beneath. Space has been planned for a double row of tables, to be used as a cafe in connection with the bar, while adjoining is another cafe opening into it but raised two feet higher, which guarantees a certain amount of privacy.

The private dining-room is tastily decorated with deep foliage tapestry effect, in harmony with the dull bronze finish of the pilasters, cornice, ceiling and trimmings. The ladies’ reception-room has a general tone of Belgian gray; the hardwood floor partly covered with a heavy old rose rug, trimmings of white woodwork; walls of cherry floral design. The building cost $100,000.”
Construction, July 1915

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