All Grown Up
STORY SUSAN SYKES PHOTOGRAPHY GORDON KING
A childhood home is often remembered fondly, but most of us don’t get the opportunity to go back to the place we grew up - let alone live there again. For these Manotick emptynesters, however, the chance to move back came at the ideal time to create the perfect home for this stage of their lives.
Originally built in 1919, the home previously belonged to the parents of one of the homeowners and was last updated decades ago. When the couple took ownership, they began planning ways to keep the home’s heritage charm while making it suit a modern lifestyle.
They hired Lagois Design Build Renovate to bring this house into the 21st century. In addition to cosmetic changes, the renovation included a number of practical improvements to the layout, facilitated by a compact addition at the back.
The home’s original floor plan was similar to many others from the early 1900s: off the entrance to the left was the living room, with the dining room behind and a small kitchen at the back. The layout now is much the same, but with the dividing walls between rooms removed, creating more open spaces that flow seamlessly together.
In the front hall, a striking patterned tile from Simply Tile brings a fun, eclectic vibe to an often overlooked space, setting the tone for the vibrant mix of old and new that carries throughout the home. Although the renovation took the structure down to a shell, care was taken to retain its original character as much as possible, in keeping with the homeowners’ vision of a clean, modern aesthetic with rustic accents to inject warmth and character.
Faced with replacing the home’s original wood floors due to excessive damage, the homeowners chose light-toned Mercier White Oak hardwood from Menuiserie Allaire et Filsthroughout both levels. Most of the finishes chosen for the renovation are light, airy, and neutral so the couple’s colourful collection of original art and area rugs can take centre stage.
Central to the inviting living room is the rebuilt fireplace, which many visitors assume is original. Featuring distressed white tiles from Tile Centre and a chunky reclaimed wood mantel from Atmosphere & Bois, it is flanked by original stained glass windows that lend character and charm. In fact, Lagois went the extra mile to maintain many of the home’s original details, such as doors and hardware (and even sourced vintage knobs to match when they needed extras).
Previously closed off and cramped, the reconfigured kitchen was opened to the living and dining areas. The new layout is ideal for entertaining - a priority for the homeowners. A generous central island anchors the space and provides seating at the counter for a casual bite to eat.
Continuing the neutral palette, the kitchen features simple white shaker-style cabinets from Deslaurier Custom Cabinets topped with elegant Quartzite Aria counters from Urban Stone Surfaces and accented with chunky hardware in a warm antique brass finish. When designing the kitchen, the homeowners eschewed traditional upper cabinetry in favour of open shelving for a lighter, more modern look. To ensure adequate storage, the lower cabinets include practical drawers and pullouts. “We have a lot of dishes, but everything fits,” the homeowner remarks.
With the fridge and dishwasher trimmed out to match the cabinetry, the only visible appliance is the AGA range. Accented with a charcoal hexagonal tile backsplash, its vintage style makes a big statement and creates a focal point on the back wall of the kitchen. The same reclaimed wood from the fireplace is repeated as an accent in the trim work around the range hood as well as on the windowsill.
A single-story addition, which was added to the project scope to create space for a powder room, also allowed for a cosy television room to be tucked behind the kitchen. With numerous windows from Jeld-Wen framing the view to the backyard, it’s a light-filled spot to curl up and relax with a good book or catch a favourite show.
The television room was also designed to be used as a bedroom in the future, should the homeowners need to transition to one floor living. Plans for the adjacent powder room were expanded to include a shower to help accommodate changing needs going forward.
Upstairs, the layout was reimagined to better suit the homeowners’ needs and lifestyle. The fourth bedroom was sacrificed to enlarge the tiny main bathroom and add a luxurious master en suite. With a spacious walk-in shower and freestanding soaker tub from The Ensuite Showroom, the new en suite is a serene space for getting ready in the morning or winding down at the end of the day.
The homeowners can’t say enough good things about working with Lagois, citing their diligent approach and attention to detail throughout the renovation process, which took six months to plan and an additional six months to complete. “There were no surprises,” says the homeowner.
Revisiting the past can be bittersweet, but for this couple, it was a chance to create a tranquil abode with everything they need for this stage of their lives. “I don’t regret any of the decisions we made. It’s perfect for us now and for years to come.”
