Home Decor: A Redefined Family Bungalow

A family home was exactly what Tayen Godfrey and Kathy Pybus were looking for when they purchased their bungalow in Altadore during the property boom in 2005. After looking at a variety of already-renovated contemporary homes that didn’t quite hit the mark, they made the decision to purchase a property with the perfect lot, as opposed to the perfect floor plan.

The couple lived in the 1,400-square-foot home in Altadore for five years, had a couple of kids (Charlie, 5, and Sam, 3) and began to evaluate how they used the space. After seeing an article featuring design firm Rectangle and its owner, Shane Rennie, in Avenue, the couple made the decision in 2010 to redesign their home to best suit their needs.

After nearly a year of planning with Rennie and senior designer Brittany Wikel, they decided to open up the main floor almost entirely and move all the bedrooms to the basement. The home was knocked down to the original foundation and rebuilt to accommodate large windows and a vaulted ceiling to maximize light and flow within the space.

By Cara Casey, styling by Leah Van Loon, photography by Bruce Edwards