East City jewel box

A young couple came to us with a vintage home that was long overdue for repairs. The old house sat on a lushly planted lot near the canal. There were aspects of the house that were off putting, such as the presence of two front doors, and rodents in the attic. But the East City neighbourhood where the couple now found themselves gave them a warm welcome. The couple were proud of their property. They were determined to turn the small home into a jewel box.

Not much budget was available, but the list of needs was long: a good kitchen, a fireplace, better open space on the ground floor, better windows, retrofitting insulation where possible. And better access to the basement, to replace a tortuous breakneck stair.

We responded to all of those needs with a economical design and excellent trades. Ryan Hughes gutted and refurbished the house to plan. Jeff Minthorn took over the finishing of the work and breathed magic into the details. With the new windows, insulation and a new fireplace, the old house now meets code and delights all who come to visit. The master bedroom on the 2nd floor gains a Juliette balcony with french doors, and a skylit bathroom. The hardwood flooring from Monaghan Lumber brightens up both floors. Light fixtures throughout the house were sourced from DeKor. Canadiana Cabinets built the kitchen with a long and comfortable bench seat. Lastly, a spiral stair now connects the 1st floor to the basement and its future living area.