Rio Terrace bungalow

Rio Terrace, Edmonton

The story

A 1959 Rio Terrace bungalow on a sun-facing lot, mature elms on the boulevard, walking distance to the River Valley trails. Good structure, but every mechanical system needed replacing, and the layout needed to work for how a family actually uses a bungalow today.

We stripped the main floor to studs and replaced the furnace, A/C, HRV, on-demand hot water, and all plumbing and electrical, then added new attic insulation. Windows were swapped throughout, with concrete work outside where needed. The mechanical package alone amounted to a full rebuild.

The kitchen anchors the plan: a large island with seating, open oak shelving, quartz counters, and a backsplash that carries through to a mudroom nook with a built-in bench. Engineered hardwood runs the main floor. Laundry was moved up from the basement to the main floor so a family isn't hauling baskets down a flight of stairs. New cabinetry went in throughout to keep the plan clean instead of cluttered.

The basement adds two more bedrooms and a third bath. Window openings down there were enlarged so daylight reaches the sleeping areas and the level reads as usable rather than underground. It's a nanny setup for a family, not a legal secondary suite, so the whole house lives as one home with five bedrooms and three baths.

Before and after

Drag the slider on desktop (side by side on mobile). Use the thumbnails below to move between rooms.

Before

After

Front elevation, same roofline, chimney, and window layout. Overgrown junipers and grey siding replaced with white siding, black-trim windows, and a glass-railed deck where the old steps were bare concrete.

The full set, side by side

Every pair at a glance. Same rooms, before Noyce (left) and after (right).

Before, pair 1 — Front elevation, same roofline, chimney, and window layout. Overgrown junipers and grey siding replaced with white siding, black-trim windows, and a glass-railed deck where the old steps were bare concrete.

After, pair 1 — Front elevation, same roofline, chimney, and window layout. Overgrown junipers and grey siding replaced with white siding, black-trim windows, and a glass-railed deck where the old steps were bare concrete.

Before, pair 2 — Entry foyer, same alcove layout with the built-in nook left of the door. A plywood door and bare mudroom nook became a glass-panel front door, a built-in bench, and patterned tile floor.

After, pair 2 — Entry foyer, same alcove layout with the built-in nook left of the door. A plywood door and bare mudroom nook became a glass-panel front door, a built-in bench, and patterned tile floor.

Before, pair 3 — Living room, same street-facing picture window; the sidewalk and parked cars outside match in both photos. Beige carpet and vertical blinds became wide-plank hardwood, recessed lighting, and sheer drapery.

After, pair 3 — Living room, same street-facing picture window; the sidewalk and parked cars outside match in both photos. Beige carpet and vertical blinds became wide-plank hardwood, recessed lighting, and sheer drapery.

Before, pair 4 — Kitchen sink wall, same wide two-pane window over the sink and the same U-shape footprint with the stove on the left. Maple cabinets and stone-tile backsplash became white shakers, subway tile, white marble counters, and a brass gooseneck faucet.

After, pair 4 — Kitchen sink wall, same wide two-pane window over the sink and the same U-shape footprint with the stove on the left. Maple cabinets and stone-tile backsplash became white shakers, subway tile, white marble counters, and a brass gooseneck faucet.

Before, pair 5 — Main bath, same room. A wall-mounted pedestal sink with a chrome faucet and grab bars became a white marble vanity with brass fixtures and a travertine-tile shower behind a black-framed glass door.

After, pair 5 — Main bath, same room. A wall-mounted pedestal sink with a chrome faucet and grab bars became a white marble vanity with brass fixtures and a travertine-tile shower behind a black-framed glass door.

Gallery

Room

Exterior

Full front elevation of the renovated bungalow with white horizontal siding, dark shingled roof, and new wood-and-glass front deck.

Closeup of the rebuilt front porch and entry, showing new cedar decking with black glass-panel railings and the modern front door.

Before renovation, the front of the bungalow with olive-gray horizontal siding, brown-trim windows, plain concrete step to the door, and overgrown junipers flanking the entry.

Before renovation, the detached rear garage with cream stucco/siding, a single roll-up door, and a small side window facing the backyard.

Before renovation, the front of the house from an oblique angle showing brown roof, tan/olive horizontal siding, and mature evergreen and deciduous trees framing the yard.

