Dr. George and Ava Sinclair House (1932)

Sinclair House, with its gables, window groupings and abundant half-timbering, is reminiscent of many homes on Vancouver’s west side.

This handsome Tudor Revival home was built in 1932 for Dr. George and Eva Sinclair by  architect Harold Cullerne, known for his work on iconic Vancouver landmarks like the Hollywood Theatre, Vancouver Curling Club and Dunbar Heights United Church.

Upon acquiring the property in 2019, the current owners found the exterior sadly neglected. English ivy covered much of the front, requiring removal by an arborist. Extensive repairs were needed, including replacing nearly half the soffits under the eaves, and all the cedar shingle siding on the front of the house. The rest of the exterior remains original.

The interior presented a more optimistic picture. Most of the oak flooring was in good shape. A new kitchen, designed within the original layout, replaced the 60s-era ‘mod-cons’ like a double wall oven and built-in blender. Moving the fridge revealed an exposed brick chimney.The owners also discovered a hidden pass-through in the hall, featuring a call button under its sill. The cozy den remains untouched except for the ceiling fixture, which was relocated to the dining room. Remarkably, the built-in painting over the fireplace was hidden under another picture.

Downstairs, the large rec room now occupies the previous space that was divided by sliding glass doors. There was once a built-in grill adjacent to the fireplace. 

Much of this restoration involved unglamorous, unseen work, including replumbing the entire house, repairing drain tiles and a plugged sanitary pipe, upgrading the electrical panel and service, and removing three layers of old roof before re-roofing. Kudos to the homeowners for their successful rescue and revival of this dignified family home.

Article by: Sheilah Harris

Presented by: Royal City Colours