House of the Week: $1.7 million for a Fallingbrook century home with a serene backyard

Neighbourhood: Fallingbrook Price: $1,795,000 Last sold for: $511,000 in 2001 Size: 1,920 square feet plus an 800-square-foot basement Bedrooms: 3+2 Bathrooms: 3 Parking spots: 2 Real estate agent: Matt Olinski, The Richards Group

The place

A three-bedroom, three-bathroom Beaches classic with a renovated kitchen, an 800-square-foot basement apartment and a serene backyard. Sitting right on the Scarborough border, the property is within walking distance of Neil McNeil High School, the Toronto Hunt Club and the many shops on Kingston Road. It also has easy access to several bus routes and streetcar lines. 

The history

The owners of this century home purchased it in 2001 and gradually upgraded it over the years—landscaping the backyard, expanding the rear for a larger kitchen and modernizing the upstairs bathrooms. But much of the place’s heritage charm remains, with its original oak contours and fireplace still standing.

The tour

Shrouded by its front garden, the house looks deceptively tiny from the curb.

The foyer—with oak all over and crown-moulded ceilings—highlights the home’s heritage.

While the front room is a bit more contemporary.

Here’s a full view of the family room.

Walking to the rear of the home reveals the kitchen, island and breakfast bar. Those large sliding doors lead to the backyard deck.

The kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, a wine fridge, marble counters and porcelain subway-tiled walls.

This den is also on the main floor. It’s currently set up as an office and library.

All three bedrooms are upstairs. This is the main one, accented by vaulted ceilings and an arched roof window.

The layout of the second bedroom mirrors the first.

Down the hall is one of the shared bathrooms, with a vintage clawfoot tub, a moulded half wall and a wide vanity.

Now for the fully finished basement apartment. Its separate entrance leads to this spacious family room.

This lounge could be transformed into a dining area or rec room.

Here’s the kitchen.

And this is the bedroom.

But the real showstopper is the giant backyard deck. It comes with a pergola, a lounge, built-in storage, a grill and a dining area. Note the addition to the home, which features board-and-batten siding.

With so many mature trees in the backyard, summer nights on the deck feel like a camping trip up north.

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