Toronto bungalow, by architect John Bonnick, is remodeled

When builder Spencer Feeley purchased the “15,” he knew there have been too many good issues concerning the mid-century bungalow, constructed by Toronto architect John Bonnick, to tear it down: “It’s one in every of a sort. I don’t suppose there’s a home prefer it in Toronto.

“I noticed plenty of potential,” stated Feeley.

He purchased the Nineteen Fifties house behind Bayview Village in March 2020. Named for the massive numbers on the house’s storage, the “15” measures 5,860 sq. toes.

Feeley, land growth supervisor with Toronto’s Feeley Group, opened up the kitchen and eating space so it overlooks the massive lounge. The principle bed room, beforehand positioned on the primary flooring with a window opening out to the lounge, is now an in-law suite.

Feeley stored most of the identical constructing supplies and a spiral staircase. He added a second flooring, with three bedrooms and loos and a glass inlay on the second flooring. The basement has an train space and Rec Room. There’s now a pool, and he added a hydraulic automotive carry.

Constructing supplies are a mixture of previous and new: metal; aluminum; new tec wooden, made out of recycled bottles and fibres, together with the unique tongue-and-groove Douglas fir.

The “15” took two years to design and construct and was accomplished in 2022.

I spoke to Feeley concerning the course of:

Why did you determine to renovate the house? The individuality of the home was what caught my consideration. One side was a spiral staircase in the back of the home from the primary flooring to the basement. We stored it as a secondary staircase to the basement.

You stored some constructing supplies, too? We had tongue-and-groove Douglas fir boards on the primary flooring ceiling. We took them down, cleaned them, reinstalled them and re-stained. The brick and the {hardware} on the primary flooring are all unique. I wished to maintain the distinctiveness John had put into the home, however add to it.

I really like the glass coated opening beneath the skylight. I believed it was nice to do a glass flooring. It retains all the pieces vast open, whereas nonetheless bringing pure gentle from the skylight all the way in which down. We needed to take 4 2-by-12s and set up them across the perimeter the place the glass could be sitting, bolted collectively. The glass is one-and-a-half inches thick, laminated, and matches on prime of the 2-by-12s.

Was it troublesome renovating a house designed and lived in by an architect? It wasn’t too troublesome. Once I first bought the home, I used to be in a position to work with the Bonnick household and procure John’s home plans. It supplied perception into how he constructed the home and in addition helped us throughout our preliminary design stage. John undoubtedly overbuilt his home for the 50s; he went above and past with sure elements, as a result of it was his private home.

You reside in the home now. What sort of a really feel does it have? It has a little bit of the mid-century and we introduced a little bit of the fashionable in with the second flooring. It’s lots brighter. I’ve type of achieved all the pieces I’ve been hoping for. Neighbours come by and say, “We’re so joyful you didn’t tear it down.”

SHARE: