This handsome brick home is perfectly located on a beautiful tree-lined street in the highly valued Allenby School neighbourhood of North Toronto. Crafted to the solid standards of the day, this classic Toronto home is well maintained and has been significantly enlarged and updated to thoughtfully blend the best of yesterday’s ambiance and cachet, with all that today’s modern design approach and materials have to offer, including a fully sheltered, backyard alfresco dining area.
The spacious centre-hall foyer has hardwood floors and decorative wall moulding as well as a beautiful long view through the entire home and out to the back garden. Double French doors with beveled glass open to a large traditional living room with hardwood floors, wall sconces, crown moulding, halogen lighting, a large bay window area with original leaded glass upper panes and custom California shutters. There is also a wood burning fireplace with stone hearth, surrounded with floor to ceiling decorative wall moulding.
The dining room is also reached through a set of beveled glass French doors and features hardwood flooring, halogen lighting, crown moulding, decorative chair-rail wall moulding and a wide bay window with original leaded glass upper panes and custom California shutters.
The fully renovated kitchen is spacious and bright and shares an open concept design with the large family room. It features hardwood floors, a skylight, recessed lighting, granite counter tops, ceramic backsplash, an island with two stainless steel under mount sinks, valence lighting, a large west window and a breakfast area large enough for a table and four chairs. There is a full suite of modern appliances including a gas cook top, Miele dishwasher, JennAir electric oven and a custom paneled fridge with lower freezer unit.
The modern family room is very spacious and features a large, south facing bay window that overlooks the rear garden and admits generous amounts of natural light. It has hardwood flooring, recessed lighting, crown moulding and a wood burning fireplace with marble surround and custom mantle that is flanked on either side by a built-in shelving and display area that makes an ideal media centre. This great open concept family room merges seamlessly with the kitchen and breakfast area and also offers a wonderfully practical “mud area” with granite floor tiles that opens directly out to the rear garden.
Adjoining the family room is a coat closet and two piece powder room with ceramic floor, granite countertop and sconce lighting.
The upper hall is fully carpeted and features a large skylight, wainscoting and a linen closet. The spacious and sunny master bedroom has great presence with a high vaulted ceiling, large south facing bay window, crown moulding, broadloom, a four piece ensuite, walk-in closet with built-ins and a wood burning fireplace with marble hearth and surround. The ensuite has a marble floor, marble countertop, a skylight, sconce lighting, generous cupboard space, a large custom mirror and a step-in glass and marble shower enclosure.
The second bedroom is carpeted and has an extra wide closet with built-ins and two windows with original leaded glass upper panes and custom California shutters. Bedroom three has carpeting, a closet and also features two windows with original leaded glass upper panes and California shutters. The fourth bedroom has a large south facing window overlooking the rear garden, carpeting and a good sized closet. A large four piece bathroom with ceramic floor, sconce lighting, large custom mirror, an east facing window and ceramic tub and shower enclosure, completes the upper floor.
The lower level recreation room has an above grade window, carpeting, recessed lighting, a bay window area, a single and a double storage closet as well as additional open storage space under the stairs. There is also a playroom area with another above grade window, built-in shelving and two additional closets. The three piece bathroom has recessed lighting, a vanity with moulded sink and a ceramic and marble shower enclosure.
The laundry room is quite large with a vinyl floor, lots of storage space, cupboards, recessed lighting, a double-wide storage closet, large capacity Maytag washer, commercial grade GE dryer and a vanity with extra deep laundry sink. The utility room has a gas hot water boiler and offers significant additional storage space.
The back garden of 407 Briar Hill is a wonderful family space. With lots of mature trees and modern fencing it offers a secure and private space for children to play in and also offers landscaped gardens, a large south facing patio and a walk-in storage shed. However, what is truly magical about this great back yard is the marvelous and beautifully finished alfresco dining area. Large, with a tumbled stone floor and fully sheltered, it is the perfect place to enjoy a great meal on a warm summer night in the company of family and friends, even if it rains…simply brilliant!
407 Briar Hill Avenue is a wonderful family home on a highly desirable street in this prized "Old Toronto" neighbourhood. It affords ideal proximity to superior schools, parks, playgrounds, private clubs, gourmet shops and fine dining. Only 20 minutes from the city's downtown core and one half hour from the airport, this location presents an ideal urban family setting.
