Before and After: How a $1.5-million reno gave this Bellwoods church a modern facelift

The place

A five-bedroom, four-bathroom renovated church in Trinity-Bellwoods.

The history

The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius opened in 1941 as a spiritual hub for Toronto’s Slovakian community. In the ’90s, the congregation was decommissioned and the building put on the market. A couple soon purchased it with the goal of renovating and splitting the building into two separate properties—one for them and one to sell.

In 2010, the owners moved to Vancouver and used the church as a pied-à-terre. By 2021, they had become a family of four and wanted to update their church into a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home. So they hired Nivek Remas for the renovation. The vision: an industrial-meets-rural interior with A-frame wood beams, shimmering accents and warm lighting. The $1.5-million reno finished in 2023. Here’s how it all came together.

Related: How a $1-million reno turned this cramped Roncesvalles semi into a contemporary gem

The tour

The owners widened the front entrance slightly, installing large black-stained oak double doors and a side leaf for the new sconce and mail slot. The glass canopy was ditched in favour of an industrial-style black metal sheet.

Formerly, the foyer opened to a sunken level that lacked natural light. So Nivek Remas transformed both the stairwell and the front landing into an open and illuminated feature.

The staircase, once enclosed in drywall, is now steel and equipped with two lookouts.

Still intact are the living room’s 25-foot ceilings, today lined with wood beams for a cottage feel.

The team added a fireplace and open shelving on the far wall for warmth and ambience.

In the old layout, the kitchen felt isolated, and its millwork needed a contemporary jolt. Nivek Remas revamped the space for a more natural flow into its surrounding spaces.

The old kitchen cabinets made way for a darker charcoal-grey gunmetal update that complements the new stone island. Those two pendants are original to the church, refinished to match the new look and feel.

In the dining area, Nivek Remas replaced a set of windows with metal-and-glass double doors that lead to the private terrace. That wood shelving echoes the kitchen.

Upstairs, the main suite’s walk-through closet space was decked out in more oak.

The old main bedroom had a balcony overlooking the living area—noisy and invasive. The new quarters, inspired by hotel living, are completely closed off.

Check out the ensuite bathroom, with a free-standing soaker tub, a walk-in shower and a separate water closet.

Its terrazzo counters were custom-made with inset accessory trays on either side of the sink.

Finally, here’s a look at the glammed-up rooftop patio. It was refinished with black metal siding, a gas firepit and a comfy corner sofa.

 

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