Before & After: RENOVATE
The Home Owners
Following the tour of their renovated home, I concluded the interview with homeowners Anna and Cam, by asking if they would undertake a home renovation of this proportion ever again. Cam smiled. Anna offered, “Well, about half way through, he announced, “This is the last reno!” Cam interjected, “Oh, I’d probably do it again, if we got a good enough offer for this place.”
Two years ago, a career opportunity for Cam served as the catalyst for a lifestyle change. They relocated from Toronto’s, north Leaside to Collingwood’s family-oriented, suburban neighbourhood. Anna was expecting Jennifer, a baby sister for 3 year old Ryan at the time.
The Project
They found potential in a traditional, four bedroom, two-story house built in 1985. Though it faced east/west and in theory, should have provided ample light, the divided rooms were also preventing the room flow they sought. The intention was to open a wall and widen some of the doorways. Work began in August of 2008 and as the exposed walls revealed significant amounts of things like mouse feces, it was evident that their decision to live off premises during the renovation was a good one. The project quickly escalated into a full blown gut of the main floor. “We basically ended up building a brand new house,” advised Cam.
The Gut & Build
Cam, who designs & implements custom, high-end home-theatre systems full time, wasn’t always able to be on site, so it became an extremely important aspect of the project that they had someone they trusted to oversee things in his absence. Anna, was now distracted with a newborn and busy 3 year old, so her physical participation was understandably limited. Her career background as a marketing, brand manager was relevantly suited to making many of the ongoing, design choices the project presented. She knew what she did and didn’t want, which helped to ensure a good result.
They hired local, contractor and renovator Kevin Simkins, (KC Carpentry-a family business) to assist Cam in the co-ordination and execution of the plans logistics. Kevin specializes in renovations and additions vs. ‘new builds.’ The couple says that throughout the process, they relied heavily upon Kevin’s innate problem-solving skills and years of experience, to execute their ideas.
Kevin & company, handled the demolition of the walls, structural framing, custom-trim carpentry, painting, electrical & plumbing. Copper pipes were replaced with ‘Pex Plastic.’ “It’s a cleaner product,” advises Kevin, “and it has a flex-rating of 80 degrees below - F,” so it doesn’t heave and crack like metal can in extreme weather conditions.” I’m not absolutely sure, but I seem to recall hearing similar comments about the advantages of using a certain, plastic product, on an episode of Mike Holmes? Sounds feasible to this layman’s ears.
Engineers were consulted for applicable specs before execution of things like structural changes, while tiling and floor installations were handled by local, trades people. Electrical baseboards were removed and a high-efficiency furnace was installed. This required duct work to be carefully hidden in walls, for best space utilization and esthetics. They added an *HRV system (heat recovery ventilation system & air exchange) which removes stale, indoor air and brings in fresh, outdoor air - which is heated in winter and cooled in summer. To address any potential water problems, a UV filtration system was added, ensuring that 99% of harmful micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses, would be eliminated at source of entry.
Cam and Kevin retrofitted 95 pot lights via the attic, but first they had to remove more mouse feces and even birds nests, followed by a thorough vacuum, cleaning and new insulation. The pre-existing windows had held up well and required only some paint and new weather stripping.
Transformation Begins At The
Front Door Foyer
By widening doorways and pushing out a wall or two of the adjoining rooms off the foyer, Anna and Cam no longer felt as though they were entering a dark tunnel when they entered the house. Sunlight now spilled onto the new, ceramic tiled floor, illuminating the former, shadowy corners.
By removing a few, non-supporting walls, the rooms leading from the foyer (den/office, enclosed kitchen & dining room) were transformed from confined spaces into light-filled rooms with uplifting potential. Cam and Anna’s description of how these changes made them feel, suggested the analogy of a house, finding its’ smile.
Family Room
They had achieved the open-concept look and feel they had strived for. The kitchen opened to the newly, designated family room and conversation area, made distinct by furniture placement instead of walls. This configuration allows visual connection with family members from either end of the two rooms. The significant but dated fireplace got a much needed facelift via the application of a dark stained mantle & hearth and light, slate wall-cladding, laid in a brick pattern.
The dark oak, 6” wide-plank engineered, hardwood they chose for the main floor, was set against complimentary, neutral walls, giving a cohesiveness to the overall look - a major component in the transformation of this house.
Kitchen
The original kitchen floor was a black & white checkerboard. This was replaced with neutral, 18 x 18 porcelain tiles. The open concept kitchen holds a large, centre island that matches the banks of dark wood cabinets and cupboards. Stainless, appliances and Euro-style range hood add sparkle and light and the contemporary hardware in a pewter, satin finish, complement the rich wood of the cabinets like jewelry.
