Take a look inside an award-winning century home
Built in 1874 in board and batten and bricked in 1898 when the first addition was added, the house was dark when the latest owners bought it
Home of the Week, 17 Euclid St., Unionville, Ont. When they purchased the suburban Toronto home in 1991, says owner Lorrie Boehmer, they were attracted by its rural feel . 'Standing on the property, we felt like we were out in the country miles from neighbours, but in reality we were in the middle of town.'
Built in 1874 in board and batten and bricked in 1898 when the first addition was added, the house was dark when the couple first bought it, and the bathrooms were outdated. The furnace also needing replacing. But pine floors, 12-inch baseboards and trim work among other original details made the flaws easy to overlook.
In 1998, the Boehmers commenced a renovation resulting in the creation of new home attached to the existing building with a single-storey link to the barn. Their effort won them the 1999 Markham Design Excellence Award for having created a new structure that blends seamlessly with the century-old dwelling.
“Our desire was to have people not be able to tell where the old house ended and the new home began,” says the owner.
Also new but created to look old is the kitchen, a replica of old farmhouse kitchen featuring tall milk-painted cupboards, milk and a cherry wood island with granite countertop and custom hand painted tiles.
The living room.
The dining room.
The sun room.
The grounds have flagstone paths and courtyards surrounded by perennial gardens and a rose garden. The backyard is a park-like setting with the potential of adding a pool and spa with plenty of room for kids to play, Ms. Boehmer says. “Once the trees have budded in the spring, it's hard to see any surrounding homes."