A Bright and Modern Renovation to Capture the River View

I was delighted when friends of ours, John and Joanne agreed to let me show you, the beautiful waterfront home they created by going right down to the studs in this bright and modern renovation.  

Before we really knew John and Joanne, I watched with interest as I drove by while a house built in the 1970s, was gutted and then rebuilt into a stunning beauty.  

Exterior Before and After The Bright and Modern Renovation

As it turns out, John and Joanne lived in the same neighbourhood as we did in a sprawling home while they raised their children.  As Joanne said, they were “maintaining more than enjoying,” so once the kids had grown, they decided they wanted something something smaller.  John grew up on the water, so a waterfront home was a natural choice.  

I know from experience that finding a waterfront home is not easy and John and Joanne looked at more than 40 houses before they found the one that they would eventually renovate.  The house they chose had never been touched and had small rooms and dated finishes. They found a contractor and planning began.  

The Panoramic View

When entering the home, the panoramic view of the river grabs you and holds you tight .  Situated on a bend in the river, they have incredible views in both directions.  The couple purposely added floor to ceiling windows across most of the back of the house to take advantage of the river views. While we sitting chatting I spotted the biggest coyote I have ever seen on the opposite side of the river.  River life is never dull.

I asked Joanne about the starting point for the renovation.  She said that knew that they wanted the house to be open and bright with views of the river, but they were not completely  sure of their style at first.  They used Houzz to find elements that they liked and began sharing pictures with their contractor. A slant toward mid century modern style began to emerge.  

The Fireplace Wall In the Bright and Modern Renovation

The fireplace wall was one thing that they were certain about.  Joanne found one picture in particular that lead to a this gorgeous fireplace design. Since the room is a long rectangle, Joanne used black in the tv wall recesses to draw the room in.

The Stairs

One of the areas where the mid century modern design is clearly evident is in the open stairs when you first enter.  The beautiful walnut used is stunning. 

The Walk-In Pantry

One of my favourite parts of their house is the sizeable pantry tucked behind the kitchen.  This room holds most of small kitchen appliances leaving the kitchen counters clear.  It also holds the washing and dryer which simplifies the laundry process.  

The Bedroom In The Bright and Modern Renovation

The renovation turned two small bedrooms upstairs into a master suite with an ensuite and walk-in closet hidden behind sliding doors.  This gives an uninterrupted wall allowing the river views on the other side of the room to be the real feature. There are additional bedrooms in the home’s lower level walk out.  

Bedroom

Lessons Learned In the Bright and Modern Renovation

Joanne shared a couple of lessons learned.  She felt that it would have helped to see drawings or renderings of the vision for the build.  They trusted their contractor but stress came from not being able to see exactly how things would eventually turn out. If you are designing or are considering a build, this is something you may want to consider if visualization is not your strength.  

Another thing that Joanne and John wish that they had done was to design the island with seating on three sides.  Their kitchen island is beautiful and streamlined as it is. But, since they eat a lot of meals at the island and entertain there, they would prefer to face the people. 

As with any renovation there was plenty of stress and decision fatigue.  But four years later, they are completely happy with the modern, open home that they have created for their family.  

Thank you John and Joanne for letting me share your beautiful space.  

Always

Leslie