Home of the Week: 311 Shaw St. interior
311 Shaw St.
What: This renovated and restored Victorian contains roughly 2,000 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and four bathrooms, on a 24- by 127-foot lot just north of Trinity Bellwoods Park
Asking price: $1.195-million
Taxes: $6,009 (2009)
Agent: Lisa Munro, Bosley Real Estate
Just a short jog north of Trinity Bellwoods Park, this late 19th-century Victorian is a property that has many things beautifully united, according to agent Lisa Munro.
While many may immediately notice its combination of classic period pieces with contemporary designer decor, few would be aware of an old-fashioned romance that brought together an elderly owner and her tenant several decades ago.
"It's a very special home," Ms. Munro says. "It's for someone who sees the value in the proximity to the park, and also really loves historical homes that have contemporary flair."
The sense of drama that unfolded inside - in the past and present - can be felt before stepping into the grand 2½-storey structure, which was among the first built on a street now lined with an eclectic mix of semidetached houses and row homes.
"It's unusual in that it's detached and has nice space around it, which is always a treat in that area because everything is so tight down there," says Ms. Munro, who adds that this also explains the demand for properties such as this near Trinity Bellwoods Park.
"It's kind of like Central Park in New York or Hyde Park of London, so it's like the last remaining downtown green space."
But back in 1887, there was no shortage of green space as this family home, known as the Henderson House, was built amid open fields.
According to research done by the sellers, the builder's daughter, Mary Henderson, lived there for more than a century since she was born in 1902, while her siblings moved next door into two semi-detached houses their father assembled later on.
Ms. Henderson never had children, so a second kitchen was installed upstairs for a tenant, whom she eventually married in her 80s.
What remained unchanged were over 10-foot ceilings, decorative trims and medallions and etched glass window panes, as well as two authentic coal-burning fireplaces with faux marble finishes, including one with two Hs for the builder's name.
"It was … very obvious that there had only been one owner because there was so much of the original detail intact," Ms. Munro says. "It was so impressive."
However, when the current owners bought this brick house in 2003, it was in need of repair and the upper levels were largely neglected after Ms. Henderson stopped climbing the stairs.
In some cases, the plaster was held to the walls by wallpaper, which covered nearly every surface.
In order to restore the home of its former glory, while discreetly updating it with modern conveniences, one of the owners, Laurence Martocq, utilized her skills as a stylist, and the expertise of her sister, Virginie Martocq, who is home editor at Chatelaine magazine and an interior designer.
"It's the best of both worlds having very contemporary, updated amenities within the house, yet having this beautiful charm to it," Ms. Munro says. "I thought it was such a beautiful marriage of old and new."
Recent changes include the addition of pot lights throughout the main and lower levels, a sound system wired into the living room ceiling, and the latest in plumbing and heating equipment.
Down the main hall, past the dining room, the kitchen was revamped with a marble-topped island, mirrored backsplashes and stainless steel appliances, as well as a window seat surrounded by cabinetry.
"A lot of times, the bigger, larger Victorians are not as practical as a new build," Ms. Munro says. "But they did a lot to make it a very functional, family home."
For instance, the family room was custom outfitted with a built-in media and storage unit by the double doors to the covered deck. "As you come in, there are places to hang your coat and put your shoes," the agent says.
"They had a powder room too on the first floor, which again, speaks to the efficiency of the house."
Should more space be needed, there is a finished recreation room in the basement and a professionally landscaped backyard bound by garden beds, fencing and a garage.
"You have this urban oasis in the heart of the city," Ms. Munro says. "It's a great entertaining home."
At the end of the day, children and guests can retire to a lower-level bedroom, a second-floor bedroom next to the main bathroom and laundry closet or two third-floor bedrooms.
As for the homeowners, more than half of the second floor was reserved to create a master retreat with a sitting area and sleeping quarters by a fireplace, as well as a walk-in closet with built-in organizers, a den and a bathroom with a whirlpool tub, glass shower stall and vanity with twin sinks.
"The master ensuite is just so luxurious, spa-like and beautiful," Ms. Munro says. "People that have come through during the open house loved the way the master was done."
*This house recently sold at an undisclosed price.