This classic, century-old house overlooking Beacon Hill Park stood empty for six years while its owner, who lived next door, lovingly undertook a painstaking and extensive renovation.

Meanwhile, a visitor from thousands of kilometres away quietly yearned to live in that house. She walked by it every time she came to visit and often remarked to her Victoria friend: "Some day I'm going to live in that house."

Winnipegger Bea Cherniack finally managed to meet the owner, see inside the house, and buy her fantasy house five years ago - and since then she's been the happiest of women.

"Every time I came to Victoria to visit my friend, we'd walk though the park and I would look at this house and sigh," Cherniack said. "But it was never for sale."

The retired social worker and her husband, a mediator and lawyer in Winnipeg, still own a modern house on the banks of the Red River, but the Beacon Hill home, built in 1916 by Luney Bros., beckoned.

"I've always loved, loved old houses," said Cherniack, 62. "There's something about them that's incredibly beautiful. It's partly what appeals to me about Victoria, this core of older homes, and why my husband, Lawrie, and I wanted to retire here."

Her friend Nancy Martin, who lives near Beacon Hill, knew Cherniack wanted to live here and sent information from time to time about heritage houses when they came up for sale. "I kept walking by this place and seeing it empty," Martin said. "I wondered what was going on behind the closed blinds. It drove me crazy with curiosity."

Cherniack was coming to buy another house she'd seen on Government Street, but she spent the night with Martin first, and while sitting on the front porch, the two friends from high school spotted the owner of "her" house strolling by.

Cherniack and Martin jumped up and brazenly accosted the man, asking if he would show it to them. He agreed and when they stepped inside, their jaws dropped.

"It was perfect," said a beaming Cherniack.

"Absolutely perfect, with all the original woodwork, never painted. And all the features were amazing: the stained glass, the staircase and the built-in sideboard in the dining room. The owner had even replicated a suite in the basement [also empty] and sourced all the same wood, copied the upstairs fireplace, sourced big doors, doorknobs. It was a perfect suite in a gorgeous heritage house."

She made an offer and the deal was done.

The remarkable renovator and painstaking perfectionist was Graham Garman, who lived next door all his life in a house built by his father. Garman had bought the house in 2000 and spent the next six years repairing, rebuilding and restoring it.

"The house had belonged to only one family and I went to school with the children of the original owners," Garman said. "We used to play ball over there in the park."

When his senior neighbours died 10 years ago, he bought the house, thinking he would live there, but soon realized it was too big.

"I love old things, especially heritage houses, and I wanted to bring it back to its original state," said Garman, who worked at St. Joseph's and then Victoria General hospitals in receiving and shipping - another exacting and precise job - for 24 years.

He used those meticulous skills, including some of his demolition talents, to oversee every aspect of the work, which included gutting the old kitchen, raising its ceiling and combining it with a tiny pantry. All the new cupboards were custom made of reclaimed wood.

He also added a small bathroom on the main floor, refinished all the floors, insulated under the main floor, added storm windows and protective glass over all the stained glass, and designed a full suite in the basement.

"There was nothing there before, just an old basement with an oil tank and small bathroom for the man who did the garden," he said.

Garman also had the home designated heritage.

"Renovating an old house is a huge project and takes a lot longer than you think. It costs more, too. I haven't really added it up . I'm too scared.

"But it was a lot of fun and I used to come over every day," said Garman, who retired in 1990. At that time, he bought "an old ugly duplex nearby," tore it down and built four townhouses, which he sold.

One of the challenges on this project was discovering a support post under the front porch that had rotted away. "There wasn't very much holding the veranda up," he said with a chuckle.

When Cherniack came along and made her offer to buy the house, he had almost completed all the work.

"Countless people had wanted to look at it, but the timing was perfect with Bea, and I know she and Lawrie love the house. We have become good friends."

When Lawrie Cherniack called five years ago, to ask his wife if she had bought the Government Street house, she said: "Er . yes . I've bought a house, but not the one you think."

He was bemused at first, "but I trust her instincts. Bea has a good eye for property and I knew if she bought a different house, it would be a better one."

And he loves Victoria. "It's a really cosmopolitan city and the only warm alternative in Canada that appeals to me. I like the pedestrian nature of the place, being close to downtown, not really needing a car."

He enjoys cycling here, visiting used bookstores and, being a keen cook, revels in the local seafood.

With such culinary talent, it's small wonder the couple's favourite spot is the dining room, with its built-in sideboard, stained-glass window with brilliant grapes and oranges, and original fireplace with emerald tiles.

But Bea Cherniack raves about every room: "The whole house has such beautiful details: the special handles on the staircase for old folks; the original light fixtures, which we are slowly getting rewired; the five window seats that all lift up and are lined with cedar . and how many houses have two master bedrooms?

"When we bought the house, Graham had done everything, including putting in a basement suite. There were two of everything - fridges, stoves, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers - all brand new. We benefited from his meticulous work. He thought of every detail."

There is very little to be done, but she would like to pave the tiny, east-facing backyard with inter-locking stones to create a cosy sitting area. They appreciate the extensive front lawn, but would like more plantings for privacy and may remove the north path to expand flower borders "in lovely large curves."

Another dream would be to add an ensuite to the master bedroom and, said Cherniack, "talk about dreams, there is also a wonderful attic with fir floors that would make an amazing space."

Two things she will never change are the verandas.

"I always, always wanted a house with a veranda, and to have one on the second storey, too, is over the top. I go up there and knit and look over the park, in a great big chair I kept for years in our garage in Winnipeg. The family kept saying get rid of it, but I said no, no, because some day ."

And though they don't both live here full time yet, they have no need for alarms, "because we have Graham. I always joke we are co-curators of this house. He's the best of neighbours, very attached to the house but never intrusive. I honour his love for it."

And an extra bonus?

"Our social life out here is very rich - because half of Winnipeg is here."

HERITAGE HOME RESTORATION CAN BE A PRICEY ENDEAVOUR

Graham Garman says restoring a heritage house is an ultra expensive undertaking. He kept detailed records during the six-year project, which began in 2000.

He jokes that he hasn't added up all the bills for redoing the 2,400 squarefoot house because he doesn't want to know what the total cost was. However, he was able to provide a few examples of his expenses.

This list doesn't include major items, such as a new furnace, appliances, the kitchen reno, new bathroom and entire new ground-floor suite. But it reflects his general maintenance bills:

New roof: $18,000

Exterior paint: $20,000

Refinishing floors and stairs: $2,600

Front porch repairs: $1,700

Back stair replacement: $728

Re-stucco the front: $2,100

New gutters and downspouts: $630

housebeautiful@timescolonist.com

Writer Grania Litwin and photographer Frances Litman are known for their sense of style and knowledge of outstanding design. They tour homes around the south Island, talking to homeowners, interior designers, architects and artists who influence the way we live.