A Unique Architectural Masterpiece In The Beach

Houses are dynamic, pushed through an evolution by time, taste, and neccesary renovations. As years pass, a home ages into obsolescence, creating an the opportunity for it to become a new version of itself. This is precisely the case with 46 Herbert Avenue; it is a completely re-imagined, re-created home, propelled from outmoded roots into a crisp thoughtfully-executed contemporary dwell. This home is all about architectural acuity and is impressive in and of itself. However, it also happens a unique instance when ‘right place’ intersects ‘right time’. Conveniently located near premium shops, restaurants, and countless sought-after amenities, 46 Herbert – completely transformed –  thrives in The Beach Village.!

Along with some commercial notables like a Shoppers Drug Mart, a stellar LCBO, and The Running Room, there’s also plenty of places to nosh in this much-desired ‘hood. Have you ever gone to The Sunset Grill? It’s my favourite local diner; they make a delicious 3-egg breakfast (to my exact specifications) that I’ve been enjoying for over thirty years! If BBQ fare is your meal of choice, Breakwall BBQ and Smokehouse is a hop skip and a jump away. A cute wine bar with personality and a wine list to match is Sauvignon Bistro, situated down the street and one block west. Whitlock’s, located in a historical building on Queen Street East that has seen several storefronts since it was built in 1890, from a grocery store to a post office, to a Black Diamond Cheese Factory in 1925, to its current iteration, is the perfect place for a catch-up with friends.

For those with children, there’s a good selection of schools right in the neighbourhood, including Kew Beach Junior Public School, which is under a five-minute walk away. Bowmore Road Junior and Senior PS  (JK  all the way to Grade 8) offers support for kids who learn differently, like Gifted Programs, resource support for kids with Learning Disabilities, as well as French Immersion. For students seeking French Immersion, there’s also Glen Ames Senior Public School and Malvern Collegiate. And for those seeking a private school opportunity nearby, Kew Park Montessori is very close, serving Grades 1 through 6. The local high school is notable Monarch Park Collegiate.

For those who love their green space, there are a number of parks nearby including Pantry Park, which is close to Kew Beach Junior Public. Expansive Kew Gardens (Beaches Park) – with its classic 3 kilometres of boardwalk on the sandy shores of Lake Ontario – is home to the Kew Gardens bandshell (Jazz Festival!), a wading pool/playground, and the Kew Gardens Tennis Club is a pleasant idyllic stroll away. A ten-minute walk is 28-acre Woodbine Park, which is known for being home base to a number of festivals, its vibrant ecosystem and leisure activity offerings. This is truly the ideal location for nature, water and fitness lovers, as it’s also just a short stroll, bike, or blade away from the sanctuary of the Leslie Spit. Imagine, a location with accessible cardio cleansing, contemplation, and daydreaming just steps from your door!

If you are looking for a new good read, a chance to learn a new skill, or an afternoon of educational and fun activities for the whole family, the Beaches Branch of the Toronto Public Library is very close by.

Adding to the convenience of this location is the proximity of so many public transportation options on nearby Queen Street East with streetcars and buses running regularly. And for those who have to hit the road, Woodbine south to Lake Shore Boulevard offers easy access to the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. Live car-free? There’s an Enterprise Car Share located steps away at Queen and Woodbine! How amazing is that?

You know you are in for something impressive when the lengthy list of a home’s features read like chapters in a book, which makes sense when you consider the complete transformation that this home experienced. Designed by German architect Felix Leicher – from baukultur/ca – his firm is a boutique development company with the mandate to create ambitious and unique spaces of the highest architectural standards.

Baukultur/ca is also committed to being environmentally friendly. The case for sustainable housing doesn’t just stem from cost savings derived from energy-efficient construction and finishes, although that argument is compelling. It’s rewarding to be able to own a home that lets you take an active role in reducing your own carbon footprint. In this way, 46 Herbert Avenue appeals both to the pragmatic and social consciousness. For

From the choices to use sustainable building materials and practices, to energy-saving fixtures, comfort systems, plumbing, lighting and design, this is truly a sustainable home. Sustainable housing and design not only improve a homeowner’s life in terms of cost savings, but sustainable materials also tend to be more durable, which means lower maintenance and greater longevity. Green features include electrically operable skylights to naturally vent for fresh air flow, a new lead-free water service, low water use faucets, dual flush toilets, energy-efficient & energy star rated appliances, argon-gas low e-coated windows, extra insulation, an air exchange system with heat recovery, hot water ‘on demand’, a white metal roof to minimize summer heat intake, a smart thermostat with temperature sensors in all principal rooms, smart lighting control with dimmer functions to all lights & “all off“ switches, a smart home energy monitor, sustainable lumber and even recycling of construction debris.

For a better understanding of how the trend of sustainable housing is evolving, check out our recent post, ‘On Building Sustainable Housing in Canada’.

