Homes And Gardens | Ottawa Magazine

A HOUSE WE LOVE: A cliff-side dwelling in Chinatown… and on Lebreton Flats

Looking down the set of metal steps that leads from Upper Lorne Avenue in Chinatown to Primrose Avenue in the Lebreton Flats area, most of us would simply see a steep hill with a sheer rock face to the left. But creative thinkers Marc Dupuis and Amanda Crowther saw a challenging site just perfect for a cliff-side dwelling. Eric Darwin talks with Dupuis about how this spectacular four-storey house came to be.

This feature appears in the May 2012 print edition. Pick up the print edition on newsstands.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC FOWLER/METROPOLIS STUDIO

The main entrance (at left in photo, beside the garage) is on Upper Lorne Avenue. To make the most of the views to the north, the couple situated their kitchen and dining room on this level and their living room and balcony on the top floor.

What attracted you to this site?
On the day I was checking out the site, there happened to be a utility vehicle working on Upper Lorne Avenue. I talked the crew into taking me up in the cherry picker. Here I was, 15 feet up and 15 feet out from the sidewalk, hanging over the edge of the escarpment. My eyes just popped out of my head when I saw the view.

This is a challenging site. Are you an experienced builder?
Actually, I’m an IT business analyst for the RCMP but I also operate Limestone Developments. My first fixer-upper was in 1996 — a semi on Lees Avenue. My second was a three-door row house on Lorne. As we gutted it, we discovered structural problems, so of necessity, I became a new house builder. Then I found this 23-by-50-foot lot.

Didn’t this lot seem impossible to build on?
One side of the lot is 30 feet higher than the other. The south side is on Upper Lorne; the lower (north) side stands at the corner of Lorne and Primrose Avenue. The sidewalk between is a staircase with 45 steps. Behind us, the huge stone monastery looks like a medieval castle, and nearby is a nunnery straight out of Europe. The view to the north made us think we were in a high-rise condo. There is no other site like this in Ottawa. I had faith that engineers could make it work.

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AN OFFICE WE LOVE: Design firm 4té gets the whole office to contribute to its 2009 reno

4té’s Viv Nutt and Micheline Whale knew that their new identity couldn’t be realized with a simple name change. It required a rebirth. They decided to relocate to a new office and work with all the staff to redesign it inside and out. Photography by Marc Fowler.

Extreme Makeover:
When Viv Nutt and Micheline Whale took over the reins of an established design and planning firm, they were determined to symbolize the identity shift. The result? A fabulous new office that showcases 4té’s talents and attitude.

By Judy Trinh
Photography by Marc Fowler / Metropolis Studio

This house was featured in the 2011 Interiors edition.

After years of soul-searching, in 2009 local interior design firm 4té found its identity and laid bare its journey in a new home in Hintonburg. Enter the office, and a graphic element immediately captures the eye — Innovative, Exalté, Passionate, Inspiré — dozens of words, in English and French, adorn the stark white wall behind the reception desk. The word wall speaks to both what the 4té designers perceive themselves to be and what they aspire to.

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A HOUSE WE LOVE: A sunny house on a hill in Wakefield

What could be more welcoming than a long cedar deck? The front deck calls out for bare feet in summer and is a good snowshoe starting point in winter. With no preconceived notion of where the front door should be, a modernist approach allows the architect and owners to figure out where they’ll want to find their way in. Photography by Peter Fritz.

On The Rise: A welcoming space that encourages friends to stop by and stay awhile.

By Andrea Hossack. Photography by Peter Fritz.

This house was featured in the 2012 Interiors edition. See more photographs and read the full story in the print edition.

It first reveals itself as a modern beach house, sun glinting off glass and the limestone cladding reminiscent of greyed driftwood on sand.

But the homeowners prefer to think of their modern-rustic gem of a house as an oyster shell, the chalky, weathered exterior complemented by a polished white palette within. Lori Doran and Ryan MacDonald — the relaxed, outdoorsy professionals who own this house and had such a good time with the building process — are understandably proud of it. Five years ago, the couple saw a lot for sale on the road that leads to the Wakefield covered bridge. They bought, then got to know the land by plunking down an Airstream trailer. The idea for a more permanent dwelling began to take shape.

