When these clients built their Cochrane home in 2009, they made choices that had served their family well for more than 15 years. The hardwood floors had aged beautifully, the kitchen footprint still worked, and the countertops remained in good condition. Most importantly, they still enjoyed living in their home.
What had changed was how the main floor felt.
Over the years, a number of shortcomings had become increasingly difficult to ignore. The kitchen needed better lighting and ventilation, a bulky fireplace competed with freestanding storage, and dated fixtures and tile no longer reflected the homeowners’ taste. The furnishings also no longer suited the way the family used the space.
The goal was never to replace everything. Instead, we wanted to identify what was worth keeping and focus the renovation budget on the changes that would have the greatest impact.
Their goal was simple: make it feel like them. They wanted clean lines, a bright kitchen, a relaxing suite, and rooms that worked for real life. We were happy to help them bring that dream to life.
Sunset Terrace presented an interesting design challenge: how do you make a 15-year-old home feel significantly more cohesive and considered without treating everything that came before as something that needs to go?
The existing hardwood floors were still beautiful and wearing well. The kitchen footprint functioned properly, and replacing the countertops simply for the sake of creating something new would not have been the best use of the investment.
Instead, we looked at the main floor as a whole and identified the areas where thoughtful intervention could make the biggest difference. The kitchen needed improved storage, lighting, and ventilation. The living room needed a stronger architectural focal point and furnishings that better suited the family. The dining nook needed more personality, while the entry, hallway, and powder room needed a stronger first impression.
The project became an exercise in editing rather than starting over: keeping the elements that worked, refining the ones that did not, and introducing new layers that would allow the entire main floor to feel connected.
In the kitchen, we worked within the existing footprint rather than completely rebuilding the space. The existing cabinetry was reworked with a new layered palette of soft white uppers and rich blue lower cabinetry, bringing in walnut accents for warmth. Matte black hardware adds definition, while a Calacatta marble subway backsplash brightens the work areas.
One of the larger island cabinets was replaced to accommodate a microwave drawer and a proper bank of drawers, making the island considerably more functional without requiring a major reconfiguration. Relocating the microwave also allowed us to address an important practical issue: ventilation for the five-burner gas range. A custom walnut hood now conceals a 600 CFM ventilation insert while giving the range wall a stronger architectural presence.
New Café appliances were introduced while the existing dishwasher was retained. Under-cabinet lighting improved the working light, and a long linear fixture over the island provides even task lighting without adding visual clutter.
The island seating was also replaced with custom, Canadian-made counter stools selected specifically for family life. Comfortable, supportive, durable, and easy to wipe clean, they balance everyday practicality with the more refined aesthetic of the renovated space.
In the living room, we approached the fireplace wall as a single composition. The original heavy wood mantel was replaced with a more tailored design and honed marble surround, while custom cabinetry and walnut shelving now extend across the wall. Closed lower cabinets provide practical storage for toys and everyday family items, while open shelving creates space for books, art, and collected pieces. Picture lights add warmth in the evening, and the blue-grey backdrop connects the living room to the kitchen and dining areas.
The furnishings were reconsidered just as carefully. A generous Canadian-made sectional provides comfortable seating without overwhelming the room, paired with a rust-toned velvet chair, substantial wood coffee table, and slim walnut console. Custom draperies soften the harder architectural surfaces, while an area rug defines the seating area, improves the acoustics, and gives the furniture a visual anchor without hiding the original hardwood floors.
The dining nook received its own identity through deep Newburg Green and architectural panel detailing. A simple black chandelier and softly patterned custom draperies keep the space relaxed while creating enough distinction from the adjoining living room.
Finally, we turned our attention to the spaces that create the first impression. The entry and hallway received a graphic black-and-white checkerboard floor, replacing the original brown tile with something much more distinctive. That flooring continues into the powder room, where Benjamin Moore’s Caldwell Green, textured grasscloth-inspired wallcovering, updated lighting and hardware, and a taller custom mirror bring colour and character to the smaller space.
Sunset Terrace is a renovation built around the idea that good design does not always require more demolition.
By keeping the hardwood floors, countertops, and kitchen footprint, we were able to concentrate the investment on the elements that would meaningfully improve everyday life: better storage, proper ventilation, more useful lighting, custom cabinetry, comfortable furnishings, durable seating, window treatments, and a cohesive palette throughout the main floor.
Walnut moves from the kitchen into the living room. Blues and greens create continuity from one space to the next, while black adds definition and textiles soften the harder surfaces. Storage is integrated into the architecture rather than added as an afterthought.
Most importantly, the house still feels like a home. The character and elements they already loved remain, but the spaces now feel more intentional, comfortable, and reflective of how their family lives today.