Mod Squad: A Waterloo Home with Clean Lines

Story: Cheryl Long | Photography: Jason Hartog

Bringing their dream kitchen to life was almost as simple as walking into the showroom at Paragon Kitchens in Guelph. Drawn initially to the display kitchen’s contemporary colour scheme, the owners of a recently-renovated residence in Waterloo’s Beechwood Park have seen their own culinary oasis transformed into the heart of their newly renovated home.

“We love the kitchen,” say designers Heather Lewis, Rania Ismail Cherry of Fohr Design Studio, who, along with Guelph-based Centrix Building Group, were instrumental in redesigning the circa-1970s home in the fall of 2018. Today, a stunning island with a built-in sink and Cambria quartz countertops is the perfect breakfast spot for the couple and their two young boys.  

Updating older homes in established neighbourhoods for a new generation of growing families is the “bread and butter” of Centrix’s portfolio, says Jim McElroy, lead project manager for the Beechwood Park renovation. For those with the available resources, bringing an older home up to current standards, whether structural, cosmetic or both, can come with the advantages of larger lots, mature trees and a strong sense of established community. In Beechwood Park, it means proximity to the downtown core and public transportation, a neighbourhood pool and tennis courts, and even a weekly farmers’ market featuring local products. 

The home’s main living area stretches across the back, encompassing the high-end kitchen, central dining area and family room. The space underwent substantial structural changes to create the open-concept look; load-bearing walls and a fireplace were removed and the slider to the backyard was replaced with an oversize folding glass door. The door, along with enlarged windows by Bavarian Window Works, offers panoramic views of a backyard that feels more like a conservation area than the suburbs. Beyond the tree line is a greenspace with a small creek, home to a healthy wildlife population that sees families of deer and fox wander close to the property. 

“It’s such a spectacular backyard that looks on to that green space and conversation area,” Jim explains. “We just wanted to open everything up to let the light in.”

Though the exterior still has a traditional look –  that’s a future Phase 2 project –the interior is surprisingly contemporary with European influences. Black window trim and kitchen cabinets contrast against the white and grey Cambria quartz flowing along the countertops and backsplash, installed by QuartzCo in Guelph. The modern effect is warmed by pale wood tones in the flooring, a cookbook niche and trim around the wall-mounted oven and microwave. A walk-in pantry is large enough to double as a mini second kitchen with plenty of storage space and room for a coffee bar and wine rack. 

White, black and dark grey figure prominently throughout the home, serving as a neutral canvas for pops of colour that come through in special pieces of art and a surprisingly lighthearted set of dining chairs in multiple colours.

The staircase that leads upstairs from the front foyer is a strong focal point and one of the designers’ favourite features. Originally, the plan was to change the railing and refinish the original oak stairs, but they ended up being replaced by a sleek black staircase by Stairworks with a glass railing from K-W Glass that immediately sets an avant-garde tone. Modern simplicity continues to the second floor, where walls were shifted and rooms were rejigged to make space for a second-floor laundry room and an office nook in the top landing. That meant converting the upper level from five to four bedrooms, creating a greater sense of space and allowing for a more luxurious master suite.

If the kitchen is the family gathering spot, then the master en suite and soon-to-be-completed master bedroom serve as an adult oasis. “We took a standard vanity and toilet and created something really beautiful and sculptural,” Rania says, referring to the eye-catching slatted wall detail in the master bath. Constructed by Paragon Kitchens from the same material as the vanity, it adds a stunning uniqueness to the space. “Paragon did an amazing job,” she adds. “It’s those special details scattered throughout the home that make a difference, that make it special.” 

What also made the project special was the way everyone worked together to create a place that reflected the homeowners’ style and needs as a family, even if it meant occasionally nudging them out of their comfort zone. “(The homeowners) definitely gave us a lot of freedom,” Heather says. “Typically, with any project, the first few decisions are a bit harder. Towards the end it was all coming together.”

“They were an absolute pleasure to work with,” Jim adds. “They’re just great people and so was Fohr Design Studio.”