Old Glenridge Home Renovation in St. Catharines
renovation overview
RENOVATION TYPE: Partial home renovation including kitchen, dining space, living room, side entryway, and powder room.
RENOVATION GOALS: The goal of the Old Glenridge renovation was to improve everyday functionality while preserving the character of a heritage home. The clients wanted better flow, increased storage, and a more purposeful layout tailored to how they actually use the space, particularly the kitchen and side entry. The renovation focused on making smarter use of the existing footprint rather than expanding it, introducing thoughtful spatial adjustments that enhanced comfort, efficiency, and visual cohesion. Equally important was ensuring that all updates felt timeless and respectful of the home’s original architecture, blending modern convenience with classic detailing for a seamless and enduring result.
LOCATION: The home is situated in Old Glenridge, a historic and charming neighborhood in St. Catharines known for its tree-lined streets, classic architecture and heritage homes, and close-knit community feel.
RENOVATION COST: Classified as a “Moderate Level” renovation, projects such as this can cost around $200,000+.
TRADES INVOLVED:
Sprague Interiors
Oakridge Cabinets
First In Counters
Verhoef Electric
Niagara Modern Painting
Go Green Plumbing
Aristocrat
Young Glass Photography
AWARDS: OHBA Award of Distinction for Best Home Renovation Up to $250,000
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“Our major renovation of a large family room, kitchen and powder room has just been completed. We worked with Eden Build as our contractor on the advice of our interior designer, Laurie from Sprague interiors. We were very glad we did. Craig and his team at Eden Build were professional, clear, thorough and very responsive to any issues or concerns we had. Craig and Mat are highly skilled, often taking care of any unexpected issues promptly by themselves. The work of the numerous tradespeople was carefully organized. There were no scheduling conflicts or delays and the project was completed on time. The team kept us fully informed of progress and was always approachable and responsive to any communication. Eden Build uses a helpful software program which informed us of any changes and what was happening next. This renovation involved major demolition and we continued to live in the property. Craig and Mat ensured that the rest of the house was effectively screened off and that as the work was completed, new floors and cabinetry were protected from any damage. We are thrilled with the completed work. It has transformed our living space and greatly enhanced our enjoyment of our home. We would wholeheartedly recommend Eden Build as a contractor and would certainly use them for any future projects. Thanks so much, Craig and Mat!”
Design Elements & Innovative features
This renovation thoughtfully blends traditional charm with contemporary refinement. A palette of soft warm greys, whites, and muted greens establishes a calm and elegant foundation throughout the home. Medium tone hardwood floors introduce warmth and visual continuity. Shaker style cabinetry paired with quartz countertops and a classic tile backsplash delivers timeless sophistication. Architectural millwork including wainscotting and custom trim honours the home’s heritage while adding depth and character. Layered lighting with pot lights, pendants, and under cabinet illumination enhances both functionality and ambiance. A custom fireplace surround creates a refined focal point in the living area. Every element was carefully selected to reflect Old Glenridge’s character while elevating everyday living.
Innovation in this project comes from a subtle and respectful modernization of a heritage home. The floor plan was reimagined to improve flow, including the addition of a fully built out entryway tucked behind the kitchen, a rare and highly functional feature in homes of this era. Custom cabinetry delivers tailored storage and usability within compact spaces, bridging historic proportions with modern convenience. A layered lighting approach introduces flexibility and clearly defined zones for cooking, relaxing, and entertaining. The custom fireplace surround transforms the main living area into a natural gathering place, while the new powder room and reconfigured kitchen provide contemporary comfort without compromising traditional aesthetics.
Before The Home Renovation
floor plan & functionality
This partial home renovation focused on targeted layout refinements that delivered meaningful improvements to flow and usability. Originally, the kitchen’s back wall opened directly to the hallway behind it, creating a disjointed connection and limited functionality. By framing in a full wall and shifting it slightly toward the great room, we were able to reclaim valuable square footage and introduce a well defined side entryway complete with a custom bench and built in cabinetry. Within the kitchen, relocating the sink to the island allowed the range to be properly centred on the back wall, improving balance, sightlines, and overall efficiency. This adjustment also created space for a full height pantry beside the refrigerator, significantly increasing storage without making the kitchen feel enclosed. These carefully considered changes dramatically improved how the space functions and feels.
Functionality was guided by the clients’ everyday habits. Because the side door served as their primary entrance, a dedicated entry zone was created with integrated storage for coats and shoes. A desire for concealed storage informed the design of a full length kitchen wall with generous upper and lower cabinetry. Moving the sink to the island opened up views into the great room while enabling the addition of a full pantry cabinet, making food storage more intuitive and accessible. The bathroom was also thoughtfully reworked, with the underused shower removed in favour of a custom vanity, resulting in a more efficient and practical powder room layout.
after the home renovation
renovation challenges
This renovation spanned both a previous addition and the original structure of the home, making seamless integration a primary challenge. Achieving a cohesive result required careful coordination between old and new construction. Walls were meticulously patched, subfloors were rebuilt and levelled, and new flooring was carefully transitioned into the existing hardwood to preserve continuity throughout the home. Newly introduced wainscotting and custom millwork were designed to reflect the original character, ensuring the renovated spaces felt consistent with the home’s history. The finished result is a unified interior that reads as a single, thoughtfully evolved home rather than a series of additions.
Several technical challenges were addressed throughout the renovation. Removing the original one inch thick clay based floor tile proved labour intensive and exposed a damaged subfloor that required extensive repair and levelling. A large structural ceiling beam running through the kitchen could not be removed, so cabinetry layout and lighting were carefully aligned to integrate it as an intentional architectural feature. Tying new wood flooring into the original strip hardwood demanded precise milling, staining, and on site adjustments to achieve a seamless blend. To preserve the home’s historic integrity, original lath and plaster walls were repaired and patched instead of being replaced with drywall, maintaining the authentic texture and character of the space.
Scope of Work
- Flooring Replacement: Removed existing tiles and installed new hardwood flooring throughout the kitchen, dining, and living areas.
- Kitchen Renovation: Reconfigured the kitchen layout with custom cabinetry, new countertops, upgraded appliances, and a tiled backsplash.
- Side Entryway Addition: Built a new wall to create a functional mudroom area with storage for coats and shoes.
- Bathroom Renovation: Converted the unused shower space into a stylish powder room with custom finishes.
- Fireplace Upgrade: Enhanced the living room with a new custom fireplace surround.
- Lighting and Electrical Updates: Installed LED pot lights, under-cabinet lighting, and upgraded electrical fixtures throughout the main floor.
- Plumbing Updates: Relocated plumbing for the kitchen sink and appliances; capped off old bathroom fixtures.
- Finish Work: Added wainscoting, baseboards, trim, and completed a full interior paint job for a polished look.
