House of the Week: $1.6 million for a Scarborough home with hints of Frank Lloyd Wright

By Simone Olivero | May 2, 2012

By Simone Olivero | 05/02/2012

NEIGHBOURHOOD: Guildwood

AGENTS: Caroline Ilaqua and Ron Baldwin, Royal LePage Estate Realty

PRICE: $1,650,000

THE PLACE: Architect Wayne Olson transformed a once boring ranch-style bungalow on a hill overlooking the Scarborough Bluffs into a roomy modern home.

BRAGGING RIGHTS: Olson took a cue from Frank Lloyd Wright when designing this home—specifically, Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture, which says structures should be in harmony with their natural surroundings. The lofty open-concept house blends into its hillside setting using a neutral palette and top-notch landscaping.

BIG SELLING POINT: Thanks to a 2,100-square-foot main floor, and a 1,900-square-foot, two-storey addition, it’s a lot of house for the price. The backyard isn’t tiny, either.

POSSIBLE DEAL BREAKER: Living in Scarborough may not have a glamorous ring—though it starts to sound pretty darn nice when you consider this neighbourhood has bluffs with lakefront trails, plenty of trees, parks and close proximity to local golf courses and yacht clubs.

BY THE NUMBERS:
• $1,650,000
• $12,000 in estimated property taxes (based on homes of similar value)
• 4,100 square feet
• 1,900-square-foot addition
• 100 feet of frontage
• 7 skylights
• 5 bathrooms
• 4 bedrooms
• 2-car garage
• 1 fireplace
• 1 heated swimming pool

SHOW CAPTION

RETURN TO ARTICLE

Architect Wayne Olson added two stories and 1,900 square feet to this home, which is set on a third of an acre in Scarborough. The house also has a stone-clad 2-car garage

The enormous double entry doors are made of solid, stained Douglas fir. The entryway is open to the kitchen and living room, as well as to the second floor

The living room and dining room have solid birch hardwood flooring, recessed lighting and a pair of skylights

A stone-clad gas fireplace in the living room

The living room and dining room, main level

Floor-to-ceiling windows with views to the zen courtyard at the front of the house

The winterized solarium can be used year-round. It contains three skylights and opens onto the side yard

The family room has cork flooring and corner windows facing the front yard

The kitchen boasts white quartz counters and stainless steel appliances, including a gas cooktop with exhaust hood, twin wall ovens and twin fridges

The kitchen island has a cooktop, a built-in microwave, a prep sink and seating for two

The master bedroom has a separate dressing room and an ensuite bathroom

The massive glass shower contains a rain-style showerhead and a spot to sit down

The ensuite bathroom also has a spa tub, heated ceramic floors and a double vanity

An upper level bathroom with heated floors

The laundry room and mudroom can be accessed from the garage

The basement currently contains a large play area, with a walk-out to backyard and pool. It could easily be converted into a suite, as it has a kitchenette with a counter and fridge, and a three-piece bathroom

The backyard has a 400-square-foot cedar deck, a landscaped area and a heated swimming pool

16 thoughts on “House of the Week: $1.6 million for a Scarborough home with hints of Frank Lloyd Wright”

Paul says:

May 2, 2012 at 10:50 pm

This is the toughest one yet on TL. Firstly, cant we just say its located in Toronto since theorectically speaking Scarborough no longer exist? The finishes look basic, even the hardwood floor looks cheap and basic and that wood panel in the ceiling, whats that about. Dont know about over $1.5mil for this pad, its a tough call..I think it needs some serious staging with the appropriate right furniture to get this house off the market.
Perry says:

May 3, 2012 at 12:28 am

I definitely agree above with the right staging that the house could have a lot of potential.
Anita says:

May 3, 2012 at 7:28 am

Hmm.I think this is one of the nicest best bang for your buck home that TL has posted.
Rita says:

May 3, 2012 at 9:35 am

way to light every photo so that it looks like an artists’ rendering of a home not yet built.
Gabrielle says:

May 3, 2012 at 9:49 am

@ Rita – it’s funny cause it’s true!
Ben Dover says:

May 3, 2012 at 1:10 pm

Omg – FLW is turning over in his grave. This house is hardly even a hint of FLW’s work. Not great architecture.
tfarih says:

May 3, 2012 at 8:07 pm

really? why always so negative peeps. this is a beautiful house. sheesh its hard to make TL readers happy. And Paul- not sure how much you know about reno’s but there is NOTHING cheap about this house or any of the materials that were chosen. Quartz, Cork, heated floors, a billion pot lights and 3 skylights. if you think this is poor quality, you’ll never find happiness…
Ricky says:

May 4, 2012 at 12:14 am

looks like a pretty nice house
Cee says:

May 4, 2012 at 12:54 am

tfarih…. are you the listing agent or the owner? Read & look again.. I think Paul’s comments were good, not being negative but constructive… yours seems to be the negative bashing type. Focus on YOUR opinion and the house and not other readers… its cheap dull wood and floor for an over $1.5 mil house!!
kiran says:

May 4, 2012 at 7:45 am

This is a beautiful house located in Toronto.
Try findig a house like this anywhere else in the city at this price !
Mark says:

May 4, 2012 at 10:28 am

What happened to the writer with the snarky comments? I miss them!
Methinks says:

May 4, 2012 at 11:52 am

Whoever listed this should fire their staging company. FLW wouldn’t be too pleased. Warm on the outside, cold on the inside. Still a good bargain for the dough. And ya, I miss the snarky writer! Was waiting for a couple of good jabs at this place.
yoda says:

May 4, 2012 at 7:16 pm

Ditch all the furniture OBVIOUSLY, but the house has such potential. Enough said just WOW.
joan cait says:

May 6, 2012 at 9:22 am

— We’re looking at re-locating to Toronto and have been house hunting for awhile– have seen many houses that have been the same or more $ that offered much less–If west end wasn’t our target area this would definitely be one we’d check out– beautiful rooms and design– love the main floor areas– kitchen, as well as the view of the house from the street and the backyard.
Tony says:

May 9, 2012 at 10:40 pm

re: Joan Cait,
You can buy a non-descript older builder home, knock it down and rebuild something like this or better for this price. West-end(etobicoke) is full of them.
Gail says:

June 24, 2012 at 6:33 pm

Toured the house – nice but not worth $1.6MM. Oh, maybe that’s why the price was dropped to $1.525MM.

One block north the neighborhood is run down.