With respect to the stellar space plan, the experience of this home begins when you cross the impressive foyer, which floods with natural light through 2 skylights and features a convenient custom built-in closet. Porcelain tiles (which are notable not just for their aesthetic appeal, but for their durability in this high-traffic area) meet your feet. A smartly located powder room is immediately next to the foyer. Note the amazing light fixtures too, which offer a subtle queue to quality and design intrigue!

Sweeping 9-foot ceilings are the perfect pull to draw and push through natural light, enhancing your sense of space. The sizeable living room is anchored with an inviting gas fireplace, snazzy built-ins including an Avantgarde wine fridge, and numerous art niches perfect to display your collection. Throughout are quality features like the solid white oak wood plank floors with a 50-year warranty, full-height solid core doors, and extra touches like the barn plank louvered screen in the living room and the intricate design detail in the composition of the staircase.

The living room unfolds into a dreamy open concept kitchen, where the cook who knows how specific appliances are “the” necessary ingredient for most dishes, will be pleased to see a Samsung fridge with ice maker, inner case and show case doors, Miele convection oven, Panasonic Cyclonic Inverter microwave, 5 burner Miele gas cooktop and an Elica recessed exhaust hood, which won’t interrupt the sight line, making it fashionable and functional. White, black and wood cabinets with black and copper handles hang in nice contrast to Quartz waterfall counters and luxe backsplash, accessorized with a Blanco kitchen faucet and double stainless steel sink. Perhaps the best feature of this kitchen is the undeniably ample storage space, complete with a large pantry for your staples.

After you’ve created a delicious meal in your kitchen, you can enjoy it, along with a rich Cabernet and good company in the open concept dining room, which is founded on elegant wide plank floors. The dining room also has a walk-out to the arbour terrace. Tucked at the rear of the house is a sunny north-west exposure family room, which connects to the outdoors with numerous conduits for natural light, like oversized 8 foot tall sliding doors with transoms and two walk-outs to a lovely tiered deck and screened arbour terrace.

Making your way up to the second level, you’ll find three good-sized bedrooms, all featuring wood plank floors and custom closets and built-in shelving. The first bedroom also features a walk-out to a wooden terrace, while the second bedroom overlooks the arbour terrace, both of which revel in the sun-drenched west exposure and share the 4-piece designer bathroom. The third bedroom – an optional master bedroom – has a great bay window, along with a superb 3-piece ensuite with Hansgrohe rainshower and wand, heated towel bar, floating Toto toilet, designer tile and LED-lit medicine cabinet.

The third level is elevated elegance, literally, with an expansive Master Suite. Your ascent into the suite is a little ethereal, with the staircase lit by an operable skylight. The room begins with a stylish sitting area, and features vaulted ceilings and more skylights (which makes 6 on the top floor!) with sunscreens. It truly is a retreat, with sliding doors to a private terrace and a walk-in dressing room with a pocket door, another skylight and custom shelving. Rounding out this sublime space is the Master Ensuite, with double sinks, more skylights, a deep Vida soaker tub, generous shower, heated floors and towel rack, as well as a Duravit floating toilet.

This living space expands into the lower level as well, with a fashionable and functional laundry room, featuring a generous folding counter and oversized Whirpool Washer and Dryer. Also on the lower level is the utility room, where the nuts and bolts of this sustainable home reside.

If you’ve got a teen in the family, a sublime space just for them might help appease those teenage mood swings. The teen zone has it’s own separate entrance (independence!), smart vinyl ‘wood plank’ floors, a 3-piece washroom, and a bedroom with a generous storage area that would make a great walk-in closet. It also has a stylish kitchenette, with a Bosch Cooktop and a Porter and Charles oven. The 8 foot ceilings make this area spacious and well-lit.

More of a visual person? Check out this beautiful video of the home!

Special thanks to videographers SilverHouse

This chic home – perched on a 25×123 foot lot – has two car parking accessed through an electronic rolling gate via a right-of-way. This modern dwell oozes curb appeal, with a facade that marries wood and metal siding and a chic front door. And the generous rear garden boasts new fencing, deck work, and stone work, in addition to gas barbecue hook up, water and electrical outlets. Of particular merit are the tiered decks, the custom copper cladding on the family room as well as the maintenance-free white metal panel façades and rain screen siding made from thermal modified wood. How amazing!

46 Herbert truly is a unique urban home; it is a sustainable marvel; it marries pragmatism with sublime design elements. For one fortunate Buyer, this architectural masterpiece – boasting the ideal trifecta of a Triple AAA location, a well-proportioned 4+1bed 4.5bath space plan, exemplary finishes and a 2 year General Contractor warranty + Additional Building Component warranties  – will soon be Home Sweet Home!

Have questions? Contact steve@urbaneer.com for answers!