Historic gem updated with modern amenities
Jacob Cummer House boasts character, five bedrooms and a two-storey recreation room
Location: 44 Beardmore Cres., Bayview Ave. and Cummer Ave. Asking price: $2,588,000 Size: About 5,839 square feet, plus about 2,463 square feet of finished basement Lot: 111 x 220 feet, no garage, circular drive with six parking spaces Taxes: $7,100 (2015) Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5 This multimillion-dollar home built in 1850 in Bayview Woods is known as the Jacob Cummer House. It features an expansive finished lower level, a wood-burning fireplace in the master bedroom and a spacious twostorey recreation room that has been converted from the garage.
The property consists of a large double-ravine lot that backs onto the Don River and the East Don Parklands Trail.
“We were attracted to the architectural design of the house, the halfacre with gardens and the parkland behind it,” said Monique Rabideau, who owns the home with her husband.
“My husband Arthur Bode and I decided to restore and update the home to be functional with modern amenities, while keeping the highquality, vintage elements and its character intact,” Rabideau said.
“Our home also tells a story. Generations of families have lived here, starting with the Cummer family, who played an important role in founding North York. Later, the significant renovations done by the Nathanson family in the 1930s were featured in the May 1936 issue of Canadian Homes & Gardens magazine.
“As for us, our three children have grown up in this home. It has spaces large enough for us to gather and spend quality time together, but room for everyone to have privacy,” Rabideau added.
The two-storey, detached home is close to Bayview and Cummer Aves., where there are shops, businesses and restaurants. Schools are within walking distance.
“This historic gem of a home has been transformed into a beautiful and extremely functional home,” said broker Victoria L. Joly.
“The home has unique features throughout, including a wood-panelled office with a wood-burning fireplace, a bar on the main floor off the living room and a butler’s pantry with a kitchenette. The main floor offers ample space for hosting large groups, while also giving privacy to intimate gatherings with its formal living and dining rooms,” she said.
“The master bedroom features a completely updated, marble-finished ensuite bathroom with heated floors,” added Joly.
Originally a farm house, this sprawling home has a central front entrance and California shutters that grace the many exterior windows. The front yard has an inter- locking brick walkway, a circular drive, an antique lamppost and landscaped front gardens. As well, there is a large front patio with a double French-door walkout.
The massive living room contains crown moulding, a chandelier-type light, a wood-burning fireplace with a detailed marble surround, pot lights and two large windows.
Just off the living room is the separate bar room, which has double French entry doors.
The formal dining room features a hardwood floor, crown moulding, a ceiling medallion, a chandelier, many windows, high baseboards, wainscotting and an enclave area with a protruding bay window.
Highlights of the large kitchen include a centre island/breakfast bar with seating for four people, granite counters, stainless-steel appliances and two windows. The kitchen also has a floor-to-ceiling wall of built-in cabinetry and a built-in desk.
Just off the kitchen is a walk-in butler’s pantry with a kitchenette. On the main floor, there is also a mud room with direct access outside, and a powder room near the front foyer.
The two-storey recreation room is large and can be accessed from the mud room or the pantry. The main level has a brick-tile floor, a bar area, wood-beamed ceiling, counter space and two large double French-door walkouts.
On the second floor, the master bedroom has a hardwood floor, wood-burning fireplace, built-in cabinetry and a huge walk-in closet. It also has a five-piece marble ensuite. A secondary bedroom features a two-piece ensuite, a large closet and a hardwood floor. There is also a laundry room on this level and access to the recreation room.
On the finished lower level is a spacious great room with a wood-burning fireplace.
There is also an exercise room in the basement, a workshop, a vault, a large storage room, a cellar and a powder room.
The backyard has a large flagstone patio, gardens and landscaped grounds that overlook the ravine.
To view this property, contact listing broker Victoria L. Joly and sales representative Corinne Turansky, Distinctive Real Estate Advisors Inc., Brokerage, 416-925-3140; distinctiveadvisors.com Although we try to provide the most up-to-date information available, we cannot guarantee features as listed. Please contact the realtor for latest details. To make a submission to Home of the Week, email soldhome@rogers.com.