Eli & Ann Vuksic House (1965)

Taupe panels and walnut trim create a refreshing new take on a North Glenbrooke ranch-style bungalow

Style Elements:  The front’s asymmetry, emphasized by contrasting colour and shape of the finishes, gives the house a more substantial street presence.

Architectural Significance: This ranch-style home was one of three neighbouring homes built by the same Dutch builder in 1964-65. In 2016, Intermind, a local design-build firm, transformed the house inside and out, while maintaining the same footprint and a clear budget.

What to look for: The walls separating the kitchen, living and dining rooms were removed to create a large and open living area supported by handsome load-bearing beams. The significant cost-saving of exposing the beams and dressing building grade ones with veneer, allowed for upgraded kitchen appliances in the welcoming new kitchen.

In the master bedroom, a built-in bed surround, large closet, and under-bed drawers take the place of free standing furniture. The original ensuite’s standard swing door and tiny shower were replaced with sliding barn door, a full-sized, walk-in shower in – the latter made possible by borrowing space from the hallway linen closet.

The basement is now a furnished executive garden suite with all new appliances, fireplace, and separate entrance and laundry.

First Homeowners: Eli and Ann Vuksic paid $20,000 for their home in 1965. Their grandson and his family purchased it from them in 2001 and began property improvements like a new backyard fence and retaining wall and drainage. The front siding was salvaged and used to patch the back where a new door and windows were added. The front was refreshed with maintenance-free, rectangular panels of taupe Hardie board and metal siding screened to look like walnut.

The full story

Eli and Ann Vuksic were the first owners of this ranch-style home. According to their grandson, a current owner, the Vuksics paid $20,000 for it in 1965. This home and the ones of either side were built by the same Dutch builder in 1964.

The current owners purchased the house in 2001. At that time the backyard retaining wall and fence were installed, drainage redone, interior painted, and all the windows replaced. Several years later the wall between the kitchen and dining room was removed, and a gas insert replaced the wood burning fireplace. In 2016, local, design-build firm Intermind transformed the house inside and out, while maintaining the same footprint and a clear budget.

The exterior roofline, sides and back are unchanged. The front siding was salvaged and used to patch the back where a new door and windows were added. The front was refreshed with maintenance-free, rectangular panels of taupe Hardie board and metal siding screened to look like walnut. The recessed entryway’s single door was replaced with walnut-stained double-door. The front’s asymmetry, emphasized by contrasting colour and shape of the finishes, gives the house a more substantial street presence.

To open up the living area and create the large, welcoming kitchen the owners desired, walls separating the kitchen, living room and dining room, and a coat closet were removed.

The handsome load-bearing beams mark where the walls once stood. The significant cost-saving of exposing the beams and dressing building grade ones with veneer, allowed for upgraded kitchen features such as the induction cook top.

To further open up the space, transparent glass panels replaced the wrought iron stair railing, the same laminate flooring was used throughout, and furniture was wall-mounted or flush to the floor like the custom built barn door unit. A new, larger kitchen window was installed. The rest of windows were updated with contemporary picture-frame style trim.

In the master bedroom built-in bed surround, large closet, and under-bed drawers take the place of free standing furniture. The original ensuite’s standard swing door and tiny shower were replaced with sliding barn door, a full-sized, walk-in shower. The latter made possible by borrowing space from the hallway linen closet.

The children’s bedrooms were updated with laminate flooring, paint, wall paper and new light fixtures.

The new bathroom fixtures are in the same spot as the originals. The ceramic floor tile travels from the floor up the wall forming the shower enclosure. It is the same width and similar tone of the hall laminate to blur the transition at the bathroom threshold.

Previously the basement laundry and entry were shared with the basement suite. The new laundry room is separate and has a water closet. There is a bedroom-come-home office, a games room and wall of storage and refurbished original fireplace.

Post Script:  After the house was finished, the basement suite was renovated. It is now a furnished executive garden suite with all new appliances, fireplace, and separate entrance and laundry.

Thank you to our sponsor – The Queen’s Park Healthcare n Volunteer Society:  QPHVS operates Quintessential, the Gift Shop at Queen’s Park Care Centre, and fundraises to support programs that enrich their community of care and help make the Queen’s Park Care Centre a home. The Centre is looking for volunteers. Combine a love of retail therapy and working with seniors and be a Quintessential volunteer! Giving back has never been so much fun! For more information, call Lizz Kelly at 604-517-8661.