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A HOUSE WE LOVE: After moving into a 1940s bungalow, a design-savvy couple commits to a creative reno

Ever conscious of the character of the neighbourhood, the Dawsons retained the original roofline of the front of the house. But in keeping with the modern character of the house, the designer mimicked the roofline with an innovative slanting porch. Photography by Gordon King.

Modern Love: After moving into a 1940s bungalow, a design-savvy couple commits to a creative renovation that gives them space while respecting the character of the neighbourhood. By Barbara Sibbald. Photography by Gordon King.

This house was featured in the 2012 Interiors edition. See more photographs and read the full story in the print edition.

For four years after buying their house, newlyweds Gillian and Michael Dawson practised restraint. But that doesn’t mean their creative juices weren’t flowing. They had purchased their modest 1940s bungalow fully intending an extensive renovation; it was just a matter of saving some money — and coming up with The Plan. The wait was well worth it. In 2010, savings and ideas came together in a renovation that transformed the tiny house into a free-flowing urban home with a show-stopping central staircase, meticulous detailing, and a practical sensibility.

The year 2006 was a busy one for Gillian and Michael married and bought their house. They toured about 40 places in their search for the perfect neighbourhood and lot, but nothing felt quite right. Then Gillian’s aunt, their real estate agent, called to tell them she had found their house. Two hours after it was listed, they knew she was right. The 870-square-foot bungalow sat on a good-sized lot. And they loved the neighbourhood, tucked into the crossroads of Main and Lees and handy to both the Glebe and downtown.

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AN OFFICE WE LOVE: McMillan ad agency’s impressive renovation is inspired by Mad Men

RENO BOSS: McMillan company president Gordon McMillan talks about how he, his staff, and Fraser went about creating the coolest office on the block. Photography by Marc Fowler

Mod Men (and Women): Inspired by the mid-century modern look and the television show Mad Men, McMillan ad agency undertakes a renovation that makes it even more fun to come to work. By Daniel Drolet. Photography by Peter Fritz and Marc Fowler.

This office was featured in the 2012 Interiors edition. See more photographs and read the full story in the print edition.

Stimulating the flow of creative juices was one of the goals of a major renovation at McMillan, an Ottawa ad agency that occupies 12,000 square feet over two floors of a heritage building at 541 Sussex Drive.

The redesign, which involved one of the two floors the company occupies, was inspired by the mid-century modern look and the television show Mad Men. The result is a space that is open and airy, a space that lends itself to people getting together to bounce ideas off one another.

The concept was developed by Serina Fraser of Clear Interior Designs. Company president Gordon McMillan talks about how he, his staff, and Fraser went about creating the coolest office on the block.

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A HOUSE WE LOVE: A showcase house for Danish Modern finds in Old Ottawa South

The smart, efficient design of the interior extends outdoors. the front walk is flanked by two cedars taht stand sentry amid square pavers, lending a degree of thoughtful symmetry. Photography by Gordon King.

Immaculate Concept: A graphic designer showcases her own furniture designs and Danish Modern finds in an imaginative renovation undertaken over more than a decade. By Andrea Tomkins. Photography by Gordon King.

This house is one of five innovative modern designs featured in the 2012 Interiors edition. See more photographs and read the full story in the print edition.

Lisa Rickenbacher loves vintage Danish teak pepper mills. She shows off a tray of them; they vary in size from short and squat to tall and lean. They’re warm to the touch, so very simple and beautiful. No wonder she collects them, really. They are functional art, an accessible tabletop industrial design that neatly falls into that old William Morris quote: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” And Lisa doesn’t even like pepper.

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A HOUSE WE LOVE: A modernist gem in Hintonburg

A lot that was just 23 feet seven inches wide demanded a very innovative house design. Photography by Peter Fritz.

Luminous Modernism: A couple designs and builds a streamlined house on a very slim lot in Hintonburg

This house is one of five innovative modern designs featured in the 2012 Interiors edition. See more photographs and read the full story in the print edition.

