Before: a closed galley kitchen with a wood counter and a small pass-through — 01 BEFORE

After: an opened layout with cabinetry run toward the ceiling and a pantry beside the refrigerator — 02 AFTER

Before: a dark brick fireplace wall and a closed-off sitting room — 01 BEFORE

After: the fireplace wall painted out, built-in shelving added, and the room opened to the back of the house — 02 AFTER

RENOVATION & DECOR · TORONTO

COXWELL AVENUE

My own former home, and a useful before and after because professional sale photography exists alongside the original before images.

It was never intended to be a forever home, so every decision had to balance function, aesthetic improvement, cost and resale value.

The kitchen had a refrigerator floating awkwardly against a wall, a small ineffective pass-through to the dining room and not enough storage. We opened the layout, added a great deal of storage, built a proper pantry beside the refrigerator and extended the cabinetry toward the ceiling wherever possible. Storage went in throughout the house, including underused nooks and the space beneath the stairs.

The basement was fully renovated: an ineffective bathroom became a full bath with a shower, and the laundry became a room people would actually want to use. Some of that work I completed myself.

The direction was warm transitional. Original character was kept wherever it made sense, and period-appropriate details were put back, including an antique etched-glass door in place of a plain glass panel.

DESIGN & RENOVATION: RFRBSH
SCOPE: Kitchen, living room, storage, basement, finishes
STATUS: Kitchen and living room photographed, basement to come