As fetching as some homes appear from the outside, when it comes to mature neighbourhoods, looks can be deceiving. Which is to say, while a century-old home might possess curb appeal in spades, there's a chance the home might be dated and lack function inside. That's why 335 Balfour Avenue -- which sports a smart, painted grey stucco exterior and red-trimmed front door with red-trimmed overhang and side trim -- is such a special home, said Dave Heinrichs of Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate.
"The home not only looks good on the outside, but it also looks great inside," said Heinrichs. "This home not only has most of its original character, it has been updated in several key areas." The 1,795 sq. ft., two-storey home was built way back in 1913, but retains a modern appeal. For starters, the electrical system has been updated, and renovations have brought several spaces up to contemporary standards. And although the home features a centre hall floor plan -- a layout that doesn't always work that well in terms of allowing smooth traffic and light flow -- the home flows well, and actually feels larger than its listed square footage.
Like most homes of its vintage, 335 Balfour starts off with a mid-sized foyer with a sitting room/living room placed off to its left-hand side. Heinrichs said its one space that didn't need to be updated. "It's a gorgeous space with (oak) French doors and a beautiful, wood burning fireplace with original oak surround and mantel - the grain in the wood is incredible," he said. "There's also an original, built-in bookcase/display unit on the right-hand wall, large window and the original oak hardwoods. Most of the home's original character is intact, from brass doorknobs to 10-inch oak baseboards, to oak trim around doors and baseboards."
Head down the hall toward the home's rear portion and you encounter a family room with two-piece bath to the left, kitchen at the rear centre and an eating nook to the right. While it's a rare sight, it's a very good one, said Heinrichs. "This is the area where the home's outgoing owner had the home updated. To the left is a big family room, which used to be a dining room. It was opened up, the original (big) three-piece window was retained, and a ceiling fan was put in. It's a great space that is flooded with light, has plenty of room for furniture, and makes a great media room."
A very pleasant surprise awaits in the space immediately to the right of the family room -- a two-piece bath. "It used to be a kind of ugly three-piece bath, so it was reduced in size to open up room in the family room," said Heinrichs. "The original hexagonal (off-white) tile floor was retained, and a compact (white) thermofoil vanity was installed with rectangular sink, and low-flush toilet. It also has a window, which is a nice feature."
Directly across the way is the third space, a delightful, mid-sized eating nook. "It has large windows on its front and rear walls -- they let in tons of natural light, and provide views of the mature trees that surround the home. The brown cork is also a nice touch, and there's plenty of room for a table for six. It's also close to the family room and kitchen, so it's well-positioned if you enjoy entertaining, or just getting the family together for a nice meal at the end of a school and work day."
The area is then capped off by a renovated kitchen as contemporary as those found in new homes. "Features include a cork floor, newer stainless steel appliances, cherry veneer cabinets, laminate countertops, pantries on either side of the fridge and a huge window over the double sink," said Heinrichs. "There's also an original oak door with oak trim leading to the back landing."
Making the ascent to the upper level is a pleasure, as it involves using the original oak staircase that is not only in pristine condition, but also comes accompanied by a story. "This home had been converted into a duplex previously," said Heinrichs. "So the staircase was actually closed in, particularly its front pillar. When the wall was opened up, there was a note with details on how to re-assemble the (hand-carved) pillar. It was restored to its original position and the rest of the staircase, because it had been enclosed, was in beautiful condition. There's even an original leather-trimmed wall on its right side that goes all the way upstairs."
Much like the home's main level, 335 Balfour's upper level offers more function than expected. Because there's only a brief sliver of hallway, the space available was maximized. The result is there are three large bedrooms, a four-piece bath and den. Few homes built in 1913 feature the same efficient layout. "All three bedrooms are not only large, but they all have huge closets, which is also rare," said Heinrichs. "The main bath was also renovated with a tile floor and a new vanity with dual sinks, and the den is a good-sized space with dura ceramic floor."
Add in a basement ready for development and central location in a quiet, mature neighbourhood and the home is ready for new owners to enjoy, he added. "It's in move-in condition, the location is close to all sorts of amenities and you have a home with lots of character, yet it is nicely updated. Those features are hard to beat."
lewys@mts.net
