Chew Chen Shun has seen a lot of houses known as “Vancouver Specials” during his 22 years in the building industry. And he still has a soft spot for them in his heart.
“Houses like these are part of our history,” he says gesturing around the sunny, vaulted living room with a view towards the Fraser River and lights of Richmond. “Typically, they are very solidly built but just look a little tired. Unfortunately, the first thing most people think about is tearing them down – which is such a waste.”
President of Heritage Design & Construction, Chew prefers another route whenever possible, a route that fits with his company philosophy of environmental and conservational responsibility. “There are plenty of things you can do to give an older home new life, and then you have a home that’s going to good for many more years.”
Revitalizing a Classic
For this south Vancouver project, Chew’s initial challenge was the seriously under code electrical and plumbing. He replaced electric finishings throughout the entire house, installed a new drainage system at the back, and replaced all windows with double-glazed panes for increased heat retention.
Then finally, it was time for the fun part. “When the owner bought the house in the 1980s, he selected a lot of the materials himself, and he really wanted to keep them.” Chew points to the solid wood kitchen cabinetry, a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace, and the living room’s cedar lined ceiling. “We refinished all the wood and brick – including every closet door in the house – so now they not only look as good as new but they’re easy maintenance.”
To go with the new, high gloss antique finish on the kitchen cabinets, Chew added a contemporary speckled granite countertop and ceramic tile flooring. Energy guzzling appliances were replaced with low consumption models in classic stainless steel creating a more timeless look to the workspace without increasing its overall size.
The main bathroom now boasts the luxury of a deep soaker tub, the convenience of dual sinks, and the sensual look of single-lever chrome faucets, while the ensuite’s newly tiled shower includes a rainforest showerhead.
Downstairs too enjoys some contemporary flair in its approved two-bedroom suite with kitchen. Chew changed the carpeting, revamped the bathroom, added new carpets, and replaced the wood-burning fireplace with a gas insert. “This would be perfect for a couple of students or even for older children who might be returning home for a few years.”
In Tune with the Neighbourhood
“This neighbourhood is very well established, green, and close to amenities like schools, parks, and shopping” Chew says. “So it was important to keep the outside features that worked and enhance them.” He points out the new cedar soffits and wider, skid-resistance granite stairs to the front door. “We put new slate on the balcony and patio decking, but the railings still look good, so why change them?”
Relocated rhododendrons now share garden space with a variety of shrubbery and re-introduced indigenous plants. “If every house were to plant just a few extra local bushes, the birds would come back to this neighbourhood because there would be enough food for them again,” he says. As if confirming the truth of his statement, a feathered creature soars past dipping his wings as he passes in salute to a house that’s now Special in Vancouver.
By Susan M. Boyce
|
