More details about the house

We bought this house in the spring of 2005, and spent the last 3 years turning an original Cambie house into an executive home that we are proud of, and plan on living in for many years to come. Mostly through our own sweat and hard work, we've transformed the interior space into a warm, inviting an open environment, without sacrificing the feel of a 1930s character home. Everything on the main floor has been replaced, renovated, or re-done. Every square inch of the house has been re-painted, inside and out. New fittings and fixtures were chosen with the 1930s period in mind, and except for the modern, stainless steel appliances, the style is one very much in step with the Art Deco/Art Moderne styling of the time.

The main renovation/update occurred in the kitchen; we completely gutted it, removing the extensive cedar paneling and cupboards that were likely installed in the 1960s. We removed the wall between a small bedroom and the 11' x 12' kitchen, added a conversational island, creating a TV room adjacent to the kitchen. This new 24' x 11' room is the central nexus for our daily lives. Rich cherry-wood cabinets, solid black granite countertops and indirect lighting sources create a warm ambiance and cozy feel. Technology enhancements include Wi-Fi and wired high-speed internet access, 34" widescreen TV, over 350 DVD titles to choose from, over 4,000 MP3 songs available through streaming audio, and 5.1 speaker surround audio system with iPod dock.

In the bathroom, we also stripped off the cedar paneling again, demo-ed down to the studs, and replaced the vanity with the same rich, cherry-wood cabinetry, topped with solid marble and undermount sink. We installed a heating mat under the tiles to keep bare feet warm during the cool winter months. 1920s railway-styled towel bars and fixtures, halogen lighting and a huge, beveled glass mirror framed in cherry wood round out the feature upgrades of our new bathroom.

The dining room got a fresh coat of paint, new window treatment, and a new light fixture with dimmer. Our 6-person dining set and art deco sideboard finish the room nicely - a great place to enjoy a scrumptious local BC salmon dinner with your other guests!

The living room got a huge cosmetic upgrade when we jackhammered out the 1970s-era brick mantle/hearth. We removed the cedar (yes, even more cedar) paneling from the wall, put up new drywall and re-framed the leaded-glass windows. I extended secondary speakers into the living room wall, so that music can be played (independently) from the source in the TV room. The finishing touch is the new Art Deco-styled mantle and natural gas fireplace - remote controlled, of course. A nice glass of port, a snifter of cognac or a wee dram of scotch, and this is the place to wind down the evening, and share the stories of the day.