House of the Week: $2.8 million for a century-old house in Beaconsfield Village hidden by a wall of greenery
The 3,000-square-foot Victorian features period pieces, dramatic beams and arches, beautiful barn boards, and a hidden pool in the backyard.
Neighborhood: Village of Beaconsfield
Price: $2.8 million
Last sold for: $327,000 in 2006
size: 3,000 square feet
Rooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Agent: Suzanne Senst, Royal LePage
The place
A three-bedroom, three-bathroom turn-of-the-century house on Argyle Street in Beaconsfield Village. Sitting on a 26-foot-wide lot, it has a pool, a lush garden and an addition overlooking the backyard. It is also within walking distance of Little Portugal, Trinity Bellwoods Park and many West Queen West amenities.
The history
Built in 1898, this Victorian was purchased in 2006 by Michelle Donnelly, a creative director, and her husband. The house was crumbling to the ground at the time, so the two brought in Levitt Goodman Architects to restore it to its former glory—and then some. Donnelly tried to restore the original features while adding many contemporary touches, incorporating reclaimed woods, vintage fixtures and tasteful finishes.
Related: $7 million for Casa Loma’s red-brick sculptural staircase
The tour
Walking through the front door, visitors are greeted by this period inspired library with narrow plank floors. It is sunken, giving the space an added sense of grandeur.
Ideal for bookworms and sleepy dogs, the room features a retrofitted vintage bookshelf from Smash Salvage, rumored to be from an abandoned mansion in Rio de Janeiro.
Here’s a reverse view of the library, with tall bay windows set behind one of the house’s original arches. A gas fireplace warms the room off the hallway. Those support beams are designed to give the space more drama.
Down the hallway is the open kitchen, with a view of the living room and backyard.
While the appliances are luxury and stainless steel, the details are vintage. For example, Donnelly reclaimed wood from the house’s original doors for the cabinets and pantry.
A quick detour into the adjacent powder room reveals a reclaimed school sink and beehive ceramic floor.
The living area has 10 foot industrial glass doors.
This block of re-milled barn board is the highlight of the space. It runs the width of the house and extends outside, over the soffit and into the addition.
Here’s what the addition looks like from behind.
In the center of the garden there is a dining room.
There are nine by 18 foot pools hidden within the jungle.
Back inside, the staircase is equipped with a Victorian newel post.
The second floor landing is surrounded by two attractive corners.
Here’s a closer look at the reading nook off the main bedroom. Donnelly moved the original main floor fireplace mantel, which was no longer in use, and placed it here as an ornament.
In the main bedroom, light streams in through the large original windows. That’s a vintage dresser on the far wall, which Donnelly turned into a laundry table with a sink.
A reverse view of the suite reveals a walk-in closet.
Now, a closer look at the walk-in.
This is the second bedroom, which overlooks the backyard
Donnelly set up the third bedroom as a study.
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