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Project posted by Pamela Bowles

Old to Almost New

View 18 Photos
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Year
1894
Structure
House (Multi Residence)
Style
Traditional
Sometime you have to make hard decisions for functionality - we covered up the fireplace!
Sometime you have to make hard decisions for functionality - we covered up the fireplace!
Dinning room. Very old made to be new.
Dinning room. Very old made to be new.
Back family room that used to be the kitchen.
Back family room that used to be the kitchen.
My favourite room in the house! Hard to capture in a picture but stunning!
My favourite room in the house! Hard to capture in a picture but stunning!
The original 130 year old door that I had restored!
The original 130 year old door that I had restored!
10' island. Wow.
10' island. Wow.
My daughter's room with all plaster moulding and original floors and restored windows.
My daughter's room with all plaster moulding and original floors and restored windows.
This is a new old fashioned toilet but I don't know if you can see the tank with the limitations of the screen here....
This is a new old fashioned toilet but I don't know if you can see the tank with the limitations of the screen here....
The old turned new. Many stories here.
The old turned new. Many stories here.
Everyone needs a bar. Pic frames on the left are made from old baseboards.
Everyone needs a bar. Pic frames on the left are made from old baseboards.

Details

Square Feet
2150
Bedrooms
4
Full Baths
3
Partial Baths
1
Smart Home Tech
Alexa

Credits

Posted by
Photographer
Persona Photography

From Pamela Bowles

Basic information about the space:
Victorian duplex built in 1894
Fully gutted the first floor, refinished many elements of the second floor and a 3rd floor bathroom.
Great lengths were taken to restore and preserve as much of the heritage of the home while incorporating warm contemporary elements.

City: Downtown, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - steps from Parliament Hill

Designer: We worked with a general contractor but I was the lead on all design and did all the sourcing and decorating.

Approximate square footage: 2,150 sqft

When the renovation was completed: The renovation started in July of 2020 and there is still one kitchen cabinet panel that needs installing and some paint touch-ups but otherwise it is complete as of last month.

Background: The house was built in 1897 (we have been told it was started in 1894 and finished in 1897). It had the original room layout and hadn’t been updated since the 1980s. It is the last standing Victorian house on the block which used to be complete with the same houses. The neighbourhood is deemed a Heritage Zone by the City of Ottawa ergo I had to consult with them and get special permits for the outside work. Additionally, I applied, and was awarded, a Heritage Grant to restore the original front door and windows. The front door had 22 coats of paint under which graffiti of the decades was found and the windows had been painted shut for almost half a century. They are all now fully functional. We worked very hard to preserve as much of the historical integrity of the home as possible – millwork, plaster moulding, doors and windows, etc.

Additional Information:
We have hundreds of before and after shots)
I will be submitting an entry for the City of Ottawa Heritage Awards 2019-2022 for the categories of Restoration and Heritage Grants.
Great attention was paid to the fine details - I ordered special historical replicate light switches and hardware from the US

I am hopeful to share with you and your readers our whole renovation story and give them a look into one of the Nation's Capital's oldest downtown homes.