David and Yvonne Dunlop House (1951)
Photo credit: Paul Fuoco
New retro diner-style kitchen and full basement reno give this 50s bungalow a new lease on life
By Anna Camporese
Style Elements: This 1951 ranch-style home has a recessed, off-centre front entry that’s sheltered by the main roof; a four-pane broad picture window; and a chimney with longer, flatter Roman brickwork that emphasizes the house’s long, low architecture.
Architectural significance: The Dunlop House has a feature more common to mid-century modern homes—the same finish seamlessly moving from outside to inside – in the stone threshold that continues uninterrupted into the foyer and hallway.
What to look for: Note original doorbell niche with chimes and telephone niche in hallway and the 1950s-inspired diner-style kitchen.
First Homeowners: David and Yvonne Dunlop’s home remained in the family for five decades. David began as a sawyer with MacMillan Bloedel, progressing from this high skill position to management and then retirement in 1991. After the Dunlops passed away, their children lived in the house at various times when they were renovating their own homes.
The Full Story
This 1951 ranch-style home was first owned by David and Yvonne Dunlop, and remained in the Dunlop family until the current owners purchased it in 2000.
They painted the clapboard siding green, and replaced the ridge of the existing cedar roof. Typical of a rancher are the recessed front entry located off-center and sheltered by the main roof; the picture window, a broad band of four windows that is echoed in the similar but smaller windows to the right and the ribbon of four short windows to the left; and the chimney’s longer, flatter Roman brick emphasizing the house’s long, low architecture.
A feature more common to mid-century modern homes—the same finish seamlessly moving from outside to inside—is here in the stone threshold that continues uninterrupted into the foyer and hallway. Note original doorbell niche with chimes and telephone niche in hallway.
The living/dining room carpet was removed and the oak floors underneath refinished. The fireplace was updated by covering the original Roman brick with drywall. Drywall also replaced wood panelling. All new fixtures were installed.
The diner-style kitchen, popular in the 1950s, replaced a 1980s kitchen. Diner materials and style were adopted for domestic kitchens at that time for their durability and appeal to diner-loving teens. This kitchen features black and white checkerboard linoleum tile; retro-looking Northstar appliances with rounded corners; IKEA cabinets that mimic the sleek look of steel cabinets; streamlined hardware; and a breakfast nook. The nook’s chrome, bar-height table and stools seats the owners at eyelevel with the mountain view. The ironing board cupboard was retained as a display niche.
In both bedrooms carpet was removed and the fir floors refinished. In the master an alcove was turned into the larger closet, while retaining smaller original closet. In the child’s room the playful Roger Rabbit-style molding around the window and closet was added.
The bathroom’s original green bathtub (it was where the vanity is now) and toilet were retained. An IKEA vanity replaced the unsalvageable green one. The feature wall and back of the door are painted a matching green.
New basement stairs are in the original location. An aging bathroom at the bottom of the stair was removed. The unfinished basement is now a finished laundry room, movie room, wet bar and elegant bathroom. The laundry is enlivened with a 1950s boomerang patterned counter. Movie watching is enhanced with low-light movie theatre-style lighting, and built-in storage spanning the TV/fireplace wall hiding the collections of CDs, DVDs and toy trucks. The wet bar features a counter that folds up into the wall and support that can be rolled away. The basement cabinetry and back deck were built by contractors WoodbeArt who live next door and were on the tour last year.
Thank you to our sponsor – Wood Be Art crafts custom furniture and fine cabinetry for any space in your home, including kitchens and bathrooms. Based in New Westminster, we love working on older homes. Every project begins with a one-on-one chat -your place or ours. We’re certain you’ll fall in love with our quality workmanship, attention to every detail and commitment to customized solutions. Let’s talk about what will work for your home. Brandy Kuwalka & Paul Keller: 604-521-066 | www.woodbeart.com
