How a $300,000.00 renovation transformed a stuffy Leaside craftsman in a vision of black-and-white

The place

A three-bedroom, two-plus-one-bathroom semi-detached craftsman home in Leaside.

The History

The current owners, a couple of young professionals, bought the house in 2017. They dreamed to transform its main floor into an open-concept, contemporary space. In 2021, the couple contacted Amanda Beer of AB InteriorsMake their vision real. Her design focused on creating gathering spaces that were flooded with natural lighting. The project, which included a new kitchen, bar and powder room among other upgrades, ended up costing $300,000.

Related: How a renovation turned an old house on the Niagara River in a pristine natural escape

The tour

Beer kept the front door antique and painted the original stairway and railings black. “I remember insisting that we have to keep the door—it’s got character,”She says. She also updated the coat closet and moved the Mason and Risch upright Mason piano to the front stairs.

The team replaced old floors with wide planks of white-oak. The team thought that a neutral color palette of black, white and grey would contrast nicely with wood details. Beer preserved the banquette and bay window while installing an asymmetrical pendant.

Then, they removed the wall in the kitchen so that it could be opened up to the front. Straight A Woodwork created the coffered wood ceilings.

The old decor was replaced with custom storage (including under cabinet shelving), quartz counters, backsplash and soft-vein quartz. A wine rack also covered the HVAC stack that had been exposed.

The kitchen is now oriented from north to south with the west wall acting as an anchor. Beer was able to create a long island, with hidden storage and pendant lights above.

The kitchen, which was once cramped, is now equipped with stainless-steel appliances, spice and oil racks that slide out on either side of stove, and an integrated microwave.

Beer swapped the dining table just off the kitchen with a bar, a mini fridge and custom cupboards—more storage that wouldn’t impede foot traffic.

A portionEast wall This powder room was added to the house. Beer added modern fixtures, whimsical wallpaper, and bubble lights to the space. She also fashioned a vanity from a table crafted by the owners’ friends.

Previously, a fireplace was installed in the sunken room that overlooked the backyard. It blended in with its surroundings. The team transformed it into a focal piece by adding a dark porcelain tile floor-to ceiling surround. “It was a bit tricky because you don’t typically see fireplaces with a massive window above them,”Beer. The clients also asked that the chandelier be changed with a fan in order to distribute cooler air during the summer.

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