The story of most heritage home renovations reads like a fairy tale. Homeowners fall in love with a charming abode from a bygone era, an enchanting chaperone (read: architect) guides them through a fantastical transformation and, in the end, everyone lives happily ever after knowing the real magic was inside all along.

For Aleksandra Popovska and her family, however, the story wasn’t quite so formulaic. The architect (yes, she is her own fairy godmother) and her husband, Daniel Penn, had high hopes for preserving all that they could of the 1912 Edwardian home in East Vancouver. “Unfortunately, as we started the renovation, we found that there really was almost nothing that was salvageable just due to how deteriorated it was,” she explains. There was fire damage. There was asbestos. There were careless renovations that had sectioned the home into a series of small, cramped units. “We thought we’d keep more of it,” Penn confirms, “and when we couldn’t, we had to take that all down and rebuild it.”

COOL AND COMFORTABLE: “We took hints from neighbouring homes and tried to recreate that in a way that fit the character and the style of the house,” Popovska says. Photo by Ema Peter

READ MORE: Inside a Kitsilano Craftsman That Hides a Warm, Modern Interior

So, instead of a fairy tale, this renovation became a mystery. The couple, along with Popovska’s team at Hidden Studio and Terris and Co. General Contractors, worked to uncover the home’s original spirit using clues from both inside and outside the property. Boarded-up windows were stripped, and the frames were restored. The outside staircase, obviously altered at some point in the last hundred-plus years, was moved back to its likely original position. The home’s two front doors (another old reno to accommodate more tenants) were scrapped in favour of a single entry. When an investigation of the framing didn’t yield enough information, the team looked elsewhere. “We took hints from neighbouring homes and tried to recreate that in a way that fit the character and the style of the house,” Popovska says.

Salmon-coloured fish-scale shingles on the back of the home are a draw for visitors in the neighbourhood. The architect, Aleksandra Popovska, stands with her family on the back deck. Photo by Ema Peter

This time, it was personal: Popovska had designed homes for plenty of clients, and was determined to create the perfect functional abode for her own family. The unique opportunity led to choices that some might call risky—the home’s rear facade is decked out in salmon-pink (Benjamin Moore’s Smoked Salmon) fish-scale shingles, and the front entryway is a striking royal blue. “Wherever we wanted, we could just experiment and play with it,” the architect says. “It was fine if it was a bit of a mix of different styles and different colours; we could just have it all in there.” The bold blue foyer is a stunning example of blending traditional and contemporary, with herringbone porcelain tile and whimsical Muuto wall hooks. Unlike in many modern, open-concept homes, this space makes every entry an event.

READ MORE: A Stunning Renovation of a Heritage Vancouver Home

COLOUR CONFIDENT: The entry foyer—in Benjamin Moore’s bold Hamilton Blue—and modern Muuto wall hooks set the stage for a home that isn’t shy on colour (or fun). Photo by Ema Peter
GRAND ENTRANCE: The ceiling drop between the foyer and the kitchen is purposely cozy (note the pink door to the left). “It feels like a portal,” Popovska says, adding that it’s easy to miss the doors to the basement and powder room. Photo by Ema Peter

The kitchen, in contrast, is bright, with expansive glazing and a gorgeous view of the backyard. The green-grey cabinetry, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rainy Afternoon, appears to change colour as the day goes by, reflecting light differently as the sky varies. Modern pendants (an asymmetrical tubular LED from Spain’s Marset) add another dimension of interest to this high-traffic space.

PRETTY IN PINK: The girls’ bedroom is all whimsy with animal-print linens and bird decals on the peach-coloured walls (which echo the salmon exterior). Photo by Ema Peter
EXTRA SPACE: Unlike the home’s previous partitioning, the renovated basement is fully functional with a kitchenette and space to store bikes, jackets and other outdoor necessities. Photo by Ema Peter

When Popovska and Penn purchased the home, it had not one but two impractical additions. The first extended the primary bedroom but created a tiny six-foot room at the back (“a useless, bizarre space,” the architect says) and the second was done without proper permitting and made the home’s footprint larger than the city allows. Both additions were taken down and reimagined. The second addition became a (legal) back deck, and the first was rebuilt with a vaulted ceiling that mimics the silhouette of the original roof. That’s where the primary bedroom is. “My favourite part of the bedroom is the volume,” says Popovska. The room is relatively small, but the high ceilings make it feel airy.

