House of the Week: $2.9 million for a heritage Annex home with a decidedly un-heritage interior
Address: 41 Boswell Avenue
Neighbourhood: Annex
Agent: Isabel Beveridge and Daniel Lynch, Royal LePage/J & D Division, Brokerage
Price: $2,875,000
The Place: A three-bedroom Annex home that’s business in the front, party in the back.
Bragging Rights: This home, a heritage property overhauled by local design firm Superkül , attempts to harmonize a contemporary interior with a historical facade.
Big Selling Point: From the street, the home looks like a tiny 19th-century cottage. The interior, meanwhile, is surprisingly spacious, with open-concept rooms and contemporary woodwork that seems bound to please potential buyers.
Possible Deal Breaker: The selling agents believe this property’s unique mix of old and new has left some buyers confused. It has been on the market since February.
By The Numbers:
• $2,875,000
• $12,872 in property taxes (2014)
• 4 washrooms
• 3 bedrooms
• 3 levels
• 2 skylights
• 2 gas fireplaces
• 1 finished basement
• 1 heritage designation
• 1 parking space
302658 The house looks tiny from the outside, but there's plenty of living space within. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-01.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-01/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-01 0 0
302659 The property has a heritage designation. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-02.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-02/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-02 0 0
302660 In contrast to the exterior, the interior is all clean and modern. The panelling and flooring is Brazilian teak. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-03.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-03/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-03 0 0
302661 The den has a gas fireplace. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-04.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-04/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-04 0 0
302662 The dining area has more than enough room for an eight-person table. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-05.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-05/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-05 0 0
302663 The living room has a heated limestone floor, plus another fireplace. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-06.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-06/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-06 0 0
302664 The kitchen has enough super-fancy appliances to keep most home chefs happy. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-07.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-07/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-07 0 0
302665 And here's the powder room. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-08.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-08/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-08 0 0
302666 There are three bedrooms on the second floor of the house. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-09.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-09/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-09 0 0
302667 The second-floor hallway. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-10.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-10/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-10 0 0
302668 Here's one bedroom. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-11.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-11/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-11 0 0
302669 And another bedroom. No amount of clever design can completely eliminate all the weird angles in a house like this one, but some buyers might find the sloping ceilings charming. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-12.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-12/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-12 0 0
302670 And the main washroom. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-13.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-13/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-13 0 0
302672 The master bedroom doesn't have a walk-in, but at least the built-in closet doors are attractive. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-15.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-15/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-15 0 0
302671 The master bedroom's en suite washroom has a heated marble floor. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-14-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-14.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-14/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-14 0 0
302673 The basement is very...white. But that's nothing a little decoration couldn't fix. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-16.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-16/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-16 0 0
302674 Here's the basement washroom. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-17-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-17.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-17/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-17 0 0
302675 The back of the house looks much different from the front. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-18-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-18.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"Samantha Keay 2014"} https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-41-boswell-avenue/slide/toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-18/ toronto-annex-house-of-the-week-18 0 0
If it doesn’t sell in 10 months in a seller’s market like we have in AAA neighbourhoods like the Annex, there is only one explanation: it is over-priced.
This house makes me a bit sad. They stripped it of its personality when they did the renovations. It’s a pretty face with no soul.
It a sellers market in houses priced below $1.5mm but anything above two has been sitting. The fact that at $2mm you’d be required to put up $700m in equity eliminates most buyers.
This house is priced below what other comps have sold for in the area.
They need to factor into the price: small rooms with lots of angles.
Hahaha 2.9 million? For what? Ha thats a joke.
I’d agree to an extent but look at this house and then think what a hundred year old Victorian would look like, lots of tiny compartmentalised rooms, low ceilings and sloped floors. You know that in order for a modern family to live in it you’d need to open up the rooms and add bathrooms.
I think they’ve done a great job of melding modern with ‘classic contemporary’ in that you’ve got the great Victorian gingerbread look out front with a sharp interior that will hold its look for years to come.
I always feel bad when an old house is gutted but I think they did a great job on this one.
Why would anyone, in their right mind, want to purchase this estate, anyways, eh ? ? ? You would have to have your head examined by an expensive shink ! ! !