House Tours

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Take a tour of this updated 1940s-era bungalow! Author: Robin Stubbert

House Tours

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

A blogger and DIYer gives a dark 1940s era bungalow a new and budget-friendly lease on life.

 

A craving to redecorate can often be sated with some new toss cushions or a coat of paint. But when the need for new strikes Edmonton-based blogger Holly Baker of In the Fun Lane, something bigger, as in bricks and mortar bigger, is required. “I'm always on the lookout for a house to revamp and put back on the market,” says Holly. “It’s not about making money but about being creative and having fun.”

When her real estate agent called to tell her of a bungalow with good bones in one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, Holly couldn’t resist. Set in the historic-meets-trendy Westmount area, the 600-square-foot 1948 home had languished on the market for a year. But what it lacked in light and space, it made up for in charm. The house’s original windows, pine floors and well-built kitchen cabinetry spoke to Holly and helped form her makeover strategy. “I knew the work required would be primarily cosmetic.”

Balancing a budget of $12,000 and a five-week timeline, Holly set about turning the humble “Cottage K” (her affectionate moniker based on the previous owner’s last initial) into 
a chic urban retreat.

 

Photo Gallery

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House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Kitchen design

“I wanted to inject an antique vibe into the kitchen, so I added three pivoting sconces,” says renovator Holly Baker. “They remind me of old signage lighting.”

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Letter wall hangings

An iron pedestal table anchors the dining area and echoes the layers of black accents in everything from the artwork and window frames to the cowhide rug and letter wall decor hangings.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Dining table

Transparent chairs maintain the airy vibe. The pendant light is swagged into position over the table using a simple bike hook – an ingenious and cost-saving move that precludes rewiring the original junction box.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Organized look

Holly sawed the cedar shelves for “imperfect edges,” then stained and mounted them on $2 brackets. Honed marble countertops, brushed nickel hardware and hexagonal floor tiles keep the look cohesive.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Old credenza

A credenza that once belonged to Holly’s great-great-grandparents forms the base of this stylish vignette in the dining area. An industrial-look sconce illuminates an illustration by artist Jacqueline Schmidt and budget-friendly artwork from HomeSense.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Potted plants

Two old books and a small potted plant adds a relaxing element to the room.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Stylish home office

Holly turned this second, smaller bedroom into a home office. The once plain room was livened up with pops of colour and playful pattern.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

White drawers

A corner of the office displays Holly’s DIY artwork. “I bought a white frame from IKEA and some watercolour paper from Michaels. I whipped out my paints and made this. It took 20 minutes, so I won’t feel guilty if I decide to change it down the road.”

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

Office supplies

These supplies add a pop of colour to this chic home office.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow

The bedroom

Holly enlivened the master bedroom with unexpected details, including whimsical decorative pillowcases, a nautical-themed table lamp and mismatched nightstands.

Image by: Style at Home By: Christy Wright Source: Robin Stubbert

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House Tours

House tour: Fresh and eclectic bungalow