Home of the Week: A modern mixed-use in midtown Toronto
Home of the Week, 37 Alvin Ave., Toronto. Steps away from the bustling intersection of Yonge and St. Clair, this three-storey Victorian home looks perfectly domestic on the outside. But the Alvin abode is not a regular home. Its main floor is currently a podiatrist’s office and perched above it on the upper two floors is the perfect little nest for empty-nesters.Caralyn Ing
Despite being in the heart of midtown Toronto, 37 Alvin is also around the corner from many of Toronto’s parks and paths, like the Moore Park ravine, which eventually connects with Toronto’s Brickworks.Caralyn Ing
In the mid-1990s, the owners had renowned Toronto-based architect J.F. (Joe) Brennan – who has designed many a millionaire’s home in Rosedale, the U.S. and the Bahamas – redo the house. The upstairs was opened up with the second storey becoming a large kitchen with a walk-out deck and a shared formal dining room with a spacious living space. The top level was divvied up into two large bedrooms, both with plenty of closet space, and two bathrooms (one of which is en suite).Caralyn Ing
The décor on the upper levels is clean, yet detailed. Mr. Brennan left a few little wooden stars embedded into his hardwood floors. He also turned one of the supporting beams into an enclosed column light and created miniature duplicates to sit atop of the staircase posts. The end result is a welcoming, warm condo-esque space without all some of the downsides of a condo, like condo fees.Caralyn Ing
The biggest recent reno project was replacing the old wood-burning fireplace with a smaller, gas-burning unit that’s framed with marble and heats the open space just as efficientlyCaralyn Ing
The fireplace is one of the reasons why the current owners love the living room so much, citing that it’s a warm space (both literally and figuratively) to relax at the end of the day or entertain a small cohort of guests.Caralyn Ing
The kitchen has been given new appliances, including a Liebherr refrigerator and a Miele stove.Caralyn Ing