Before renovation, front-yard view of the bungalow with columnar junipers, plain concrete step to the entry, and existing trees along the property.

Room

Entry

Entry foyer with a white glass-panel front door, built-in bench with light wood cabinet and marble-look top, and patterned black-and-white tile floor.

Before renovation, the entry foyer with a plain water-stained plywood front door, beige walls, empty coat rod alcove, and light laminate floor.

Room

Living Room

Living room with wall-mounted TV, gray velvet sofa, cream rocking chair, and large picture window with cream drapery, on wide-plank hardwood floors.

Wide overview showing the front-facing living room with picture window and velvet sofa, dining table in the foreground, and kitchen island visible at right.

Before renovation, the living room empty with beige carpet, vertical blinds on a large front window, and a built-in shelf-and-cabinet unit on the right wall.

Before renovation, a corner of the living room showing folding wooden louver shutters open on a smaller side window and vertical blinds on the larger picture window.

Before renovation, the empty living room with vertical blinds on the large front window and a built-in white shelf with a low storage bench.

Before renovation, a wide empty living room with beige carpet and vertical blinds on the large front window; kitchen counter with dark laminate top visible at right.

Before renovation, view across the living room toward a built-in white shelf-and-storage unit and hallway leading to bedrooms and bath.

Room

Kitchen

Open-plan view from the kitchen island toward the dining area and living room, showing quartz waterfall counter, dark-metal disc pendants, and light-wood cabinets on the far wall.

Kitchen with white shaker cabinets, quartz island, light-wood floating shelves, and dark-metal disc pendants above the island.

Kitchen sink wall with quartz countertops, white square-tile backsplash, brushed-gold pull-down faucet, and window over the sink.

Close-up of open kitchen shelving styled with white pear vases and brass accents against a white square-tile backsplash.

Before renovation, view through a wall opening into the kitchen showing wood shaker lower cabinets, stainless dishwasher, and window over the sink.

Before renovation, the kitchen with two-tone cabinetry (white uppers, wood shaker lowers), a built-in Miele wall oven, stainless dishwasher, and multi-tone stacked-stone backsplash.

Before renovation, kitchen showing the built-in Miele oven wall with white uppers, stainless range hood, glass cooktop and stacked-stone backsplash.

Before renovation, the kitchen sink corner with stainless double-basin sink, chrome pull-out faucet, blinds on the window over the sink, and stacked-stone backsplash.

Before renovation, kitchen sink wall from a different angle showing wood shaker lower cabinets, the stainless dishwasher, and the same stacked-stone backsplash.

Before renovation, kitchen showing the white top-freezer fridge on the right, wood shaker lowers with white uppers, and dark laminate counters.

Room

Dining Room

Dining area with a glass rectangular table, brown velvet dining chairs, and a modern globe chandelier under a picture window with white trim.

Before renovation, a small dining nook with beige carpet, a modern pendant light, and folding wooden louver shutters on the side window.

Before renovation, a small eat-in nook next to the kitchen with pale-wood laminate floor, a modern white bell pendant lamp, and a plywood door open toward the adjacent living area.

Room

Bedrooms

Before renovation, a small bedroom with brown patterned shag-style carpet, a plywood swing door, and a woodgrain sliding closet on the right; bathroom vanity visible through the open doorway.

Before renovation, a bedroom with brown patterned carpet and a plywood door, with a main-floor bathroom visible through the open doorway.

Before renovation, a bedroom with brown patterned carpet, a plywood swing door, and full-width mirrored sliding closet doors.

Before renovation, a small bedroom with brown patterned carpet, a chair-rail trim line, and a wide horizontal window near the ceiling.

Before renovation, a bedroom with brown patterned carpet, chair-rail trim, a plywood swing door, and a narrow horizontal window near the ceiling.

Before renovation, a bedroom with brown patterned carpet, mirrored sliding closet doors, and a plywood door open to the hallway.

Before renovation, a bedroom with brown patterned carpet, a wood ceiling fan with light kit, and wooden folding louver shutters on the window.

Before renovation, a bedroom with beige carpet, brown wood folding louver shutters on the window, and a wood ceiling fan with light kit.

Before renovation, a larger bedroom with beige carpet, ceiling fan, and a folding wooden louver shutter on the window at back wall.

