The art of home improvement
Crafting a beautiful home acts as another creative outlet for me. Pride of place is not only important for us to encourage but use as a tool to inspire and nurture our mental wellbeing. Home is much more than a place to hang our hats, it’s a sanctuary for family and friends to gather, for us to take respite from the outside noise and rejuvenate our spirit.
In 2020 - 2022, home became more than that for many of us. It became where we had to shelter in place, work, homeschool our children, cook seven nights a week, and dream of brighter days.
Designing functional and beautiful living spaces has long been a passion of mine. Over the years, my projects have evolved from decorating my bedroom with trinkets and treasures as a child to searching the internet for old house renovation ideas that will elevate and enhance my family’s lifestyle.
In 2019 (1 year before the Pandemic), I embarked on the renovation project of my dreams and modernized my family’s Victorian century home in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood.
What was meant to be a basic kitchen remodelling to open and expand the kitchen into the dining room quickly became a full house gut and remodel. Creating my dream home on a budget was an enormous project but entirely worth it.
Living and operating in this home for 3 years prior made me cognizant of how my family lived and operated in the original space, and how I could plan spaces better and more efficiently. Effectively making my renovation decisions not based purely on aesthetics but functionality too.
Whether you’re looking at renovation ideas for old homes or house remodelling ideas for small homes, I encourage you all to reinvent your interior space in a way that reflects your personality, respects your lifestyle, and pleases your senses.
Below are some of my remodelling and renovation jumping off points to get you started:
Consideration of function and flow
Creating the perfect place to gather with family and friends was a big factor for the main floor’s feel and flow. I went with house remodelling ideas inspired by multiple searches on Pinterest to vastly improve the outdated (formerly separated) kitchen & dining area’s form and functionality.
The best modern home renovation ideas are influenced by the theory of flow and function. With a thoughtful, functional design, you can easily create a calming flow and prolonged sensory experience from the front door of your home all the way to the back. Even a bathroom revival can improve the big picture.
For example, I adopted a floor to ceiling tile treatment in each of my three bathrooms to establish a uniform design statement throughout. This cornerstone design detail was an inexpensive three-dimensional ceramic subway tile with a figurative fluidity organic surface, which offered a 3 dimensional sensory experiences to all the bathrooms.
Eye candy
The architectural design elements you choose for your home don't always need to have a function. They can have a purpose, though. In addition to a place of solace, our home is a canvas with countless opportunities for individual expression.
Enjoying something purely based on its visual appeal is not just ok, it’s encouraged. As bold, edgy, or laid back as they are, any home decor or reno ideas you contemplate should reveal your personality and reflect your tastes.
To salute my home’s Victorian heritage, I wanted to re-introduce an archway in the vestibule / front entranceway and the charming heritage ceiling roses, moulding and stair railings. Of which I wasn’t able to salvaged from the demolition process. I added to the mix is some mid century modern lighting, and the results became quite striking (and all within budget), bonus much!
This treatment offers a stunning juxtaposition of old and new. There are numerous renovation and decor ideas out there for old homes on the internet but a good rule of thumb is to always decorate with things that make your heart sing. And if you don’t know exactly what that looks like for you, I highly recommend hiring an interior designer.
Align design to your lifestyle
The inefficiencies of a 1970s kitchen as you can imagine didn’t align with today’s lifestyle. My kitchen renovation inspo came from a desire to not only update the kitchen but to also connect it to our dining room, which had was basically a dumping ground and thoroughfare.
Following my design criteria (simple, functional, elegant yet casual), I chose kitchen countertops and a backsplash featuring a subtle, concrete terrazzo look, black cabinetry, and light coloured floors. Introducing drawers (no upper cabinets) and a floating shelf perfect for styling my favourite ceramics and of course artwork! The kitchen echoes the juxtaposition of old and new. It’s contrasting colours work beautifully against the warm, bright white walls. I especially love how the panelled wall integrates a Fisher & Paykel fridge / freezer and allows us the ability to hide a myriad of kitchen equipment, counter clutter.
Hallways, vestibules and landings
Never neglect, hallways, vestibules and landings as visual touch-points. These are especially good areas for hanging art, they need never not bore the eye! I also knew I needed the laundry to be easily accessible, not in the basement like before (pre-renovation). Instead of hiding the Laundry appliances behind folding doors, I opted for hanging linen curtains for ease of access and for their visual appeal.
Finishing touches
As tactile, sensorial, emotional beings, it’s lovely to be able to take time to relish your home with all five senses. My home is a curation of functional modern living spaces with a sense of victorian nostalgia. Endearing personalized touches which have been found over time, pulls this zen like Scandinavian inspired interior sanctuary together.
I hope you too have the opportunity to enjoy the renovation process as much as I did! And if you are in the midst or about to renovate, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!
Anna ox