House of the Week: $2.5 million for one of Cabbagetown’s few modern homes

Address: 73 Metcalfe Street
Neighbourhood: Cabbagetown Agent: Jonathan Ferrier, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage Price: $2,499,900

The place: A completely modernized home in Cabbagetown.

The history: Originally built in the 1950, the so-called “ugly duckling” of the neighbourhood operated as a rooming house before it sold in 2014 for $940,000. Cabbagetown has strict guidelines about maintaining heritage facades, but the seller managed to convince city hall that the area would be improved by this sleek contemporary reno.

Big selling point: The master suite, which occupies the entire third floor, is filled with swish amenities: a five-piece ensuite with heated flooring, a door to a rooftop terrace and huge built-in closets that link the bedroom with the ensuite.

Possible deal breaker: There are antique touches here and there—exposed brickwork, a fireplace—but the modern exterior may still earn the buyer the wrath of neighbours keen on Cabbagetown’s Victorian charm.

By the numbers:

• $2,499,900 • $6,047.02 in taxes (2015) • 2695 square feet above grade • 1030-square-foot basement • 30-foot atrium • 5 bathrooms • 3 bedrooms • 1 parking space

The living room has an antique-looking fireplace—even though the building is only about 60 years old.

The dining room is on the ground floor of a three-storey atrium.

There’s no shortage of natural light here.

The massive kitchen island has a marble top.

And there’s another cool fireplace in the family room.

There’s an open office area on the second floor.

There are also two bedrooms on the second floor, both with ensuite bathrooms. This one also has some built-in shelving.

Here’s the other second-floor bedroom.

The master bedroom has the third floor to itself. Those glass doors lead to a terrace.

A hallway connects the master bedroom with its built-in closets and ensuite bathroom.

A pair of massive windows create a dramatic effect—but the bathroom is at the front of the house, so the owner will probably have to invest in some shades.

And here’s the view from the rear.