Decorating & Design
May 17, 2021
This ’60s Bungalow Gets A Major Facelift Just In Time For Summer
There’s something positive and life-affirming about moving. The very idea of closing one door and opening another requires a resilient sense of hope and optimism — especially when you’re leaving behind the legacy home you and your family have lived in and loved for 17 years.
This was the mindset of empty-nesters Liz and Ian Grant when their grand old Belleville, Ontario, century home sold in March 2016. With a clear sense of who they are now and how they wanted to live, they decided to downsize, keeping just half of the antique furniture they had carefully collected over the years. When their house sold more quickly than anticipated, the couple rented a friend’s summer home overlooking the harbor in downtown Picton, Ontario. The picturesque town on the Bay of Quinte is filled with boutiques and trendy restaurants, and surrounded by wineries, beaches and bike trails. The couple became enamored with the quiet neighborhood, so when the house next door to their rental came up for sale, they were quick to nab it for the spectacular waterfront view they had also grown to cherish.
Some might have dismissed the 2,300-square-foot, ’60s-era bungalow as a dowdy little two bedroom full of the relics of that period: thin oak floors and an awkward honey pine–panelled addition propped up on concrete columns at the back. Instead, the Grants saw it as an opportunity to embrace a new aesthetic and create a home that matched their lifestyle. “This was not the house we were looking for,” admits Liz, “but with some help, we knew we could turn it into the modern, clean-lined, light-filled home we wanted.”
The couple found their ideal collaborators in Toronto: architect Brad Abbott and designer Barbara Purdy, Liz’s longtime friend. “Their goal was to create a warm, contemporary rustic look,” says Barbara. “As much as we wanted it light and airy in the summer, we knew that, come winter, the home’s snowy white views would have a big impact on the space. We brought in a lot of warm tones in the furniture to balance it.”
The 18-month-long renovation added 1,000 square feet of living space, taking the house up to three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a home office with a Murphy bed. “We both love the view out the back window and turning on the gas fireplace, sitting on our comfy sofas and looking out to the water,” says Liz. “It’s a slower pace of life here, for sure, but we’re ready for that.”
Scroll down to see the before and after of this bungalow makeover!
The five key moves that gave this dated exterior a fabulous facelift:
Streamlined look. Charcoal gray wood siding, installed vertically and horizontally, straps the entire house, erasing the bungalow’s hodgepodge of angelstone veneer and brick. “Since the house sits close to the road, we chose a color that helps the home nestle into the setting rather than stick out,” says Barbara.
New roof. “We wanted a clean, modern look,” says Barbara. “The industrial Galvalume metal roof is a great juxtaposition to the rough, farm-like wood siding.”
Better symmetry and sightlines. The entrance was moved a few feet to the center of the home to give the exterior more balance, and to allow for a direct view out to the harbor when entering the house.
Covered entrance. The new peaked portico adds height and architectural drama. Its framed-in cedar pillars will be stained gray this summer to help them blend in.
Updated landscaping. A low-maintenance, no-mow garden featuring ornamental grasses, groundcover and stone is in sync with the home’s new minimalist look.
A big transom window brightens the foyer, and the coat closet was moved to another hallway for an airier entrance.
Because of the jaw-dropping views in the living room, Liz and Barbara opted for no drapery and framed windows in crisp drywall returns rather than fussy traditional moldings.
The streamlined kitchen’s 11-foot-long island references the home’s water view and provides ample storage. The tile backsplash resembles reclaimed brick.
Liz craved a sunny, open-concept space built for entertaining with a kitchen designed to make the cook part of the party. “We like to entertain,” says Liz, “but in our old house, I missed out on a lot of dinner parties because I was stuck in the kitchen, away from the dining room and family room.” A classic runner gives the kitchen a decorative moment while a strategically placed painting provides a colorful focal point.
The large dining area’s generous table accommodates large dinner parties and anchors the space. When the bifold doors are swung open, guests can wander out to the screened room.
The screened room’s full-height windows are shielded by two layers of Phantom Screens: a mesh one to keep out bugs and a vinyl screen to keep rain out and heat in. The windows overlook the walkout terrace below and skylights contribute to the indoor-outdoor feel.
Liz (right) with friend Sue Charnley (left) and Barbara on the stone terrace. Liz’s husband, Ian, made the rustic table.
A plush sectional in the lower-level seating area keeps everyone comfortable. The blue-green armoire was one of the few antique pieces the couple brought with them and integrated into their new home. Its history and heft add warmth and gravitas.
The lower-level seating area fireplace warms up rainy day movie marathons.
A pair of barn-style sliding steel doors cleverly camouflages the laundry room, which was moved to the lower level.
When Barbara discovered a wall in the principal bedroom had a framed-in duct on one side, she matched it on the other side and ran wide-plank white oak flooring up to the ceiling to create a headboard effect.
A chair in a sunny corner of the lower-level principal bedroom offers a quiet spot to start and end the day.
Donna Griffith; Courtesy of Liz Grant (Before images)
House & Home April 2020
Barbara Purdy; Architecture by Abbott Design