West Jasper Place Renovation
It’s time for another full transformation - this time, it’s a flip!
This was one of my own projects - an investment I took on with my friend Edward last year in the Edmonton neighbourhood of West Jasper Place. This condo had great bones and a lovely layout - there really is something to be said about a boring rectangle for space planning purposes. The purchase was quite stressful (multiple offer situation and then an issue with the accuracy of the listing - more on that in a future post), but it was meant to be and we’re both so happy with what we created!
When a project is purely for investment purposes, you have to look at things with a slightly different lens. Obviously resale value and a good return on investment is the top priority, but when it comes to the design it’s all about maximizing function and creating something that is just unique enough to catch a buyer’s eye, but not so unique that it isn’t appealing to the masses.
The jumping off point for the design was the kitchen cabinetry. We debated between doing classic white or being a bit more bold with the navy. Because the space is architecturally quite basic, we went with the navy to add more character and visual interest. Plus, let’s be honest, navy is classic too. You’ll see how we carried it into the other spaces through the hard and soft finishes, creating a cohesive and inviting space.
What we started with
It’s fair to say that the condo had been neglected. Our first few days after possession were spent cleaning it and figuring out our plan of attack. One of the issues that came up was that the laundry that had been added to the unit was done so illegally. This meant we had to remove that (including making repairs to the common area structure) and return the storage room back to, well just a storage room. Here are the listing photos:
Goodbye dated condo
We fully gutted the bathroom, “laundry” and kitchen, as well as the floors and all the trim. We sold as many items as we could, saved a few pieces of leftover furniture for staging and away we went. We had to update quite a bit of the electrical and all the plumbing so that it was safe and to code.
Bedroom
The bedroom stayed essentially the same. New flooring, a new coat of paint and away we went! We chose to position the bed on the other wall so that it felt more spacious when you walked in. We selected a new light fixture and replaced the broken blinds with sheer and room darkening curtains. The vibe feels fresh, welcoming and also calm.
Bathroom
This may be my favourite transformation in the condo. The original bathroom was so dated and in very rough shape. I’m so glad we made the decision to splurge on a new tub and do a full tile surround, carried through behind the toilet and vanity. The navy penny tile was a little nod to the new kitchen cabinets and a way to tie the spaces together.
Kitchen
Okay so maybe it’s a toss-up between the kitchen and the bathroom being my favourite! To be honest, the state of the kitchen when we bought it drove me nuts. It was so inefficient and awkward and the fridge didn’t fit under the cabinet, the stove was against the wall. Just no.
The design added better storage, a dishwasher and a hood fan to the mix, while really optimizing the potential in the space. By extending into the kitchen with half depth cabinets, it actually made the space appear bigger and provided a nice focal point for the dining area. We used navy cabinets and walnut countertops, customized with gorgeous brass knobs and all new stainless steel appliances, sink and faucet.
The expansion of the cabinetry into the dining room creates a beautiful focal point from the kitchen and the addition of more tile and the floating shelf increases the overall character.
Living Room
The living room space is actually quite large. It made sense to create a defined office space within it - not only because working from home is the new norm, but also because it actually makes the space look larger. There are actually a few configurations we could have gone with in terms of furniture placement but this was our favourite.
One item that we did add was a plug in, swag lamp so that the space has some overhead light. As with a lot of living rooms built in this era, having overhead lights in the space isn’t common.
It’s incredible to see how much this space has changed. I love being in this condo. It’s bright, warm, welcoming - and sometimes I just go over there to sit and enjoy it. At the time of this post, the condo is for sale here. I know that someone is going to really enjoy having this condo as their new home.
Kierstin Smyth Design
Edmonton Interior Design Consultant