Complete Home Renovation

Golf Course Backing Luxury Transformation

Our clients had their dream lot with golf course views but not their dream home. Lacking in curb appeal, functional space and that ‘wow’ factor, they desperately wanted to transform their tired bungalow to a show stopping masterpiece.

THE EXTERIOR

Underwhelming & Underutilized

The owners were tired of their homes dated brick façade and disliked how the main entrance was hidden from the street. Out back, their small unused concrete patio left much to be desired and didn’t inspire the luxurious golf course feeling they so desperately wanted to embrace. With the goal to improve curb appeal, foster a sense of arrival, and enjoy their golf course views year round, we set out transform this dated Calgary home.

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A Facelift Front to Back

To get there, we not only raised the roof but adjusted the shape and pitch too, bringing emphasis to the new front entryway. Exposed aggregate steps were poured to align with new retaining walls, adding visual interest to the homes fresh natural stone façade. Out back, a covered outdoor living space was thoughtfully designed to repurpose the homes original brick into and a wood burning fireplace. We also re-graded the entire backyard to create a lower patio area thereby improving the flow of natural light into the basement, and, forging a connection to the otherwise private hot tub retreat on the opposite side of the home.

All in the Details

Against the stone backdrop, the new exterior was complimented by rich battu battens, soffit, retaining walls and garage door. The entire exterior was peppered with LED potlights, including strip lighting out back to keep their outdoor living space well lit throughout the evening. To keep the space feeling cozy year round, two 10ft ceiling mounted gas heaters were added and both the entertaining space and private hot tub retreat were finished with rich mahogany hardwood. With a topless 10mm glass railing for uninterrupted views, this outdoor living space finally felt like an extension of the home.

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THE KITCHEN

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Tucked Away and Tiny

At only 126 sq.ft. the existing kitchen lacked on storage, seating space, and presence. Tucked away at the back of the home, and only accessible by walking down a long narrow hallway or through both the living and family rooms, the heart of this home was anything but. Our clients wanted to transform their kitchen to be the focal point of the house as you walked through the front door. Desperate for an open concept space that wowed, we knew we had to get creative.

Creating Open Space

In designing this dream kitchen it was clear from the start that our clients wanted to feel connected to the rest of their living spaces, indoor and out! To make the latter possible, we installed an 8ft awning window over their bar sink to flood the kitchen with natural light and offer a resort style eating area on the flip side. A 14ft folding door system was also used to create flow between the kitchen, living, and outdoor entertaining spaces. With two custom built islands with storage on all sides, the kitchen was now flooded with stowing capacity without overwhelming the walls with cupboards.

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Bringing Dreams to Life

To make it all possible, we built an addition off the back of the existing foundation to create a space almost four times as big as before. With a gorgeous spiral staircase to greet you and stunning lighting features, the finishing details really helped to make the space shine. We even found ways to incorporate the homeowner’s love of green, they were living on a golf course after all, into their countertop and backsplash selections.

THE BASEMENT

Opportunity Awaits

The existing basement not only lacked charm, but function too. A cramped tunnel staircase led to a grossly oversized mechanical room and storage space that took up most of what was otherwise an unused space. For our clients, the basement presented an opportunity to create a mind-blowing retreat with unique features at every turn. Enter car lifts, hidden rooms and a teenage retreat.

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Before After

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Before After

From Womp to Wow

Perhaps the most impressive feature of this transformation is the double decker hydraulic car lift that serves as both a showcase and basement level workshop. Complete with a full wall of sealed glass to trap any garage fumes upstairs, a secondary staircase was also built to offer direct access to the main level of the garage. If that wasn’t enough, our clients also had us craft a custom made bookshelf behind their bar that slid to reveal a hidden, fully sound insulated music room. Not that the glass walled exercise room, home entertainment area and giant spiral staircase weren’t also impressive.

Space, Function and Style

With stone accents surrounding the fireplace, bar, and wine room, and a custom-made iron door with guitar detailing, this basement left no detail out. By minimizing the mechanical room our clients gained over 500 sq.ft. of finished basement leading to the creation of two bedrooms with walk-in closets and a jack-and-jill bathroom for their teenage kids. With bigger windows for extra natural light and even golf course views, this basement space truly became the crowning jewel of the renovation.

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THE ENSUITE

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Yearning for Luxury

Like in most older homes, the master bathroom felt less like a spa and more like an afterthought. Our clients were tired of their dark and cramped ensuite that was on the opposite side of the home to their hot tub and wanted to create an oasis they could actually enjoy. With natural light and views of the golf course on their must have list, we designed them a space they could bask in.

Let There Be Light

By relocating the master retreat to the back of the home, we were able to leverage the existing plumbing stack from the main floor bathroom to build the ensuite. In doing so, we were able to not only bring our clients closer to their beloved hot tub deck through a 10ft patio door, but also capture views of the golf course in the oversize window now positioned above their freestanding tub. As if that didn’t bring in enough light, we also installed a solatube in their separate water closet to brighten things up without sacrificing privacy.

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Before After

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Before After

A True Retreat

Entering through a custom-made barn door and stepping onto their new heated ceramic tile floors, their oasis was now a reality. Featuring a luxurious curbless steam shower with pebble style floor tiles and 10mm glass on three sides, a custom made dual vanity, and make-up desk; getting ready in the mornings was now a routine to enjoy, not dread.

An Award Winning Transformation

When all was said and done, our clients were overjoyed with the end result. Their home is now a show stopping property from the inside out, and the industry agreed. Winning the 2021 Canadian Home Builders’ Association National Award for Best Renovated Space, they coined this the ‘Fast Cars, Whiskey, and Rock & Roll Basement’. At the 2021 BILD Alberta awards, it was awarded the Best Home Renovation over $500,000 and selected for the Renovators Choice award. Here in Calgary at the 2020 BILD Calgary Region Awards, it won Best Home Renovation (With Addition), Best Home Exterior Renovation, and Best Basement Renovation.

2020 Calgary Complete Home Renovation #1

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