$6.5 million Toronto house with race car bed was once home to famous artist
Tucked into Toronto's prestigious South Hill neighbourhood, this 1908 red-brick showstopper isn't just another luxury listing — it's a full-blown art-history plot twist.
The property at 176 Balmoral Ave. was famously home to Lawren Harris, the celebrated founder of the Group of Seven, who lived here in the early 1910s while just beginning to make his mark as an artist.
According to City of Toronto archival records, Harris lived at the address with his first wife between roughly 1911 and 1913 — a formative period when he was sketching Toronto streets, exhibiting his work publicly for the first time, and laying the groundwork for what would become one of Canada's most influential art movements.
The foyer.
But if you're hoping to step inside and see the exact house Harris once knew, think again. The current version of 176 Balmoral is the result of a painstaking, full-scale reconstruction completed in 2018, followed by a high-design renovation in 2020 by Sherwood Homes and Connie Braemer Design.
A home office.
Owner Dr. Domenic Belcastro told The Globe and Mail in 2019 that the project became a multi-year, budget-busting battle that ultimately transformed the house into something entirely new.
An aerial of 176 Balmoral Ave.
Today, the home is taller, sleeker, and dramatically more modern — though it does retain its original footprint and quirky off-centre front door.
The family room.
From the street, the house still reads as romantic and historic. Step inside, however, and it's unapologetically contemporary.
The second floor bathroom.
Original details like the stained-glass windows are gone — a design decision that some neighbours have criticized as "destroying a piece of history."
The primary bedroom.
But love it or side-eye it, 176 Balmoral Ave. makes an impression.
Custom doors open into the office.
The foyer sets the tone immediately with a dramatic Nero Marquina and Oriental White marble checkered floor, a mirrored bronze ceiling, Macassar ebony archways, and custom aged-metal French doors.
The living room.
The living room leans fully into the moodiness, anchored by a bespoke black metal fireplace wrapped in Nero Assoluto stone, custom window seating, and a black-white-and-grey palette softened just enough with warm wood details to keep things from feeling cold.
The powder room.
Even the powder room gets star treatment, wrapped entirely in Phillip Jeffries cork wallpaper like a tiny jewel box tucked off the hall.
The open concept kitchen, living and dining area.
At the back of the house, the kitchen by Cando Woodworking is where the drama really pays off.
The kitchen.
Rift-cut ebony-stained oak cabinetry with brass detailing, Belvedere quartzite counters, and a custom metal hood anchor the space, while massive 10-foot sliding glass doors blur the line between indoors and out.
The family room.
The adjoining family room continues the theme with ebony-stained mahogany millwork and a sleek black metal mantel — cohesive, intentional, and very Architectural Digest-coded.
One of the bedrooms.
Upstairs, there are four bedrooms.
The primary bedroom.
The primary suite feels like a private retreat, complete with custom Sapele mahogany furnishings, a Noir St. Laurent marble fireplace, and a boutique-style walk-in closet.
The primary ensuite.
The ensuite is fully clad in Noir St. Laurent marble, featuring a dramatic backlit feature wall, custom vanity, and integrated sinks that make everyday routines feel oddly ceremonial.
The recreation room.
Downstairs there's more living space with a large recreation room, an extra bedroom and a gym.
Another bedroom.
And then there's the backyard.
A view of the backyard.
The private garden oasis is anchored by a striking acrylic and stainless-steel pool by Elite Pools, surrounded by extensive cedar decking, multiple terraces, and retractable awnings.
The gym.
If all of that sounds expensive, well… it is.
The back of the house.
But 176 Balmoral Ave. has been on and off the market since 2019 and has just dropped its asking price by more than $1 million, from $7,550,000 to $6,498,000.