To co-ordinate with the other stainless pieces in the kitchen, they chose a deep, apron-front sink also in stainless. Cam proudly demonstrated the contemporary ‘intuitive’ faucet, which has a built-in motion sensor, so it’s basically ‘hands-free’ functionality. The neutral, stone back-splash, applied in an offset-brick pattern, matches the slate on the fireplace, now visible from the kitchen.
Dining Room
The new hardwood was extended into the formal dining room, replacing dated and badly worn parquet flooring. Suspended and dazzling above the gleaming, dining table, is an eye-catching, rectangular chandelier, which Anna says she’s constantly asked about. Unfortunately, the fixture is no longer available from the Toronto retailer. Smart, dinner parties are now greatly anticipated for this room.
Powder Room
All of the bathrooms have been furnished with high-end, low flush toilets by Toto. Here, a white trough-style sink, set into a dark-stained, stand alone vanity, ‘pops’ against rich, plum walls and a light, ceramic floor. The striking, contemporary faucet, initially presented a dilemma when I attempted to release some water. But, with one or two errant twists and turns, it and I.. eventually came to an understanding.
Second Floor
The long staircase leading to the second floor needed a bit of updating, so the spindles were painted white, the risers & steps were stained to match the downstairs hardwood floors. To complete the effect, Anna chose a thick, wool-sisal runner with black, cotton-tape border.
While the crux of the renovation applied to the main level, parts of the second story required similar attention. The children’s bedrooms were updated with fresh paint to match the planned, decor themes Anna had in mind. Blue walls with chocolate brown, blue & acid green accents for Ryan. Green walls with pink, yellow & acid green accents for Jennifer’s nursery.
The upstairs landing is open and expansive. Its original, strip-oak floors were sanded and stained to match the main floor hardwood - for continuity. Striking, black-framed photo-art in sepia tones, are hung gallery style against neutral walls, creating an achromatic visual as you ascend the staircase.
The Main Bath
This full bath located at the top of the stairs, was a complete gut. The fiberglass tub/shower enclosure was replaced with a 6’ soaker tub. White, subway tiles surround it in brick pattern interrupted by two, separate, horizontal bands of narrow glass tiles. Double vessel sinks in white porcelain are set into a bank of white cabinets on the opposite wall, providing plenty of storage space for towels and linens. A new tile floor, complimentary accessories and pale green walls complete the fresh look of the family bathroom.
The Principle Bedroom
Besides new paint and refinished hardwood floors, this room needed additional closet space and an full en-suite. Borrowing from an adjoining bedroom, which now functions nicely as Cam’s home-office, Kevin managed to carve out a 15’ deep, walk-in closet - an innovative achievement. But, innovation did not stop there. He and Cam managed, in just one day, to completely transform a smaller, shallow closet into one with all built-ins.
“It’s so-nice-to-have-a-man-around-the-house...”
The En-Suite
Creating an en-suite required stealing space that would allow access from inside the principle bedroom. Kevin opened out the remaining, double closet, combined that space with the dimensions of an unused, linen-closet, and brought the bedroom wall forward to gain the needed space for the en-suite. Voila!
A solid glass shower with inset niches to hold bathing paraphernalia was installed. They centered a large, rain-shower head and applied small, stone mosaic tiles to the shower floor. A hand held shower for ease of hair-washing and cleaning up is attached to one of the tiled walls. The most likely favourite feature on cold, wintry mornings, is the radiant heat that emanates from under ceramic, floor tiles. A dark stained, double vanity holds white vessel sinks with contemporary fixtures & lighting to complete the desired ‘spa’ look of the hard gained en-suite.
Everyone appeared so completely happy with the end result of this largely unanticipated renovation, I had to ask them ...
Anna’s Favourite Thing
Without hesitation she answers; “The kitchen,” then adds quickly, “And the resurfaced fireplace.”
He says with pride and a smile in Keith’s direction, “Absolutely everything about the main floor.”
And Kevin’s? “Oh, that would be the challenge of being able to incorporate the modern, home improvements into the existing, older structure - for Anna and Cam.”
Is There A ‘Next’ Project For Them?
Cam answers a little too quickly; “‘A Man Cave,’ in the basement.” We all smile and he continues, “with a state-of-the-art, home-theatre and media-centre, a wine cellar and wet bar. He stops, “but first, a new deck and landscaping for the back yard.”
Would You Take On Another Project This Big?
Recalling his frustrated declaration of.. “This is the last reno!” but with nearly a year between that, and moving into their transformed house, Cam may be wavering about the possibility of doing it all again some day? Well, perhaps just a little - but only for the right price of course.
*For more information on HRV go to: oee.nrcan.gc.ca
To see if HRV (in Ontario) qualifies for a government rebate,
go to this link:
www.homeperformance.com
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