Sharing our Swansea project — a full main floor renovation on a 1940s detached that had never been touched since original construction.
The house:
1,400 sq ft, 2.5 storey, original plaster walls, original oak floors under 3 layers of linoleum, original galley kitchen, single bathroom on 2nd floor.
What we did:
- Removed galley kitchen wall (non-load bearing, confirmed by engineer)
- New open kitchen: custom Shaker cabinets in sage green, Calacatta quartz, integrated appliances
- Exposed and refinished original oak floors throughout main floor
- Added powder room off new mudroom entry (rear entrance)
- New mudroom built-ins at rear entrance
- Full plaster repair and painting throughout
What we discovered:
- Knob-and-tube in kitchen — had to partially rewire as part of the renovation
- Lead paint under existing paint layers — managed with encapsulation in non-disturbed areas, proper abatement where we were cutting
- Original oak floors were in excellent condition — refinishing only, no replacement needed
Cost breakdown:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Design | $8,500 |
| Kitchen cabinets and counters | $24,000 |
| Electrical (partial rewire + kitchen) | $11,000 |
| Plumbing (powder room add) | $6,800 |
| Floor refinishing | $4,200 |
| Mudroom built-ins | $5,100 |
| Painting + plaster repair | $7,200 |
| Permits | $680 |
| Misc | $2,400 |
| Total | $69,880 |
Very happy with the result. The space feels completely transformed while keeping the character of the original house.
Has anyone else dealt with the K&T + lead paint combination in west-end Toronto? home.renovation.reviews