A Muskoka retreat? A million-dollar Lake of the Woods summer home? Nope. It's a little piece of riverside paradise here in Winnipeg, at 49 Kingston Row.
The home's piece de resistance is obviously the kitchen, which is not only attractive, it's fit for a gourmet.
A wall of windows lets the view of the river flood into the great room.
The dining room is a clean, stylish design that highlights the interplay between old and new in the home.
Realtor Debra Ann Kaminsky says 49 Kingston Row is 'like country living in the city'.
That was the plan when Dave Parsons and his wife, Stacy, bought the house back in 2000. Located in a wide bend along the Red River, the property was beautiful and the house itself was full of possibilities. The couple set out to turn the 1,730-square-foot house into their dream home. A series of renovations followed, included tearing down walls and completely reconfiguring most of the space.
At the front of the house, the Parsons converted the traditional living and dining rooms into bedrooms. One side of the centre hall plan features a large nursery for their son, which is large enough for a bedroom and sitting area. On the other side of the front hall, the den was transformed into a luxurious master bedroom.
The Parsons created a sumptuous master suite by preserving key elements from the former den. The rich, wood-panelled walls create a feeling of luxury that is enhanced by the built-in wood fireplace. Flanked by two original piano windows, the fireplace is the focal point of the room. A large walk-in closet leads to a separate dressing area the couple had planned to convert into an ensuite.
"We were doing everything for ourselves," says Parsons, who has just been transferred to Calgary. "We were going to retire here."
Since they both love to cook, the Parsons decided to make their biggest investment in the kitchen. The $80,000 renovation included $25,000 worth of top-of-the-line appliances alone. It is the home's piece de resistance.
"This is our pride and joy," says Parsons. "I'd like to take this kitchen with us."
The kitchen is designed around a large, granite-topped island that has a built-in wine cellar at one end. The home's original wooden butcher block was incorporated into the new design to retain some of the room's original flavour. A skylight directly above the island floods the work area with natural light, which adds to the variety of recessed and accent lighting.
"We used the best lighting we could find," Parsons points out.
No expense was spared in creating this dream kitchen. The floor is heated for the ultimate in comfort and the stone tiles complement the detailed stonework on the walls. The sound system is wired into the room with speakers in the ceiling, making it the ideal home for a kitchen party.
The kitchen opens up onto a huge great room addition that was completed by previous owners in 1975. The great room includes a high-efficiency wood fireplace and a wall of windows along the back of the house that provides a spectacular view of the Red River.
"We just fell in love with the view," says Parsons.
It was the location on the Red River that drew Parsons to the home. After growing up in Goderich, Ontario and spending summers on the beaches of Lake Huron, Parsons says he has always been drawn to the water. And he's incorporated some elements from his childhood into this house.
When they added a hot tub area off the walk-out basement, Parsons had a mosaic tile design built into the patio. The colourful tile features images of sailboats, lighthouses and the lake, replicating his hometown flag of Goderich, which he flies proudly over the property.
Affectionately dubbed The Royal Red River Yacht Club, the multi-tiered property is landscaped down to the water and features a number of special areas, including a private retreat with a hammock, a full-size horseshoe pit and barbecue area and another gazebo area for outdoor dining. The property takes full advantage of a wide, unencumbered view of the Red River and offers the ultimate in privacy with no houses located directly on the opposite banks.
"We both dreamed of a having a cottage," says Parsons. "Then we realized we have one."
That's one of the biggest selling features of the home, notes Debra Ann Kaminsky of Re/Max Associates, who has the home listed for $349,900.
"One of the beauties of this home is that it's like country living in the city," says Kaminsky.
The house is also unique in that it's an old character home that includes a walk-out basement. Kaminsky says it's something she has never seen in a home in Winnipeg.
"I believe its one of a kind," she notes. "It's such an amazing home -- houses like this are so few and far between."
tbryksa@mts.net
