If you’re a long time reader of blogTO, this house might look somewhat familiar.
We wrote about 15 Citation Drive all the way back in 2019, when it was just a bungalow.
The bungalow was designed by prominent Toronto architect John Harold Bonnick to be his own family home.
It featured stunning architectural elements like wood tongue-and-groove panel ceilings and a spiral staircase to the basement.
The living room.
But since the house sold in 2019, it’s had a major glow up. So much so that it won the BILD’s RenoMark Award this March for Best Exterior Renovation.
A new bedroom.
The bungalow is no longer a bungalow, as a stunning second storey was added. But fret not, the new owners managed to keep the stunning details of the original mid-century home.
The sunken living room and dining room with exposed brick walls and a gas fireplace.
“We were very mindful to keep this type of architecture throughout, so that it would be hard to distinguish between the reno and the new build,” owner Spencer Feeley told blogTO.
The walkout basement with a spiral staircase.
You’ll notice the statement pieces, like the ceilings and staircase, are still very much intact and newly restored.
They also uncovered some other cool pieces that were original to the house.
The sunken dining room with the original exterior wall incorporated.
“During the renovation, we discovered the original purple brick in the lower living area that was the old rear exterior wall before an addition was put on the house in the 70s,” Feeley told blogTO.
“I wanted to continue to bring the outside materials into the house seamlessly, so I decided to leave the purple brick exposed inside the living room of the house,” he added.
“This tied in with the yellow brick at the fireplace, which mimics the purple and yellow brick at the front courtyard of the house.”
The original primary bedroom is now an in-law suite.
You’ll also notice the addition of expansive oversized windows, open riser stairs and loads of skylights, which make this house even more bright and airy.
The newly-renovated kitchen has been opened up to provide a view of the ravine lot and enhance the entertainment area.
The main floor is quite similar to the original home but the kitchen has been updated.
The open riser stairs.
It’s now sleek and modern but still very much fits with the overall aesthetic of the house.
The primary suite with a 16-foot patio door system to a large private deck overlooking the Marbelite pool and ravine.
The second floor is completely new with a more modern design, most notably in the primary suite with recessed LED lighting on the ceiling.
The primary ensuite.
The primary bedroom ensuite is also very modern with a double integrated sink, a massive two-person tube, and a very fancy shower.
The in-law suite.
The home has also transformed from a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house to a five-bedroom, five-bathroom home.
“If you’re a car enthusiast, you can have a view of your car from this bedroom,” said Feeley.
One of the bedrooms even has a window that looks into the garage that features a 12-foot hydrolic lift. In short, you can basically keep a car in your bedroom like art.
The glass floor.
Another indicator this is no longer a mid-century bungalow is the glass floor with integrated LED lighting in the foyer, which is basically a mini version of the CN Tower glass floor.
But functionally, Feeley told blogTO, “It’s to bring natural light from the skylight above down to the front foyer.”
The gym.
The house is now fully smart, thanks to the new smart home system. There’s also a state-of-the-art gym and a hobby room.
The basement rec room.
The basement has gone through some pretty cool upgrades as well with the addition of a fireplace and a wet bar with an under-counter wine fridge, making it perfect for entertaining.
The backyard with a large deck.
The outdoor space is still stunning with a Marbelite pool, and the large ravine the home backs onto makes it feel like you’re not even in the city.
An ensuite bathroom.
The home sold in 2020 for just over $2.5 million, but with all the additions, the home is now currently listed for $5,488,000.
The garage.
However, the uniqueness of the home means it’s had some trouble finding a buyer. This is its fourth time being listed this year, but then again, the original bungalow also took a while to sell.
The front entrance.
Mid-century homes aren’t for everyone, even if we think they’re the coolest.
HALIFAX – A village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.
Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.
Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.
The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.
Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.
They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave.
The Atlantic Community Shelters Society will also provide support to residents, ranging from counselling and mental health supports to employment and educational services.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
Housing affordability is a key issue in the provincial election campaign in British Columbia, particularly in major centres.
Here are some statistics about housing in B.C. from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Rental Market Report, issued in January, and the B.C. Real Estate Association’s August 2024 report.
Average residential home price in B.C.: $938,500
Average price in greater Vancouver (2024 year to date): $1,304,438
Average price in greater Victoria (2024 year to date): $979,103
Average price in the Okanagan (2024 year to date): $748,015
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Vancouver: $2,181
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Victoria: $1,839
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Canada: $1,359
Rental vacancy rate in Vancouver: 0.9 per cent
How much more do new renters in Vancouver pay compared with renters who have occupied their home for at least a year: 27 per cent
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Voters along the south coast of British Columbia who have not cast their ballots yet will have to contend with heavy rain and high winds from an incoming atmospheric river weather system on election day.
Environment Canada says the weather system will bring prolonged heavy rain to Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler and Vancouver Island starting Friday.
The agency says strong winds with gusts up to 80 kilometres an hour will also develop on Saturday — the day thousands are expected to go to the polls across B.C. — in parts of Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver.
Wednesday was the last day for advance voting, which started on Oct. 10.
More than 180,000 voters cast their votes Wednesday — the most ever on an advance voting day in B.C., beating the record set just days earlier on Oct. 10 of more than 170,000 votes.
Environment Canada says voters in the area of the atmospheric river can expect around 70 millimetres of precipitation generally and up to 100 millimetres along the coastal mountains, while parts of Vancouver Island could see as much as 200 millimetres of rainfall for the weekend.
An atmospheric river system in November 2021 created severe flooding and landslides that at one point severed most rail links between Vancouver’s port and the rest of Canada while inundating communities in the Fraser Valley and B.C. Interior.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
