Full Home Renovation: From Uninspired, Cookie-Cutter House to Peerless, Elegant Residence
Like many builder homes, this spacious family home on a quiet street along the Rideau River lacked personality and drama. Our clients had something else in mind: a family home that would meet their needs but also reflect their unique history and style. They wanted their dream home to tell a story about who they were in every single room – resulting in a top to bottom renovation that touched all three levels of this 3-bedroom, 4-bath estate.
Enter Gemstone. We were thrilled to take on the challenge of making this home the perfect marriage of modern technology and natural beauty. The result is a home that is ready for high-end entertaining and captures that “luxe hotel” feel that reminds this family of their extensive travels. We found ways to add custom details unique to this family, too, including artwork that reflects their work in the steel industry, a spacious upper floor landing for a grand piano, and a glassed-in gym and massage room on the lower floor.
Let’s take a peek into the before and after of this amazing project.
Main Level Before and After
The main level transformation begins with the entryway. We opened up this area to create a welcoming entrance hall that’s almost like a small hotel lobby area. The front door was replaced in a custom-stained dark wood to enhance the black and white colour scheme of this area, and the staircase became its own work of art as we added gilding and decoration. Just in front of the staircase lies the main floor powder room, featuring a custom-made wall covering that dazzles.
Before
After
On the right of the front entryway, what had been a typical living room/dining room area was transformed into a lounge area and a glossy black bar that opens up to the family room and kitchen area – perfect for large gatherings. The coffered ceiling of the lounge was pin-tucked to provide sound insulation for the piano on the landing just above. This area, as with the rest of the main floor, features large-format marble flooring for a truly elegant look.
Before
In Progress
After
Across the back of the main floor, the family room and kitchen have stunning views of the patio and pool area, and the Rideau River beyond. The kitchen was completely redesigned and rebuilt to be both gorgeous and functional for a family that entertains often. Two wall ovens, two speed ovens, and a double sink area mean that food can be prepared for small intimate gatherings or formal work events. The new 10-foot island provides a lovely place for guests to gather, and the breakfast nook is the perfect place for morning coffee while enjoying the view.
The kitchen combines classic, natural finishes like oak cabinets, a stone backsplash, and quartz countertops with modern touches like the high-gloss ceiling insert and pendant light fixtures. As a bonus, a butler’s kitchen tucks in behind the main kitchen for added staging area for very large events (transformed from the original mud room).
Before
After
Lastly, a built-in 60-inch television unites the kitchen with the adjacent family room, which has been transformed with huge picture windows overlooking the backyard gardens and a double-sided fireplace feature wall to bring added warmth and style to this space.
In Progress
After
Upper Level Before and After
The upper level welcomes family and guests alike with the spacious landing that houses the piano. Like the lower floor, this level features heated tile flooring, but this time it is wood-grain inspired for an inviting, natural look. The showpiece light fixtures, like the other lighting in the house, are smart fixtures and can be controlled from a central location to set the mood.
In Progress
After
Just off of the landing is a study that’s ready for work and comfort with built-in storage, meeting space, a small kitchenette, and its own bathroom. The dark, textured panelling on the walls makes this room feel elegant, stylish, and serious.
The master bedroom area has been completely transformed into a spa-like retreat where the owners can fully rest, relax and pamper themselves. What had been a basic ensuite bathroom was expanded into a his-and-hers dual-sided space, both of which feature a cleaning and dressing area. His side features dark cabinets with plenty of storage and a transom window to let in light. Her side is outfitted with white cabinets and a make-up table featuring a suspended LED mirror – perfect for getting party-ready without taking away from the beautiful view through the window.
The two sides are connected with a large walk-through shower room, and the whole ensuite is tucked neatly behind a fireplace feature wall.
Before
After
Other upper-level bedrooms and bathrooms were all renovated to include new windows, lighting fixtures, tiled flooring, and high-end, high-tech fixtures.
Lower Level
The lower level features a walk-out to the pool and patio area, and is another perfect space for entertaining or for relaxing as a family. An artistic divider wall separates the stairs from a brand new bar and dining area.
Beyond the family room area, a glassed-in gym makes the most of the natural light available on this level to create a bright, inviting space for exercising. For afterwards, a massotherapy room was added as the perfect spa-like space to unwind from a swim or workout.
Altogether, this renovation created a dream home for this family that fits their needs and style perfectly. Says the owner:
My husband and I cannot express how happy and impressed we are with our experience with Josh and his entire team. This wasn’t our first custom home and we knew that we were undertaking a massive and complex project. From our very first meeting, their attention to detail and organization immediately put us at ease. They worked with us throughout the entire planning process to ensure that we were truly getting the home of our dreams. They were very direct and upfront about timelines and budgets, highlighting their level of professionalism, from start to finish. … We are truly grateful to the entire team for all of the hard work and would do it again in a heartbeat if it weren’t for the fact that we don’t want to leave our new dream home!
Have a home renovation project that requires a more elevated approach? Contact us to talk about bringing your vision to life.