Lee-Ann Zanelli still laughs when she recalls her first drive-by past the lot that would eventually become the site for their modernist gem of a house. Her husband, Rick Shean, had called her at work to tell her he had found the perfect lot in Hintonburg.

“We drove over, and Rick points out what was basically a driveway,” says Lee-Ann. “I just looked at him and said, ‘Are you kidding me? There’s no way!’” The parcel of land, severed from the lot belonging to the neighbouring house, was a mere 23 feet seven inches wide.

Not a lot of space to squeeze a house into — especially when you figure in space between the neighbours on either side.

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BRIGHT IDEAS: A modern kitchen makes the most of limited light

Pot lights fitted above the cabinetry, as well as underneath, brighten the space. The pale grey granite counters also reflect light. Photography by Marc Fowler/Metropolis Studio.

This kitchen is one of four innovative kitchens featured in the February 2012 Interiors edition.

When the couple living in this Alta Vista house contacted interior designer Shiva Gupta, their kitchen was in serious need of renewal. An exposed wood ceiling and traditional oak cabinetry made for a dark and dated room, not ideal when you happen to be diplomats who do your fair share of hosting.

But though it was high time for a change, the couple were very conscious that they were the caretakers of this house — they knew they would soon be moving on to a new posting. Gupta’s challenge: modernize and brighten on a strict budget. She chose a neutral colour palette — grey and white — with the idea that the next diplomatic inhabitants could change the look simply by adding their own accessories.

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FROM THE PRINT EDITION: Restaurant owner Stephen Beckta’s new kitchen combines a whimsical colour scheme with some serious appliances

Restaurant owner Stephen Beckta and his wife, Maureen Cunningham, combine a whimsical colour scheme with some serious appliances. Photography by Christian Lalonde - Photolux Studio

This kitchen is one of four innovative kitchens featured in the February 2012 Interiors edition.

Quick, what’s the first thing that grabs your eye? For those captivated by design, it’s the cabinetry. So bright, so cheery, so green! The committed home cooks, meanwhile, will be stopped in their tracks by the wood-fired oven.

When you’re Stephen Beckta, owner of local restaurants Beckta and Play, the kitchen is serious business. But though there is care taken in the appliances chosen, it’s the joy factor that his wife, Maureen Cunningham, wants to speak about first. “It’s so happy. It’s who we are,” explains the training and organizational change consultant as she details how it took three months of back and forth with Deslaurier Custom Cabinets to come up with cabinetry in the exact shade and shininess the couple envisioned.

It took another few months of carting a cabinet door around in the trunk of the car on their shopping expeditions before they found the perfect backsplash to match. “We loved the texture,” says Beckta simply. “The tiles just have so much life to them.”

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FROM THE PRINT EDITION: A collaboration with a cabinetmaker results in a one-of-a-kind kitchen

The sleek kitchen, designed by Hidden City Design, boasts veneered walnut cabinetry and a dramatic eating bar by Frank Prendergast of Neoform Art Cabinetry. Photography by Marc Fowler/Metropolis Studio.

This kitchen is one of four innovative kitchens featured in the February 2012 Interiors edition.

When they married seven years ago, Scott Fraser and Marion Beckett headed up a blended family of three teen girls, a couple of dogs, and some cats. At the time, a spacious house in the suburbs made sense.

But a few years ago, when they became empty nesters, Fraser, an IT consultant, and Beckett, a vice-president with TD Bank, started looking for a smaller house in the city. “We saw quite a few,” says Fraser, “but nothing seemed quite right.”

That’s when they began looking to build and came across an empty lot in Chinatown. In late 2009, the couple hired Hidden City Design to design their house and manage the building process. “It was a great collaboration,” Fraser says.

Staff at Hidden City, in turn, suggested Frank Prendergast of Neoform Art Cabinetry to help with the kitchen design. “We met with Frank and discussed what we wanted,” Fraser remembers. “He had a clear vision of what to do, and we trusted him completely.”

The sleek kitchen boasts veneered walnut cabinetry and a dramatic eating bar. The couple knew they wanted the bar to feature metal (to complement the stainless-steel countertops) and wood but left the details up to Prendergast. “He knew we had four stools,” says Fraser, “but that was all the guidance we gave him.”

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