Rooflight House

Flooded with light

What’s not to love—a densely treed lot offering inner city privacy, a timber-clad house chock full of potential, ample space to tailor to their lifestyle, and water access to the Northwest Arm. These are just some of the elements that drew our homeowners, a sommelier, a car aficionado and their two majestic Bengal cats, to this 1970s gem.

Interior view of a modern building, looking up from the ground floor towards the ceiling with a window at the top. Features include glass railings, a wall-mounted artwork, and ceiling lights.
Open-concept living space with high ceiling, large windows, and modern decor. Contains a seating area with light-colored sofas, a coffee table, and a large wall-mounted TV. Pendant lights hang over the dining area, with a view of trees outside.

The new oversized dining room window and large sliding glass doors further reinforce the connection to the outdoors and provide direct access to a generous treehouse-like deck with privacy fence—a perfect setting to enjoy warm summer nights.

With a passion for cooking, the homeowners wanted the island to be the focal point of the kitchen. A black and white colour palette, with black windows framing the view, adds an air of drama to the space.

Living room with large windows and sliding glass doors leading to a balcony, furnished with a beige sofa, pink armchair, glass coffee table with a vase of flowers, dining table with chairs, and a black and white striped rug.
A bedroom with large sliding glass doors leading to a balcony with trees outside, a bed with a fluffy white blanket, a bedside table with books, a potted plant, and a wall-mounted lamp.
Modern bathroom with a freestanding bathtub near large window, white vanity with marble countertop, various toiletries, makeup mirror, and decorative artwork on the white walls.

There is nothing substandard about the lower level of this home, which once consisted of five bedrooms no longer needed by our clients. A quick trip down the intricate glass-panel, floor-lit maple staircase now leads to private guest room and ensuite, a media room and bar, a wine cellar to house the homeowner’s small collection, laundry and mudroom. The ceilings of the lower level were lifted by 30 inches to create generous ceilings and a more spacious attached garage.

Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Type: Residential Renovation
Builder: Root Developments 
Structural Engineer: Ian Sceles, Osa Inc.
Civil Consulting: Kevin Brown, Design Point Engineering 
Windows & Doors: Metro Windows and Doors
Photography: Matthew Rodgers

A backyard deck under construction surrounded by tall trees with green and some autumn-colored leaves, with a house in the background.

Central to the remodel was our clients’ request to modernize the home, both aesthetically and functionally, while retaining the privacy and Scandinavian feel. Though fogged over and leaky, we were inspired by the large central skylight and wanted to highlight it as the focal point of the space. Once the skylight was repaired, with two new Velux units and lined with maple plywood, our work was to strip away the elements that detracted from it. The skylight now floods the integrated, open-concept kitchen, dining room and living room with light, and cascades light down the stairway to the lower level. The shadows cast by the trees above the skylight play across the walls as the sun moves across the sky. 

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, black accents, and three geometric pendant lights. Adjacent living area with a white sofa and farmhouse-style decor.
Modern kitchen with black and white cabinetry, black marble countertops, and geometric pendant lights hanging from the ceiling. There are plants and colorful bowls on the window sill, and a window looking out to a wooded area.
A modern kitchen with large windows overlooking trees, white cabinets with black handles, a black marble countertop, a potted plant on a tall stand, and a small dining area with a round table, gray chairs, and a cat sitting on one of the chairs.

The intensity of the open-concept common living area is contrasted by a serene master bedroom with generous ensuite and walk-in-closet on the west side of the home. A home office nook, strategically placed in a bright corner of the main floor, is a discrete spot for occasional work (now a critical space used daily).

A light wooden staircase with a glass railing in a modern interior. There is a wine storage unit with bottles and pictures behind a glass cabinet at the bottom of the stairs. The walls are white with small black and white lights, and the floor is a combination of gray concrete and beige textured carpet.