Home of the Week: A modern home in traditional Lawrence Park
Location was first item on the must-have list
Home of the Week, 104 Kimbark Blvd., Toronto. Asking price: $2,895,000. The house was a project by Arthaus Development, the baby of developer Ash Vahman and architect Shanar Moshtael. ‘We wanted to build homes that we could be proud of,’ says Mr. Vahman. ‘We want them to be unique and very design-oriented.’ ‘And family-friendly at the same time,’ says agent Kevin McCarthy. ‘And family needs were top of mind when designing this home.’Alexander J. Rothe
104 Kimbark was originally a modest, one-and-a-half storey mid-century house - and a serious fixer-upper, according to Mr. McCarthy. But it had a good location and generous lot. The new housemeasures 52 by 32 feet on the inside and has maximized ceiling height on each floor (10 feet on the main, nine feet on the second and just over eight feet in the basement).Alexander J. Rothe
The main floor of the house provides a ‘wow’ element., in part because of the open space.photos by alexander J. Rothe
Mr. Moshtael, a German ex-pat, is proud to say the closets and all the other walnut millwork – including a walnut table that is put together like a Japanese puzzle box and requires no nails or screws – were done by the adept hands of German carpenters. Another remarkable wood feature of the home are the white oak floors, which are throughout the house and bathed in a custom oil finish that is warm and varied. On the first floor especially, the floors help keep the flow between segments coherent. Its smooth transitions make the main floor perfectly suited for entertaining.Alexander J. Rothe
The kitchen is sleek with Corian countertops and matching white glossy cabinets. Its large island seats four comfortably and looks out onto both the family room and the picture-frame, oversized windows, and a walk-out deck at the back of the house.Alexander J. Rothe
The top of the marble casing of the living room fireplace lines up with the top of the floating walnut credenza in the dining room, which matches up with the lines in the cabinetry in the kitchen. ‘The future buyer will explore all of these subtle details over the next few years,’ says Mr. Moshtael. ‘These small little details give joy to [the homeowner] when they are found.’
The den stands out. As you walk up the floating stairs to the second floor, you notice there is a door on the first landing. It opens up into a sizeable office-like room that has huge windows overlooking the front yard and the continuation of the walnut millwork. One whole wall is lined with custom, built-in bookshelves. ‘The beauty of the den is that you’re set back from the living parts of the home so if you’re working your kids aren’t bothering you,’ Mr. Vahman said. ‘But you have absolute command of the street and who’s coming in and out of your house.’Alexander J. Rothe
The master bedroom faces the back and looks out over the greenery of the backyard.Alexander J. Rothe
The master ensuite bathroom has a double vanity and a double, co-joint shower.Alexander J. Rothe