9 Incredible Old Home Renovations We’re Obsessed With

There’s nothing more satisfying than taking an outdated, forgotten gem and turning it into a masterpiece. It’s a labour of love, a nod to the past and a celebration of the future all rolled into one. From mid-century modern marvels with clean lines and sleek finishes to breezy beautiful homes reminiscent of summer beach getaways, these nine old home renovations will make you reimagine and explore the possibilities of your own space.

1. An Old Home Gets a Modern Open-Concept Beach House Look

From a 1980s rancher to an open-concept modern home: Vancouver-based designer Madeline Sloback transformed her abode into an airy space with a modern beach house vibe. The focal point for the redesigned floor plan was the kitchen specifically designed for entertaining. The home’s once-yellow walls came down, and a vaulted ceiling was added to create an open space that seamlessly connected the kitchen, living room and dining area. See more of this Vancouver renovation.

2. An Art-inspired Contemporary Home Renovation

Designer Phyllis Lui of Kalu Interiors transformed a dated 1970s home in Burnaby, B.C. into a lively, contemporary space for a family of three. The 2,400 square foot, two-storey home was given a vibrant update with durable materials (vinyl plank for the floor and laminate for cabinets) and carefully curated artwork with pops of colour throughout, resulting in a fun and functional family home. See more of this home.

3. A Timeless and Stylish Renovation Of a 30-year-old Family Home

When an Ontario couple moved to the West Coast in search of a spacious family home, interior designer Jamie Banfield gleefully took on the challenge to revamp the layout of a 30-year-old building. To maximize the renovation budget, Banfield cleverly combined high-end and budget-friendly design choices. The result was a timeless and stylish new look, featuring expansive open spaces with dark accents against white walls, high-quality walnut flooring and seamless furniture and storage solutions. Tour the rest of this home.

4. A Bright and Modern Reinvention of a 1972 Vancouver Home

Built on a slice-of-pie-shaped steep lot, Architect Cedric Burger rebuilt this 1972 Vancouver home in McKenzie Heights using modern materials and construction techniques all while fulfilling the owners’ goal of staying true to the original design. The home was given a bright update–dark walls were replaced with glass panels, low beams raised, and pale bamboo floors complimented the boldly coloured furniture.  Learn more about the renovation process here.

5. A Thoughtful, Modern Redesign of a ’70s Home in Vancouver

“With thoughtful design and intentionality, you can have everything you need,” says designer Annaliesse Kelly —and her philosophy is embodied in this 1970s home in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood, which underwent a remarkable transformation. What was once an outdated residence with pink bathrooms and worn linoleum flooring is now a refined and stylish space that meets the needs of a bustling family of four. This modern home is characterized by the play of patterns, colours, and textures such as pops of caramel-toned furniture across the space and a deep maroon entry-way and powder room with hand-painted concrete tiles. See the before and after here.

6. From a Cramped Bungalow to a Bright Three-Storey Home

Architect Bruce Carscadden’s firm frequently employs the “loose fit” principle in their institutional designs, which involves creating spaces that can accommodate different arrangements of furniture and activities. This concept was adapted to convert a cramped 1920s East Vancouver bungalow into a spacious and bright family space. The house now has an abundance of natural light where indoors and outdoors connect, and with furniture that can be arranged in different ways. This once standard one-and-a-half-storey home is almost unrecognizable as a three-storey oasis. Take a look at how the space came together here.

7. A Designer’s Mid-Century Gem Makeover in West Vancouver

Beneath piles of garbage and dead trees, designer Negar Ghorashi discovered the hidden charm and potential of this 1959 mid-century Lewis gem in West Vancouver’s Whytecliff neighborhood. She created an extension that carefully preserved the home’s post-and-beam ceiling and exterior look, and took care not to obstruct the surrounding views. The space was designed with a modern touch while maintaining a warm color scheme that exposed the home’s original cedar ceiling, and highlighted the Acacia flooring. “I wanted it to have the feel of nature to balance all the grey days here,” Ghorashi explains. See more of this mid-century home here.

8. An Empty-Nester’s Revamped 1980s Home

Rather than downsizing to a condominium, architects David Battersby and Heather Howat reinvented this empty-nester’s 1980s single-level home into an elegant residence that would suit the owners’ needs well into their retirement. The lighting played a pivotal role in the design of the house, featuring a custom chandelier as the centerpiece in the dining room. The indoor pool was converted into a courtyard garden and the use of pale wood, white walls and porcelain floors creates a sense of fluidity throughout the 3,600 square feet of the house, transforming it into a secluded sanctuary. See more of this zen-like home here.

9. A Whistler Ski Cabin’s Modern Makeover

Stark Architecture transformed a rundown 1973 Whistler ski cabin into a family home that uniquely combines old and new elements. Rather than demolishing the existing structure, architect David Arnott incorporated it into the new design. The resulting four-bedroom home includes a rental suite and features a modern warehouse loft aesthetic with striking whitewashed brick walls and black accents throughout. Black steel beams were used to frame the views and complement the old cabin’s original timber. Click here to see more of this modern transformation.