The Hambly House is quietly nestled on a corner lot in the neighborhood of Westdale, in Ontario, Canada. Built in 1939 for Jack Hambly, the original house featured a distinct Art Deco style with rounded edges, stucco walls and a flat roof. It also had many nautical inspired elements, including a porthole window. After years of wear and tear, the house was purchased in 2013 by Tina Fetner and Lane Dunlop, who decided it was time to renovate the historic home and bring it into the 21st century. They selected architecture firm DPAI and Toms + McNally Design to help them achieve their vision.
One of the main focal points of the house is the kitchen. The homeowners already owned a suite of Northstar retro appliances by Elmira Stove Works, and brought them from their previous residence. The appliances – along with the home’s Art Deco style – inspired the mid-century kitchen design. The refrigerator and range in classic Robins Egg Blue are set against a matching blue accent wall for optimal visual impact. Bright white cabinetry, countertops and island make the blue pop even more.
In its original state, the bungalow-style home had very small rooms and closed in spaces. The homeowners wanted to open up the home to create a more contemporary look and a feeling of spaciousness. To accomplish this goal, most of the original interior walls were demolished and half wall partitions were installed to subtly separate spaces while maintaining the visual flow.
The homeowners also desired more living space and opted to add a second story featuring a floor-to-ceiling glass wall and an outdoor roof spot ideal for catching a few rays or spending a quiet evening stargazing.
Appreciative of the home’s history, the homeowners were careful to maintain its traditional art deco features, such as the rounded corner on the front of the house and the paned windows.
This old house definitely got its groove back thanks to some fun upgrades from its new owners. The home still has the original bright turquoise trim, and art deco built-ins on either side of the fireplace, but it also has a new mudroom added to the back of the house. The Hambly House is proof that – with the right design and renovations – you can take anything old and make it feel like new again.
All images by A. Marthouret, Revelateur Studio