It's funny how we perceive age.
If you're 37 years old, you still consider yourself to be relatively young. But 37 years old for a home? Well, that's starting to get up there.
That is, unless the home has been brought up to contemporary standards. That's exactly the case with 19 Lavender Bay, a home built in 1977 when albums (some of us actually remember those unwieldy black vinyl discs) like Fleetwood Mac's Rumours were topping the charts.
"The outgoing owner actually bought the home about four years ago and has spent that time meticulously updating the home," said Re/Max Professionals' Bobby Silman. "This home was a labour of love, not a flip."
A quick tour of the home confirms that. The detail that went into the remodelling the home goes far beyond what investors put (or, more succinctly, don't put) into homes: time, high-quality materials, and, most importantly, keen attention to detail.
That attention to detail starts with the floor plan, which bears little resemblance to the original 1977 design.
"The kitchen's rear wall was removed to do a couple of things -- open it up to the living room and to allow light from two large windows on its rear wall to flow into the foyer and living room," said Silman. "Doing that really improved traffic flow, and light flow."
A second modification to the kitchen's design opened it up all the more, this time to the home's family room.
Turns out the kitchen has been brought up to contemporary standards in every aspect, from the flooring, to the cabinets, countertops and backsplash. Thankfully, it's no relic of the '70s.
"The kitchen has been totally redesigned with (grey/black) granite countertops, tan ceramic tile flooring, custom-crafted cabinets with dental crown moulding and a dark grey tile backsplash. It also has a large, angled island with seating for two," Silman said. "It's a great spot to eat breakfast at, or to use as a food-preparation station when you're entertaining."
Prior to the renovations -- with its chopped-up floor plan -- the home would not have been ideal for entertaining. That's not the case now, he added.
"Flow from the kitchen into the living room and dining room and back down into the family room is excellent. Not only that, but each spacious is generous in size (living room 18.5 feet by 14 feet, dining room nearly 13 feet by 12 feet, with the family room measuring in at 19.3 feet by 12 feet). Everyone can flow back and forth to visit without a problem, all in an atmosphere that's bright, and warm."
That brightness comes courtesy of tons of well-placed glass -- a huge picture window on the living room's front wall, a large window on the dining room's rear wall, and three windows in the kitchen. The foyer -- which is demarcated by a vaulted ceiling and tan travertine tile floor -- is also bright due to double front doors with glass centres.
The home -- which spans 2,200 sq. ft., not including the lower level -- is also well-laid-out. Case in point is a wing off the foyer that contains a powder room, laundry area and door to a fully insulated double garage.
Meanwhile, the home's upper level contains three bedrooms and a fully renovated four-piece bath.
"Both secondary bedrooms are large (at 11.3 feet by 13.2 feet and 13.3 feet by 12 feet) with larger windows and lots of closet space, while the main bath has a tan tile floor, jetted soaker tub (set in the same tile), dual sinks and a tan tile backsplash," said Silman. "The bathroom offers a nice touch of luxury, while the bedrooms are very comfortable, and functional."
Those three qualities -- comfort, function and luxury -- would sum up the spacious master suite, which checks in at 15 feet by 13.75 feet.
"It's a nice big space that features a stunning, remodelled ensuite (with five-foot tempered glass/tile shower) and generous walk-in closet," he said. "It's also a private space because it's been placed away from the other two bedrooms."
Head downstairs to the home's lower level, and you encounter a bright area that's been divided neatly into a media room, bedroom with two-piece bath and storage.
"It's an area that offers different possibilities -- it could be used as an in-law suite, or a teenager looking for privacy could make their home down here; it could also be used as a media room or exercise room, with the bedroom being used as a guest suite," said Silman. "There's also a huge storage area, as well."
He added that 19 Lavender's ace in the hole is a huge, park-like backyard that contains a 20-foot-by-40-foot in-ground pool, play structure and workshop.
"If you're a young family, you don't have to go anywhere -- there's plenty of room to run around, swim and play on the play structure. Inside, you get a meticulously remodelled home that's contemporary, and in move-in condition," he said. "It's like moving into a new home, only you're in a quiet, established area that's close to schools and tons of amenities."
lewys@mts.net
