Green change - Home Makeover Magazine

Photos: Jo-Anne Richards, Works Photography
LEFT: Marble,
quarried on
Vancouver Island,
was used for the
surrounds on the
tub and vanities.
By Betty Campbell
When Robin and Wayne
Poncia bought a charming
English Arts and Crafts
home in the affluent Uplands district
of Victoria, they wanted to retain its
1920s-era character while updating its
interior.
The first step was adding a much
larger bathroom to the four-bedroom
home.
Built in 1929, and close to 5,000
square feet, the house needed some updating. But the couple
was adamant that home’s fine features and classic lines would
remain preserved and intact. They found a soulmate in Victoria
designer Bruce Wilkin of Bruce Wilkin Design.
“With two school-age boys, the bathroom can be a busy
place, so we had to bring all of our needs together in this space,”
Robin explained.
The solution proved to be converting a second floor bedroom
and small ensuite into a large new family bathroom.
The first challenge Wilkin encountered was how to accommodate
the bathroom’s functional elements.
“We did a surgical renovation and used an old laundry chute
as a chase – a cavity through which wiring and pipes run,”
Wilkin said.
The bathroom, at approximately 165 square feet, is roomy
enough to accommodate his and her vanities, on opposite walls
with classic oval drop-in sinks. Shaker-style cabinetry, a walkin
shower complete with rain and adjustable showerheads, a
soaker tub and even a laundry area were added. A private toilet
nook took over the space of the former
bedroom’s closet.
Original doors stored by the previous
owners were refurbished to spruce
up the new bathroom. Hardwood,
pulled up to make room for the new,
radiant-heat floor tile, was re-used for
closets elsewhere in the house.
ABOVE: The large
new bathroom
has room for
his and hers
vanities, a walkin
shower and a
soaker tub. One
original leadglass
window
was saved; one
is a duplicate.
Marble flooring
was added
to reflect the
home’s heritage
architecture.
LEFT: Before:
an old bedroom
provided the
space.
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