I just had a look back at my childhood home.

I was looking up recent listings in Medicine Hat and there was the beautiful grand lady I grew up in which unfortunately had been given a coat of green paint over the classic brick exterior, but then I looked inside.

Wow, all I could do was try to pick my mouth up off of the floor as I scrolled through picture after picture showing modern interiors and rooms with completely new functions!

The entire main floor was re-routed with walls removed, patio doors installed and a sleek, modern kitchen where my mom’s oak cabinets used to reside. The palette had gone from blue and green into whites and greys while keeping the amber glow of the original hardwood floors.

My third story attic playroom which was always cozy with cedar walls and pitched ceiling has now been painted white and turned into a darling little third story guest room.

To access this room, you had to walk through the master bedroom closet which always made it an adventurous getaway to play with my barbies or to hang out with friends.

My bedroom has been converted to a walk-in closet which would make any woman drool and is the perfect space since I always felt it was too small for a bedroom anyways.

The upstairs bath was completely re-worked with all fixtures in different places than I remember yet it works so much better than the original configuration that was designed by my mom in the 70’s.

The photos don’t show the floors but I’m sure the new owners responsible for the renovations had removed the blue sculptured carpet from the bath immediately upon moving in! My mom was one of the few who enjoyed carpet in a bathroom despite what everyone said about bacteria.

It was a complete trip to walk through this home again and see all the changes.

It was also exciting to see a home which is still solid despite its 100+ years that someone loved enough to give it new life.

When you talk about a house that has ‘good bones’ this is the kind of house we are speaking about – a place that has stood the test of time yet offers you the creativity to create a new and wonderful interior.

A home that will stand proud and allow its owner to give it a wonderful makeover, even allowing some of its walls to be moved and certain points of character removed only to be replaced by new character pieces and space.

To my knowledge, this is the fifth major renovation that old house has weathered and it is still as grand as the day it was built.

Times and style change and advance but if you have the bones of a place and something about an old house speaks to you, then you have the blueprints for a forever home.

A home that you can live and grow with over decades and a home that you can recreate time and time again to suit your needs and even a few decorative whims.

Kim Wyse is a local freelance designer. Find her on facebook at ‘Ask a Designer’.