120-year-old Toronto house hits market for over $3M after major makeover

Toronto's Palmerston Blvd. is the kind of street where the houses are so beautiful that even a short walk along the picturesque road can make you question your career choices.

Lined with enormous trees, distinctive cast-iron street lamps and stately century homes, it's easily one of the city's most recognizable residential streets.

And 497 Palmerston Blvd. fits right in.

The front porch. 

Built in 1907, the red-brick home has all the old Toronto charm you'd expect from a house that's been standing for nearly 120 years.

The foyer with a stained-glass window. 

But behind the historic facade is a completely different story.

The dining room. 

The house underwent a massive renovation by Altius Architecture that transformed what was once a collection of dark, awkward rooms into a bright and surprisingly modern family home.

The kitchen. 

The current owners purchased the house for $895,200 in 2007.

The family room with a fireplace. 

The owners initially loved the home's quirks and character, but after having two children, some of those charming quirks apparently became considerably less charming.

Another stained glass window in the stairwell. 

If you look at the old listing photos, you'll see the main floor was divided into a bunch of dark rooms, while the upper level had previously been used as a doctor's office and featured a long hallway branching off into a collection of small spaces.

One of three bedrooms on the second level. 

So the owners brought in Altius Architecture to completely rethink the interior.

A home office. 

After two and a half years of renovations, the results are pretty spectacular.

The primary bedroom. 

Perhaps most impressively, the renovation didn't involve simply tacking a gigantic addition onto the back of the house.

The open concept main floor. 

Instead, the architects worked within the home's existing footprint, reconfiguring the interiors to make them feel larger, brighter and substantially more functional.

Custom built-ins provide plenty of storage. 

The main floor is now almost completely open, with white oak flooring running throughout and a linear gas fireplace incorporated into a wall of custom built-ins.

The minimalist cabinetry is calming. 

At the centre is a minimalist kitchen with a waterfall island, integrated appliances and cabinetry designed to practically disappear into the room.

The view out into the backyard. 

But the real showstopper is at the back of the house.

The indoor-outdoor vibes are strong. 

A wall of wood-framed sliding glass doors opens the living space almost completely to the backyard, making the garden feel like an extension of the house.

The backyard. 

And unlike a lot of downtown Toronto backyards, this one actually gives you room to move. The property is an unusually wide 30 feet across and stretches almost 139 feet deep, with mature hedges creating plenty of privacy.

The artificial turf lawn. 

There's a large hardwood deck immediately off the house and an artificial turf lawn beyond.

Another bedroom on the second floor. 

Upstairs, three bedrooms occupy the second floor, all with plenty of closet space and natural light.

The primary suite. 

The entire third floor has been converted into the primary suite.

Exposed brick wall in the sitting area. 

Along with a king-sized bedroom, there's a separate sitting area with exposed brick and custom millwork.

The primary ensuite bathroom. 

The ensuite looks more like something you'd expect at a boutique hotel, with floor-to-ceiling marble, a huge glass shower, and a freestanding tub positioned beneath a window.

The basement recreation room. 

There's also a fully finished basement with a recreation room, full bathroom, laundry room and plenty of storage.

The basement bathroom. 

And somehow, despite being located in the middle of downtown Toronto, the property also has private driveway parking for four vehicles.

The second-floor bathroom. 

Location is another obvious selling point.

The big soaker tub in the primary ensuite. 

The home is steps from Harbord Village and Bathurst Station, with College Street, Bloor Street and the University of Toronto all within easy walking distance.

The family room. 

Of course, all that space, architectural pedigree and prime downtown real estate doesn't come cheap.

The back of the house. 

497 Palmerston Blvd. is currently listed for $3,349,999.