How Save My Reno Mixes Old and New Updates to Brighten a Family Space

Tying together decade-long layers of renovations into one cohesive, contemporary space is no small feat, but that’s just what contractor Sebastian Clovis, designer Samantha Pynn and the Save My Reno team did – finishing off a just-fixed solarium and making it work with a previously renovated kitchen.

Save My Reno airs Tuesdays at 9 and 9:30PM e/p on HGTV Canada and on HGTV.ca.

modern white kitchen with grey centre island and woven pendant lights

HGTV Canada

1 / 12

A Problem From a Solution

After 15 years, homeowners Jennie and Michael started the work to fix their leaky solarium, but that led to an even bigger problem: In order to tie the solarium in with the rest of the home, contractors told them they’d have to tear up the adjacent kitchen. Since they’d already renovated the kitchen and didn’t want to destroy the parts that were still functional, the couple needed the Save My Reno team’s help to update the entire space – saving the parts that they loved, for a $35,000 budget.

unfinished solarium with terracotta tiles

HGTV Canada

2 / 12

Almost Finished

While the solarium’s leaks were patched, Jennie and Michael still needed to finish up the room’s renovations – particularly when it came to updating the outdated terracotta floor tiles that ran through both the solarium and the kitchen.

solarium with wall shelving, glass doors and grey floors

HGTV Canada

3 / 12

Soak Up the Sun

Sebastian and the team completed the solarium’s renovations, transforming the leaky, terracotta-tiled area into a light-filled, family-focused extension of Jennie and Michael’s home. Starting from the ground up, they removed the old tiles and replaced them with waterproof vinyl flooring. Sliding glass doors coaxed in the sunlight and gave easy access to the backyard, while a glass stair railing offered safety without closing off the space.

two grey chairs in front of shelves and a wooden side table

HGTV Canada

4 / 12

Pops of Colour

While Samantha kept the overall colour palette in the solarium neutral in greys and whites for a cohesive feel with the kitchen, primary-hued decor accents (including framed art created by Jennie and Michael’s daughter) brought a playful feel to the family-oriented space.

white solarium cabinets and grey kitchen cabinets

HGTV Canada

5 / 12

Old Floors, New Life

Flooring can be expensive

, so sourcing salvaged flooring is a smart way to cut costs and reuse resources. After searching online, Samantha and Jennie lucked out by finding a homeowner selling compatible salvaged flooring from a reno – offering 200 square feet for just $75. If bought new, the flooring would have cost at least $1600, making it a major budget-boosting steal.

white and wood step with grey tile floor

HGTV Canada

6 / 12

A Step Up

Not wanting to waste any of the up-cycled flooring, Sebastian used the more-worn pieces to create a unique end-grain step by stacking and gluing the wood pieces together. The finished step coordinates beautifully as a bridge between the wood flooring in the kitchen and the concrete-inspired, waterproof vinyl flooring in the solarium.

HGTV Canada

7 / 12

Green and Clean

Keeping the clean, light and fresh feel for the main floor, Samantha used plenty of plants and greenery throughout.

HGTV Canada

8 / 12

Storage With Every Step

To get full use of the new solarium space, the team installed shelving cabinets along the side of the stairs that led to the basement. By making the cabinets full height and carrying them all the way up the stairs, the family can use the storage for everything from shoes to decorative items.

dark kitchen with center island and terracotta flooring

HGTV Canada

9 / 12

A Recipe for Disaster

After completing a partial renovation about a decade ago, there was still plenty to love about the kitchen’s cabinetry and countertops, so the goal was to save and refresh as much as possible. But, because the homeowners wanted to replace the outdated flooring, keeping some elements without damaging them was a challenge.

modern grey kitchen with centre island and stainless steel appliances

HGTV Canada

10 / 12

A Fresh Coat

While keeping the existing cabinetry, sink and countertops was a challenge, it also gave the team a huge opportunity for savings. As Samantha pointed, cabinetry usually accounts for about 30% of the cost of kitchen renovations, so – by painting the current cabinets in a modern soft grey and adding new hardware – they could then allocate a big chunk of the budget to other areas.

marble kitchen counter with bowl of pears and geometric backsplash in background

HGTV Canada

11 / 12

A Brighter Backsplash

Samantha’s choice of kitchen backsplash went a long way towards transforming the look of the kitchen (without tearing it down). The distinctive white penny round tile featured subtle deep-brown edges that tied together beautifully with the browns in the existing countertops, while still turning up the brightness.

modern grey kitchen with block-printed drapes hanging in front of solarium windows

HGTV Canada

12 / 12

Stylish Shade

The natural light from the solarium is spectacular, but there are times when the family wants a touch of shade and privacy from the big solarium windows. The stylish solution? Samantha, Jennie and Jennie’s daughter worked together to create custom block-printed drapery. While block-printed fabric is usually quite expensive, the team saved by creating their own print on less-costly ready-made panels.