House of the Week: $2.1 million for a postmodern Pickering cabin with a multi-level deck overlooking the Rouge River

Neighbourhood: Rosebank, Pickering Price: $2,149,000 Size: 2,200 square feet Bedrooms: 4+1 Bathrooms: 4 Real estate agent: Laura Inward, Keller Williams Advantage Realty Parking spaces: 6

The place

A four-bedroom, four-bathroom cabin with a double garage and cathedral ceilings. Located in Pickering’s leafy Rosebank neighbourhood, it backs onto the stunning Rouge River—a national landmark and an ideal destination for hikes and water sports. The house is also a short walk from Petticoat Creek Conservation Park and a two-minute drive from the 401.

The history

The current owners—avid paddleboarders—bought this 1980s-built home in 2010 for its proximity to the Rouge. Over the next 10 years, they added a wellness room with its own gas fireplace, hardwood floors, new window frames and a skylight for late-night stargazing. Then, in 2020, they built a humongous 1,000-square-foot backyard deck to admire the visiting birds and deer as well as the surrounding forest. Now they’re putting the place on the market. 

The tour

The wooden façade peeks through a forest of pine and elm, with shrubbery concealing the two-car garage and driveway from passers-by.

On the other side of the oak-panelled front door is the foyer and its 24-foot ceilings.

This reverse angle shows off the glass-railing staircase and hardwood floors.

Down the hall is the family room. It has a gas fireplace and sliding doors that lead to the backyard deck.

The open-concept kitchen and dining area is also in view of the backyard.

Porcelain tiles and laminate cabinets define the kitchen.

A closer look at the kitchen highlights the clean colour palette and the Bosch fridge and dishwasher—all of it set against nature views.

The living room features north-facing bay windows.

Moving upstairs reveals this walkway overlooking the mezzanine. Those custom windows may be the home’s most distinct feature.

Also on the second floor is the main bedroom, which has its own ensuite and a view of the ravine.

The shared bathroom is the home’s largest. It has a massive mirror, a glass shower, a wide vanity and veined marble all over.

This wellness room—with its exposed brick, soaker tub and built-in sound system—was designed for yoga and meditation.

The wellness room also has a fireplace and a skylight. If future owners were so inclined, they could convert the space into another bedroom.

Out back: a show-stopping deck with a lounge and a cooking area.

The deck is so verdant, it might as well be a treehouse.

And here’s an aerial view of Rosebank, the Rouge River and the shimmering Lake Ontario.

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