SMALL WONDERS

Architect Jay Lim oversees the innovative renovations of two 1950s-era houses, vowing to preserve their histories while meeting the needs of the families within

Architect Jay Lim modernizes two small homes

Over the past few years, architect Jay Lim has spent countless hours thinking about how best to revitalize tiny postWorld War II houses — those one- and one-and-a-half-storey dwellings designed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that are ubiquitous to the city’s older neighbourhoods. That means striking a balance between old and new.

“It’s very rewarding to reinterpret these houses,” Jay says. “I’m working with the owners to make their houses contemporary while keeping their essence.”

BAM House: Manor Park

Their story: Manor Park was a perfect fit for Briana and Nam*. Briana has family living in Manor Park, and both partners were drawn to the idea of settling down in an established neighbourhood close to the river. Still, their circa 1952 CMHC house felt tiny, dark, and closed-in. “The structure was solid, so for environmental and cost reasons, we knew we wanted to renovate rather than knock it down,” says Briana. She and Nam were looking for more light, more space, and better flow.

The renovation saw the removal of a bathroom behind the kitchen, allowing light to flow through the newly exposed window. A window in the kitchen was also enlarged, and the stairs were built without risers, so the main floor is now bright and open. Upstairs, the dormers gave Briana and Nam the luxury of three bedrooms and a bathroom, with four large windows and a skylight ensuring that natural light abounds.

Their favourite elements? The ceilings upstairs, which rise to 12 feet at their peak. Jay designed the house without an attic to give the second floor a loftlike ambience. And under the “cape,” their raised porch, with its views of their front-yard maple and the surrounding streetscape, has become a go-to hangout. Jay’s take: “I love how much brighter and more well-connected this house is now. And I’m happy the owners went all white on the exterior — not only does it look great, but the high reflectivity means the house doesn’t absorb heat.”

Ross House: Wellington West

Their story: A two-bedroom house for a family of four was a tight squeeze, providing the impetus for Julie Lafrenière and Steve Mason to undertake a full renovation that added an extra bedroom — and so much more. Their challenge was to maintain the modest footprint of their house while incorporating a long wish list: an open main floor with a spacious entryway and a modern kitchen, as well as three bedrooms, a bathroom upstairs, and a study station on the second floor.

“Steve and I had very different ideas on how our post-war house should look,” says Julie. “I wanted it to blend in with the neighbourhood and Steve likes things more modern.” Jay granted both wishes with a design that maintains the original rooflines on the street side while giving the house a distinctly modern look in the back.

Thoughtful details and creative ideas abound, but it’s Jay’s attention to light and views that stand out for the couple. “We have outdoor spaces on both sides of the house and views from a second floor that previously had no windows. We’re suddenly discovering our neighbourhood,” says Steve. Jay’s take: “These clients were really brave. They were open to thinking deeply about how they wanted to interact as a family and weren’t afraid to rearrange the house to get where they wanted to go. I love the double-height space between the first and second floors — it connects everyone and allows music to fill the house when Steve plays the piano. The juxtaposition of the street frontage and the back is also very compelling for me — they tie together, but they could be completely different houses if you just saw one or the other. It speaks to the idea that we’re all individuals and can make the decision to present different sides of ourselves.”

“I wanted it to blend in with the neighbourhood and Steve likes things more modern”

The “cape,” which gives the house an iconic A-frame silhouette, boasts cut-outs to maximize light exposure and views. Briana and Nam often sit out on the east-facing front porch. The new white metal facade is juxtaposed with warm cedar in the dormers, with the owners opting to maintain the stucco on the original structure

BOTTOM, MIDDLE: Briana, Nam, and Louie in the dining room. The couple has chosen furniture in the open dining and living room to complement the era of their home BOTTOM, RIGHT: One of two large dormer windows at the back of the house floods the stairwell with light. That light flows through to the first-floor living space * Names have been changed at the owners’ request.

BOTTOM, LEFT: Light floods into the cozy living room from two directions — through the front window and down the stairs. Previously covered by carpet, the original birch floor was uncovered, sanded down, and refinished

The front of the house reinterprets the traditional housing style of the era while creating a style of its own. The secondfloor bedrooms are situated under the dormers, with the set of continuous windows giving the impression of a large single space. Off the master bedroom, a private balcony offers views over the neighbourhood OPPOSITE, TOP: While the front of the house complements the streetscape, the back shows off the owners’ more modern design sensibility. Here, a large window floods the master bedroom with natural light while the skylights allow light to flow into a homework station situated in the hallway ABOVE, LEFT: The second-floor hallway is open to the floor below, connecting everyone and allowing music to fill the house when Steve plays the piano. The area is also set up as a homework station for the family’s two daughters, with each having her own skylight with views of the sky and trees

ABOVE, RIGHT: Julie and Steve loved Jay’s idea to have the living room open to the second floor. The double-height ceiling lends airiness to the room and allows light to flow down from two skylights