READ MORE: Inside a Colourful Modern Renovation of a Vancouver Heritage Home

Penn calls the added powder room “Toronto-sized”—Vancouver builders were surprised at the family’s request to insert a bathroom so small, but without this addition the main floor would be toilet-less. “It’s one of the best decisions we made,” Penn says. Photo by Ema Peter

Little details throughout this home build a strong case for pattern play: the girls’ bedroom is dotted with bird decals by artist Charley Harper; the primary ensuite features a pale green Japanese pencil tile from Creekside Tile. The whimsy continues outside, where the family lounges, dines and gardens on sunny days. Concrete pavers create a meandering path to edible berry bushes and lush flowerbeds. “It feels like a little microenvironment,” Popovska says.

WORKING IT: What is now the office was once a narrow galley kitchen. Photo by Ema Peter

The renovation is complete, but this home continues to reveal secrets and surprises (pairing a historic front side with a salmon-pink back will do that). First-time guests feel like they’re solving a mystery of their own. “I’m surprised by how many people say, ‘Oh, you live in the house with the pink shingles on the back,” Penn says with a laugh. “They love that because it’s just so different.”

More Photos:

BEFORE

BIGGER AND BETTER: A once-pokey space (above) is now the primary bedroom (below), thanks to a rethink of an addition at the back. Photo by Ema Peter

AFTER

SOARING CEILINGS: “My favourite part of the bedroom is the volume,” says Popovska. The primary bedroom is part of an addition to the home, which was taken down and reimagined. The pendant light is from Stuff by Andrew Neyer. Photo by Ema Peter

BEFORE

OPEN UP: Two additions on the back of the home were removed (above), with one becoming a legal deck (below). Photo by Ema Peter
Photo by Ema Peter

BEFORE

STAIR MASTER: The staircase, moved to the right of the home during a previous renovation (above), was re-oriented to its likely original position (below). Photo by Ema Peter

AFTER

Photo by Ema Peter

BEFORE

COMPACT LIVING: This living room/kitchen space is now the kids’ bedroom and home office. Photo by Ema Peter

AFTER

ROOM FOR PLAY: Homeowner Daniel Penn sits with daughter Anika, while his younger daughter Lara skips in the background. Photo by Ema Peter

READ MORE: 7 Homes with Extraordinary Exteriors

Photo by Ema Peter

Aleksandra’s Local Vancouver Favourites

For lunch

Anh and Chi (3388 Main St.) has been a staple for my husband and I since we moved to Vancouver in 2016. The consistently great food and  welcoming atmosphere keep us coming back.

For Dinner

Kin Kao (903 Commercial Dr.) is my neighbourhood go-to for comfort food. I can always count on a cozy, flavourful meal that never disappoints, and I love chatting with the friendly staff.

For coffee

Nemesis on Great Northern Way (555 Great Northern Way) sits in one of the most interesting buildings in Vancouver—a red flower-shaped pavilion with textile petals draped from the ceiling—and serves exceptional coffee and pastries. I always recommend it to friends visiting the city.

For cocktails

I’m currently loving Nomo Nomo (1268 Commercial Dr.), a new spot in my neighbourhood with a relaxed atmosphere and a distinctive design. It has superb cocktails and food.

For design shopping

Vancouver Special (3612 Main St.) has been a favourite of mine for years thanks to its well-curated selection of housewares, furniture and books.

For supporting local

I recently discovered Iron Dog Books (2671 East Hastings St.)—a small, welcoming bookstore with a standout selection.

For a getaway

My family has vacationed on Galiano Island since my kids were born. It’s easygoing, it has great coffee and beautiful, secluded beaches and I love how dog-friendly it is. Morning Beach is sheltered and shallow, with soft grey sand, warm water and endless tide pools to explore.

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, illustrator and comic artist. Her work has been featured in Vancouver magazine, Western Living, BCBusiness, Avenue, Serviette, Geist, BCLiving, Nuvo, Montecristo, The Georgia Straight and more. Her beats are food, travel, arts and culture, style, interior design and anything dog-related. She publishes a daily autobiographical comic on Instagram at @hialyssacomics.