Little Italy Renovation

Little Italy Renovation is a colourful celebration of a family’s love for their property and neighbourhood. The project expands the original home to provide a bedroom for each of the family’s three children, and a separate third-floor suite for the parents. Instead of moving house, each member of the family can grow in the home as their needs change over time.

Under the surface, this project is also a full electrification project, completely disconnecting the home from the natural gas grid and decarbonizing its operations. The building envelope has been upgraded to a super insulated, air-tight assembly, which enables highly efficient use of a fully electric mechanical system for all heating, cooling, and ventilation.

The new design transforms the original two-storey building into a spacious three-storey home that effortlessly accommodates all five family members. The main floor, which was previously partitioned into individual rooms, was opened into one free-flowing space that offers views and connection from front to back. There is now more useful entry space with ample storage, and a feeling of togetherness in the family zones of the home.

Upstairs previously housed three small bedrooms and one bathroom for the whole family. The second-floor redesign creates three equitably sized children’s bedrooms with a shared washroom.

A new third-floor addition is tucked under the original roof where previously there was a small attic space. It is a bright oasis for the newly created primary suite, which houses a bedroom with a wall of closets, a sky-lit four-piece bathroom, a spacious walk-in closet, and a dedicated home office. The office is located under a new street-facing dormer, providing space for quieter concentration away from louder areas of the home.

The basement had been recently redone with a rec room, guest room, and bathroom. The scope of work here involved targeted improvements to the building envelope, and replacement of mechanical equipment with an all-electric system. The door leading down to the basement, previously in an awkward position at the back of the house, is now stacked under the main stairs for more effective use of space.

This is a classic Solares renovation, which was expertly constructed by builder Remi Cormier and his team at R. Environs Inc. The exterior walls were stripped down to the brick, and new spray-foam insulation and air sealing was installed, along with triple-glazed fiberglass windows, to create a high-performance building envelope. Part of the air sealing process involved the highly effective AeroBarrier system, bringing the final air leakage rate down to 1.62 air changes per hour.

These invisible upgrades to the building shell enable the all-electric mechanical systems to function effortlessly throughout the year with minimal hydro demand. The natural gas hookup was completely removed, vastly reducing the home’s carbon footprint.

On the outside, the rear patio opening was enlarged to accommodate a wide back door, bringing light into the home, and improving the family’s connection with the backyard. Upstairs, wood cladding on the third floor addition is by Maibec, made of factory-finished, locally sourced pine.

The entire interior of the above-ground floors was redone, with spaces and cabinetry designed by Solares Architecture. Our clients worked with StudioTBD and MATERIAL design office to select the final finishes and fixtures – and, of course, the glorious colours.