Farmhouse Bungalow Gets Makeover for Next Generation

This house has been home to the same prominent Niagara family for decades and has been the backdrop to life for three different generations.

After the passing of the family’s matriarch, the property changed hands for the first time ever and was purchased by her son. Here, he will continue on with family tradition and create many more happy memories with future generations.

During our first design meeting, my client fondly recalled racing down the hallway as a child to see which sibling could slide the farthest in their sock feet… to which the architect and I responded, “…. slide? Is there hardwood under this carpet?!”

We saved the floors, even stealing some from back bedrooms to fill in the added square footage in the home’s front addition, and maintained as much of the original character as we could. Original fireplaces with marble surrounds stayed, as well as the back hallway’s incredible built-in bench seating and primary bedroom’s millwork details. During demo, my client ran around the house saving all of the original brass and crystal doorknobs, which were incorporated on closet doors just off the kitchen.

Together, the architect and Common Purpose worked to put a focus on symmetry in the front of the house, which is pictured below. I spent hours trying to get the lighting right, and am thrilled with the outcome. The family has moved in, though some work remains, and they are thrilled with the home and tell me that “the living is good”.