MANOR PARK HOME REMAKE UPSTAGES PURCHASING NEW
A home might be too expensive, too small or too big. Maybe it’s in the right location but outdated or the wrong location but modern and sophisticated.
There are many reasons why finding a home is stressful and finding the perfect home is nearly impossible. That’s why homeowner Ellis Westwood said no to moving and yes to an exhaustive and transformative renovation.
With the help of Holland Homes and Renovations, the family’s charming home in Manor Park was almost doubled in its square footage and is nearly unrecognizable from both the outside and inside.
“We basically knocked the whole thing down and started from scratch,” explained Westwood. “It was a nice home to start with but when we were growing our family we knew we needed a bigger home and one that was more comfortable.”
It was the couple’s first house and, at the time, it had more than enough space. But years have passed, and now, three kids later, a mere 1,400 square feet would have been cramped for the family of five.
“We were young and thought ‘well, we might as well buy our first house’ and I’m so glad we did because we probably couldn’t afford to live in the neighbourhood now. It was pretty cheap (at the time) and now we can make the house our own.”
Westwood may be right. Affluent areas, like Manor Park, have seen a significant rise in housing costs. According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board, homes in the Manor Park/Cardinal Glen district are among the most expensive in the city and prices continue to rise. For example, from February 2017 to February 2018 there was a hike of 17.2 per cent in sales prices for homes in that area.
“People tend to come to Manor Park and stay for a long time. You don’t see many for sale signs,” said Westwood who is adamant that he’ll never leave his newly renovated home.
The house was built in 1948 and was a traditional one-and-a-half storey home with a detached garage, similar in design to wartime homes found across Ottawa.
There was minimal natural light flowing through the home and closed-off rooms made the living areas feel small and dark.
Like many present-day renovations the house was re-designed with an open-concept floor plan. In five months, the entire space took on a new life.
“It feels like a new home all around,” said Scott Wammes, vice president of operations at Holland Homes and Renovations. “With new flooring, fixtures, paint, lighting and design, the interior feels like what you would find in a new build. It’s bright, spacious and modern.”
The five-month renovation resulted in a striking interior, which has maple flooring, white walls and a simple yet sleek design.
Similarly, the exterior of the home has been completely transformed. Other than the horizontal wooden siding, it looks entirely different. Previously unremarkable, the outside is now a dark grey with a lime green trim on the front door.
It’s everything Westwood and his family hoped for — more space, modern and comfortable.