Renova Homes and Renovations retains Woodbine home's heritage elements while updating its flow.

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When Carolyn Lemke and Chris Williams first walked across the threshold of their new home in Woodbine, it felt a little bit like stepping into the past.

Built in 1981 and lovingly maintained by its previous owners, the house was a snapshot of its era — a brick exterior and a classic country esthetic on the interior — wood detailing, an original kitchen and generously sized rooms. Not to mention, a three-car garage, which was a big selling factor for Chris.

“It was definitely like walking into a time warp,” says Chris.

For Carolyn, who grew up in the neighbourhood, there was something immediately familiar about it.

“There was a real warmth to the home. A very comforting vibe,” she says. “The home was built so well; it was so solid. We could really see ourselves living there.”

The couple, who have two children, Aiden, 10, and Ellie, seven, had been living in a two-storey home just a few blocks away, a home that they had purchased in 2012 and then renovated. “But it was just becoming too small for our family,” says Carolyn.

The couple had been keeping their eyes open for the perfect home for almost a decade. “But I loved our previous home, so it really had to be something perfect,” says Carolyn. The home also had to be in Woodbine, that was non-negotiable.

“We absolutely love the community,” says Carolyn. “So many people who grew up here are moving back.” The appeal is easy to understand. Mature trees line the streets, yards are generous, and the park is close at hand, while downtown Calgary is within easy reach.

And Chris says that the new home’s vantage point within the community of Woodbine is second to none. “It’s situated right above Fish Creek Park with amazing views of the mountains to the west.”

When the home hit the market in June of 2025, the couple had to act fast. There were competing offers, but the couple had their ducks in a row and were able to navigate through the process thanks to Chris’ dad and step-mom, both of whom are realtors. The home sold the weekend it was listed.

They took possession June 30, 2025, and immediately began planning a renovation that would modernize the home while retaining all of its charm. To help them out with the project, they brought on Renova Homes and Renovations, the company that they had used to renovate their first home in Woodbine.

“We didn’t even think twice. They just did such a great job on our first house,” says Carolyn.

The renovation brought the 1980s house into the present with new flooring, lighting and windows, updated bathrooms, more storage and the creation of a 600-sq.-ft. media room in the unfinished lower level.

The biggest transformation, however, occurred in the kitchen. What was once tiny, dark and closed off is now soulful and flooded with light. The original floor plan featured a separate dining room and kitchen. By opening the two spaces into one, the couple created the open-concept main floor they wanted  where the kitchen, dining room and sunken living room all play off of one another, without dramatically altering the home’s original architecture.

“To do that, we only had to take out one wall, because of how the home was originally configured,” says Chris.

The couple loves to cook and entertain, and with two young children, it is naturally one of the busiest rooms in the house. A large island anchors the space, while a fluted hood fan, farmhouse sink and high-end appliances bring a mix of function and farmhouse warmth. Rather than using valuable kitchen space for an oversized pantry, the couple took advantage of the home’s existing cellar and created a dedicated pantry area with a coffee station.

The couple also made a point of preserving what worked.

They kept the sunken living room, retained the home’s crown mouldings and salvaged as much of the original woodwork as possible. Even the french doors from the original dining room found a new purpose as pantry doors in the kitchen.

“I really didn’t want to take away the things that worked,” Carolyn says. “I didn’t want to replace the wood with MDF, so the goal was to salvage and use as much of the original as we could.”

The existing wood has a strong red undertone, so it was stained to complement the lighter cabinetry in the new kitchen, while the original wood panelling was modernized by painting it a cream colour.

The result is a home that feels less like a complete reinvention and more like an evolution. The original country-classic character remains, but has been layered with a modern transitional esthetic.

Renova’s architectural designer, Mikko Oliverio, described the overall feeling as “buttery warm,” an apt description for interiors that combine engineered hardwood, black-framed windows, rattan lighting and custom millwork with traditional details.

When asked to name her favourite room, Carolyn says: “It’s really hard to say.”

“The kitchen, maybe,” she adds.

For Chris, the answer comes more quickly: “The living room,” he says.

And Carolyn agrees.

“It’s this sunken living room with new beautiful windows and this gorgeous fireplace,” she says. “We created custom millwork. It’s just such a cozy room.”

That room may also best capture the philosophy behind the entire renovation: change what needs changing, but keep what gives the house its soul.

“For us, a great renovation means great flow,” says Robert Lee, general manager at Renova Homes and Renovations, noting that within the context of a renovation it’s key that the old and the new seamlessly blend together. “This house really showcases that.”

“Now, when you walk in the front door it gives you great sight lines into the foyer and then through to the kitchen, which has these big beautiful windows with views of Fish Creek Park and the mountains. So, you really get that wow factor.”

The renovation took 11 months, including design time. The family was fortunate enough to remain in their original Woodbine home during the renovation. Because they were so close — just blocks away — the couple checked on the house every day during construction, so often that their contractor eventually joked that they should stay away for a few days and allow themselves a proper reveal.

One year after purchasing the home at the end of June, the family moved in.

Boxes are still being unpacked and rooms are still coming together, but the feeling is already unmistakable.

“We are still setting everything up. Other than the chaos of moving, it’s just so calm,” says Chris. “This is definitely our forever home.”

Outside, there is little urgency to finish anything else. The yard already has a mature garden filled with perennials and wildflowers, and the deck can wait for another day.

“Eventually, we will have to refinish it. But, for now, we are just going to putter and enjoy,” says Carolyn.