Mid-century bungalow goes modern
The 1,278-square-foot bungalow located at 1921 Pembina Ave. was typical of 1960s-era homes constructed in Saskatoon with one significant exception: its spectacular river views.
Located in popular River Heights, the home is on an elevated 50-foot wide lot that overlooks the South Saskatchewan River. “As soon as you walk into the home, you’re greeted by those river views. That’s the main reason we bought this property,” says Stephanie Baliski, a member of the family team that owns Capilano Developments, a company specializing in spec homes, infill developments and custom builds.
Stephanie and her husband, real estate agent Reagan Baliski, initially rented out the home. This summer, the Capilano Developments team embarked on an ambitious whole home renovation that transformed the dated bungalow.
“This home was definitely showing its age. As with most homes built in that era, the rooms were small and boxy. The first thing we did was knock out the wall between the living room and the small galley kitchen to create an open concept floor plan,” says Baliski.
The kitchen which is now open to the living room and dining area is beautifully dressed in soft grey Shaker style cabinets from Superior Cabinets, accented with matte black metal hardware. A floor-toceiling cabinet pantry boosts storage space. Additional upgrades include a sleek marble backsplash and a full complement of stainless steel appliances. An elongated 10foot quartz-topped island is the centrepiece of the kitchen. Meal prep and doing dishes now comes with a fabulous river view.
The Baliskis chose to salvage the original hardwood floor and have it refinished. “The refinishers did an amazing job. The wood that was revealed was so beautiful, we decided not to stain it and instead clear coated it,” says Baliski. Stylish luxury vinyl tile flooring was selected for the kitchen work area, front foyer and back mudroom.
In between the kitchen and the mudroom is a spacious alcove with a large window that has been staged as a coffee nook, but would also make an ideal space for a home office or computer station.
The previous owners had converted the property’s original three bedrooms into two. With resale value in mind, the Baliskis opted to return to a three-bedroom floor plan, adding generously sized closets and built-ins in the two secondary bedrooms.
The master bedroom is very spacious and includes a newly renovated two-piece bathroom that features a quartz-topped vanity. The barnboard-framed mirror over the quartz-topped vanity is a trendy touch.
The main bathroom was gutted and updated with new Kohler fixtures and a stylish tile surround.
Homes built in the 1960s are not known for their energy efficiency. The Baliskis remedied that by replacing all the doors and windows in the home with energy efficient choices. The home’s original brick front exterior was maintained, complemented by new vinyl fascia and trim.
The basement is open for development. “It would be easy to put a suite in this basement to generate rental revenue,” says Baliski.
A lengthy side driveway offers off-street parking for three vehicles. Baliski notes that the back yard would easily accommodate a large garage, easily accessible from the rear lane.
The River Heights location is another selling feature for the home, she adds. “It’s a really sought-after neighbourhood. Once you’ve grown up in River Heights, you don’t want to leave. You don’t see “for sale” signs very often. And if you work downtown, it’s just minutes away — plus you get to enjoy that drive along the river every day.”
The home is priced at $449,900, listed by Charmaine Morris with The Associates/Ron Baliski Realty Inc. The home is open for viewing this weekend, with open house hours set from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To view by appointment, contact Morris at (306) 270-7172.