Before renovation, an empty carpeted room with pendant light, plywood door open to a hallway, and light laminate floor visible beyond.

Before renovation, a bedroom with brown patterned carpet, a woodgrain sliding closet, and a plywood door open to the hallway.

Before renovation, a small bedroom with brown patterned carpet and wide horizontal windows with white blinds on two walls.

Room

Bathrooms

Bathroom with a black-framed sliding glass tub-shower, travertine-look tile surround, matte-black shower fixtures, and a white quartz vanity with brushed-copper faucet.

Bathroom vanity angle showing the quartz counter with brushed-copper widespread faucet, black-framed mirror, and travertine-tile shower reflected behind.

Before renovation, a bathroom with a wall-mounted white pedestal-style sink on chrome legs, a rectangular wall mirror, a toilet with grab-bar frame, and beige carpet on the floor.

Before renovation, a bathroom with a wall-mounted sink on chrome legs, two rectangular wall mirrors, and a toilet with a grab-bar frame.

Before renovation, a bathroom vanity area with a white drop-in sink, dark laminate counter, stacked-stone tile backsplash strip, and mirrored medicine cabinets above.

Before renovation, a full bathroom with an alcove tub-shower under a curved shower rod, marble-swirl surround, dark vanity with white top, and slate-look tile floor.

Before renovation, a bathroom vanity with a white drop-in sink, dark laminate counter, stacked-stone backsplash strip, and mirrored medicine cabinets above.

Room

Laundry

Before renovation, the laundry area in an unfinished framed section of the basement with a champagne-color top-load washer and matching front-load dryer against exposed pink insulation and pine studs.

Room

Basement

Before renovation, the basement recreation area with dark faux-wood paneled walls, a drop-tile ceiling, mixed vinyl-tile and cream-tone shag carpet flooring, and stairs at right.

Before renovation, the basement rec area with vintage cream built-in cabinetry (glass-front uppers and open shelves) on the back wall, and dark faux-wood paneling flanking it.

Before renovation, the basement rec area with cream built-in cabinets on the left wall, dark faux-wood paneling on the columns, and the shag carpet zone leading to a further paneled area.

Before renovation, the basement rec area showing another angle of the cream built-in cabinetry, dark paneled walls, and a small hopper window with sheer curtain.

Before renovation, wide view of the basement showing the vinyl-tile floor, dark faux-wood paneling, drop-tile ceiling, and the cream built-in cabinet run in the middle distance.

Before renovation, basement space with dark faux-wood paneling, drop-tile ceiling, and a shag carpet zone visible through the boxed column opening at right.

Before renovation, a small windowless basement room with dark faux-wood paneled walls, drop-tile ceiling, a dark-stained door, and vinyl parquet-pattern floor tile.

Before renovation, a basement storage closet with plain plywood shelves built into the corner.

Before renovation, the basement mechanical room with a mid-efficiency forced-air furnace on the left and a gas tank water heater on the right, framed in an unfinished utility closet.

Room

Basement Bedroom

Before renovation, a basement bedroom with dark faux-wood paneled walls, purple-and-cream shag carpet, and a small casement window with sheer curtain near the ceiling.

Before renovation, a basement bedroom with dark faux-wood paneling, purple-and-cream shag carpet, and a plywood door open to the mechanical room beyond.

Before renovation, a basement bedroom with dark faux-wood paneling, purple-and-cream shag carpet, and a plywood door open onto the mechanical room hallway.

Before renovation, a basement bedroom with dark faux-wood paneling, purple-and-cream shag carpet, a small hopper window with sheer curtain, and a run of louvered closet doors along one wall.

Before renovation, another angle of the basement bedroom showing louvered closet doors, a narrow wall mirror, and a plywood door open toward the mechanical/utility room.

Room

Basement Bathroom

Before renovation, the basement bathroom with a fiberglass shower stall with textured obscure-glass doors, a wall-mounted sink with exposed plumbing, a toilet, and a pegboard vent panel above.

Before renovation, close-up of the basement bathroom's wall-mounted sink with exposed chrome plumbing, chrome twist faucet, and small wall-mounted medicine cabinet.

Room

Backyard

Before renovation, the backyard with a mowed lawn, wooden privacy fence on the right, and the tan-siding rear elevation of the house visible on the left.