A Mid-Century Modern Revival on Mackenzie Drive

At Urbis, our work typically begins with a blank slate: a lot, a vision, and the opportunity to build something new. Renovations are not our focus, but every once in a while, a project comes along that we simply can’t say no to. The Mackenzie Drive Reno is one of those rare opportunities.

While the existing Crestwood residence offered a desirable mid-century modern aesthetic and a beautiful ravine-side setting, the way the home functioned didn’t align with our clients’ wants and needs. This project is a complete reimagination of the space.

A Blueprint for Change

Our clients reached out early in the purchase process, with Urbis working alongside them even before the house came out of contract. We provided support with due diligence and early concept sketches to confirm that the existing structure could support their goals. The vision was a renovation that respects the home’s original architecture while making it work for how these clients live now, and how they want to live in the future.

“This is the first time our clients are living together as a couple, so they’re combining their lives…but they found the perfect house five years too early,” says Katie Warwa, Partner and Lead of Design and Operations at Urbis. “They have two teenage boys right now, but it won’t be long before they’re empty nesters. We had to find that happy medium between their current and future needs. It’s an interesting design exercise in that regard.”

Purposeful Design

From a floor plan perspective, the changes to the home are substantial. We’re defining the foyer with a wood-clad entry portal that leads to a transformed sunken living room, complete with faux beams and a statement fireplace wall. We’re adding a main floor bathroom, pantry, and laundry room, and creating new storage solutions for the couple. We’re completely refinishing the basement, and we’re separating the primary from the secondary bedrooms to create separate wings for added privacy. We’re also repositioning the dining room to face the home’s ‘money shot:’ the backyard and the Mackenzie Ravine beyond. Creating a clear sightline from the entry through to the backyard is a key feature.

“I think we’ve done a really good job of addressing what was challenged about the floor plan,” Katie notes. “It’s going to have everything they need.”

Out back, the reno extends well beyond the walls of the home. A new screened, covered deck creates an outdoor amenity that allows the homeowners to experience the ravine-side setting year-round.

“You feel like you’re not even in the central city when you’re in their yard,” Katie says. “The mature trees…the ravine…it’s incredible.”

A Collaborative Effort

With the Mackenzie Drive Reno, it’s not only how spaces flow, but also how the materials, finishes, and furnishings come together. This is where assembling the right team becomes key.

“Securing a designer and the right vendors was something we recommended right away,” Katie notes, pointing to the value of collaborating with Iron River Surfaces and Kresswell Interiors for this project.

Urbis encourages our clients to bring in core vendors early on to help ensure that every layer of the home feels cohesive.

Selecting Surfaces with Iron River

“The existing home was already mid-century modern, but we’re taking that just a little bit further. We’re going more authentically ‘mod’ with some of the colours and warming the palette up…adding some character elements and really being intentional with our selections,” Katie explains. “The home was quite beautiful before, but we’re kicking it up a notch and refining it to better suit the clients’ tastes.”

Iron River Surfaces plays a key role in grounding the renovation in materials that feel timeless, warm, and authentic to the era of the home. The existing residence has some fantastic walnut elements that they’re building upon.

“I love the walnut in the home,” says Samantha Gizzie, Gallery Manager and Design Lead at Iron River Surfaces. “Warm woods are definitely making a comeback, and Urbis did a beautiful job of utilizing the existing walnut in the space. It’s all about how to seamlessly pair that with new products. Keeping that existing character is really important.”

Throughout the house, Iron River’s materials balance durability, style, and budget. From a travertine-look quartz in the kitchen and a herringbone hardwood in the living room, to a textured tile wall in the powder room, a kitkat design in the laundry, and terrazzo in the basement bath, the goal is longevity while retaining the home’s signature charm.

“We try very hard to guide clients towards something that’s timeless,” comments Paula Small, Founder and CEO of Iron River Surfaces. “Yes, we love trends too…but there’s a way to utilize them that isn’t overpowering and will stand the test of time.”

Finishing Touches by Kresswell

Next, the focus turns to furnishings, and that’s where Diana Tidswell and Kristina Eustace, Partners and Interior Designers at Kresswell Interiors, bring another layer of intention to the home.

“We love Urbis’s vision for the renovation, and their overall design guides where we take things from a furnishings and finishings perspective,” says Diana. “They’ve provided us with a really organic, modern palette to play off of.”

But what makes this project particularly enjoyable for Kresswell is the human element. The homeowners are blending families, and with that comes different tastes and existing furnishings that need to coexist harmoniously. The couple is bringing in their own investment art pieces—large-scale nature scenes that are bold in colour and saturation. Kresswell is using this artwork for inspiration, pulling greens, rusts, and earthy tones into their proposed finishings to echo both the artwork and the ravine views outside.

“It’s a fun challenge, figuring out how to stay true to the mid-century design of the home while also staying true to the people living in it,” Kristina comments.

While Kresswell makes a pointed effort to incorporate the clients’ favourite existing pieces, custom-made furniture also plays an important role. In the dining room, they’re working closely with the clients to design a custom table made specifically for the space.

“Melding styles is what makes a home avoid feeling like a furniture showroom…and adding those custom bespoke pieces that we work really closely with our clients to design gives you a better sense of the people who live there,” Diana explains.

The Mackenzie Drive Reno

With the Mackenzie Drive Reno, it’s about taking an already special home and thoughtfully evolving it—with the right collaborators around the table.

As Paula from Iron River Surfaces puts it best:

“We love working with Urbis, and we love Kresswell. It’s always a dream team. It’s wonderful when there’s a coming together of great talent, all parties working together to create something amazing.”

The Mackenzie Drive renovation is a rare opportunity to honour a home’s history, elevate its design, and create something deeply personal for the people who live there.

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