Walnut

Bringing the outdoors in

Exterior view of a modern house with blue siding, a wooden privacy screen, a hanging outdoor light, and a table with yellow flowers in a vase. There are trees and greenery in the background.
A backyard patio with Adirondack chairs, a wooden dining table with chairs, a flower vase with yellow flowers, and a wooden privacy fence. The house has blue siding and an open door leading into the interior.

This 1920s craftsman house was transformed with a whole home renovation and two-storey addition. Our design priorities were to create interior flow and connectivity of spaces, while maximizing daylight exposure to offset the grey days of winter.

For this family of five who enjoy cooking and gathering around meals, the heart of the home is the new kitchen and dining room. A wide bifold door in the dining room connects to a generous deck and extends the interior to the beautiful gardens beyond.

A black and white cat walking down wooden stairs outside on a sunny day, with greenery and a house in the background.
Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a large island, pendant lighting, large windows with a view of greenery, and acoustic guitars hanging on the wall.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel refrigerator, and hardwood floors. There is a white countertop with a bowl of lemons, some potted plants, and a window. The backsplash is made of small rectangular tiles.
View of a dining room with a large wooden dining table and chairs, a sliding glass door leading to a patio with an outdoor table and chairs, and a lush green backyard with trees and flowers. A cat is walking in the bottom right corner.

The original kitchen of the home was repurposed as a spacious mudroom, with individual nooks for the children and ample storage for coats, boots, bags, gear and more.

The second floor of the addition created space for a new master bedroom, complete with ensuite and walk-in closet. A small porch added on the north side of the house provides gardening and bicycle storage and works to break up the volume of the house.

Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Type: Residential Renovation
Builder: Brad Goodsell Design Build
Structural Consultant: Andrea Doncaster Engineering Ltd.
Photography: Hilary Harris

Second story of a house with beige siding, a large window, a small window, and a deck with plants and potted flowers. The house has a mix of natural wood and vinyl siding.