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Anyone who’s owned a heritage property knows the highs and lows well. On the one hand, there are irreplaceable elements like elegant mouldings, vintage corbels and original ceiling work. But on the other, the way we live has changed-those small clusters of rooms that were so friendly in the days of meagre heating have given way to open-concept living. We were satisfied with a wardrobe; we now want walk-in closets. Spa-like bathrooms are king.
But a bad renovation-one that tries to modernize a heritage space at the sacrifice of its good bones-can do more harm than good. This home in Victoria had fallen victim to several uninspired renos: a garish wallpapered kitchen with particleboard cupboards and dated fixtures, damaged and creaky floors, and the basement was nothing more than a damp, dark, low-ceilinged crawlspace.
The new owners wanted to maintain the home’s character as they refashioned the interiors into something more contemporary; the new layout would provide ample room to entertain and spend time together while creating private spaces. Working with Zebra Design Group, the family of five-two adults and three growing boys-created a beautiful 7,200-square-foot, six-bedroom home that pays homage to the past without being constrained by it. "We really accomplished something," says Zebra principal Rus Collins, whose work on this project won the firm a SAM Home Renovation Award. "We managed to find a balance between maintaining the character and integrity of the existing house, and modernizing it."
The work began by moving the building temporarily to one side of the lot while contractors dug a bigger foundation-allowing for a new basement and a large addition. The final placement on the property opened up the home to a sunny southern exposure and created a multi-use area: an outdoor play space for the children that flows into a covered entertainment area off the new kitchen and family room, and a stairway down to the lower-floor patio.
To create better balance on the exterior, a snub-nosed gable roof was replaced with a full gable, and the cantilevered second floor was given knee brackets-creating a look of support for the top-heavy building.
The interior, while directed by designer Dianne Kennedy, was a collaborative effort with the owners, from tilework and fixtures to countertops and paint colours. "It really reflects their personality," says Kennedy.
"Their home, much like themselves, is unpretentious and comfortable, yet very sophisticated."
In sharp contrast to the dark wood interiors typical of the home’s original era, this reinvented space is filled with light. The library, for example, features a colour scheme of white, grey and black, with the original dark coffered wood ceiling and sliding pocket doors painted white to brighten up the small room.
To allow for a new under-floor geothermal heating system, the flooring and the staircase to the second floor were replaced with warm cherrywood. To create drama and a sense of space at the entry, Collins removed a portion of the second floor above the entrance way. A series of white archways gracefully defines the long hallway that leads from the entrance to the first floor library, office, dining room and kitchen, with oversize black doors adding impact and elegance.
The hub of the house is the kitchen and family room (both adults are avid cooks) and, as part of the new addition, it’s more modern than traditional. Natural light fills the space through skylights, large windows out to the children’s play area and French doors that open onto a covered patio that’s kitted out with a pizza oven.
The sunken family room offers a degree of separation from the kitchen and eating area. The children can hang out, watch TV or do homework without getting in the way of the cooks.
The designers created other separate spaces in the house by placing the children’s bedrooms on the second floor and the master bedroom on the main; a private patio off the master bedroom and the soundproof downstairs music room also deliver areas of respite. An abundance of storage space-from closets and built-in desks in the children’s rooms to pullout drawers below the kitchen banquette that hold games and magazines-keep the space open and clutter-free.
"We’re really proud of this house," says Collins. "We recycled and improved an old house and gave it another 100 years." wl
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