Cool homes across Ontario that feel warm, inviting, and a little nostalgic… and how to bring a touch of that into your own space. By @Meetmiranda

Highlights from this issue:

(From left to right): You're in for a treat because we've got another conversation pit; the bold & blue office at a rural King home designed by Henry Schefter; things I'm coveting at the Beaverbrook sale with Estates by Marlene

a note from miranda

Warm, cool & retro homes aren't always hard to find, you just need to know how to look for them…

 

If you're in the market for an mcm home, or even just a home with soul and character, I implore you look more intentionally. Even if you're not seriously shopping or are just curious and love to explore.

 

Sometimes, the good stuff is hidden behind a series of ‘boring’ photos, a lack of information, or weird presentation/furniture. But please, try to look past all that. After all, that's what makes the house hunt more interesting!

 

The Moses Residence, designed by notable architect Jerome Markson in 1960 is an excellent example of this exercise. This architecturally significant home is in Hamilton, and, in a power of sale scenario earlier in the year, 50% of the home was sold to the son of the long-time owners. At the time, the property was listed for sale with only one photo:

Barely poking out from behind the trees, I could tell this home was special. White horizontal and curvilinear rooflines were a great giveaway. So, my rabbit hole of research began.

 

First, I looked up the address on Google maps, where I could see a better view of the architecture. Also, when I searched the address on Google, I found that the home was nominated to be listed on the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Register as a non-designated property (it's unclear if anything ever came of this).

 

And boy are you in for a treat. (Stay with me until the reveal below).

 

The moral of this story is that your instincts from one photo can be right: this house is beyond spectacular; and sometimes just one little clue is how you'll find the good homes, like buried treasure.

 

(As noted in Dave LeBlanc's newly published Globe and Mail article about the home, there are also multiple archived publications where the home is featured).

 

This example is just one indication of the strategies you can apply to your own unique home search: keep looking, be curious, and try to see beyond what's being presented to you.

 

I hope this helps, to start. I think I've wrote enough for now, but if you want to chat more, reply or text me 647-204-8825. I love talking architecture and modernist homes with you :)

 

- Miranda

 

PS - are you into estate sales? Estates by Marlene is hosting an epic MCM estate sale near Ottawa this weekend (July 11/12). Head to her IG or website for more info. 

Miranda Caldwell, REALTOR®

Real Broker Ontario Ltd., Brokerage 

647-204-9925 - miranda@meetmiranda.com

From MY camera roll (and referenced above):

(From left to right): an example of post and beam construction from a house in Toronto's Bendale/Midland Park (Scarborough) area; Royal York Plaza Metro with a zig zag roofline (this supermarket is a rare example of surviving circa 1960's modernist design in Toronto); a home in Etobicoke, which might seem unassuming from afar but has a unique curved brick facade entryway plus post and beam revealing itself from the front.

Home & ARchitecture highlight

THE MOSES RESIDENCE

(Hamilton, ON) Designed in 1960 by notable Canadian architect Jerome Markson for the Moses family. This home has an incredible conversation pit with a 360° fireplace, an expansive barrel-vaulted wood ceiling and modernist architecture that will simply wow you. There's nearly everything you will be delighted to see in an mcm home: impressive windows, colourful bathrooms, and even a breezeway designed to have a tree growing through it. The home has fallen into disrepair in recent years, but the current owner hopes the next stewards will restore it. If you are curious about this home please reach out to me, as the story behind the address history (and plans for sale) is worth a phone or voice note conversation. Thank you to Adi Aliti, Re/Max Realty Specialists INC., Brokerage for accommodating a tour. I hope to share more info with you soon.

warm, cool & Retro homes for sale

14645 7th Concession • $2,450,000

4 BEDS. 3 BATHS. 8 PARKING

(Rural King, ON) On the market for the first time ever is this custom built 70s home designed by architect Henry Schefter. Another notable architect, Schefter is responsible for the late Ontario Place Wilderness Adventure Ride, among many other accolades. I audibly gasped when I saw the enchanting colours in the office, which was a former greenhouse for the home… and the fossil-embedded fireplace? Drool. Visiting this home in person did not disappoint. The trails are a outdoorsy-persons dream. I wrote my first Substack article featuring this house. This home is a must-see if you are shopping for a GTA home in the $2.5M price range. Listed by Khalen Meredith and Kim Nichols with Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Brokerage. 
MLS®: N13446362

515 Trinity Church Road • $1,079,900

3 BEDS. 1 BATHS. 11 PARKING

(Hannon, Ontario) This 1967 home was custom built by the original owners on nearly have an acre of land, neighbouring a lush farm field. I noticed on the listing there is a hefty patch of tomato garden in the backyard (it's not in the photos, but on the agent's socials). There's a LOT of warm wood in here - digging it. If you like the warmth and charm of brown, could this be the one for you? Listed by Sheryl Nadine Maciel & Drew Woolcott, Re/Max Escarpment Realty INC., Brokerage. MLS®: X13463844

7 Coburg Street • $1,750,000

2 BEDS. 3 BATHS. 1 PARKING

(Stratford, ON) This house showcases some really cool architecture by Shim Sutcliffe architects and was completed in 2001, featuring a somewhat rare combination of contemporary modernism and warmth. I love the warm wood, stainless steel + concrete. The bedroom feels like a treehouse to me. There's also a Japanese lily pond. Listed by Cliff C. Rego, Corcoran Horizon Realty, Brokerage. MLS®: X13119470

Looking for more warm, cool & retro houses?

I keep a long running list of warm, cool & retro homes on my Listed App. This list is updated weekly, often with the help of your suggestions and tags. Some of the houses that don't make it to this newsletter have found their place to shine on this longer list. Check it out. There are so many cool houses that I can't fit them all here, otherwise we'd have an even longer email.

(Due to RECO regulations, you may be asked to Login using the Listed App. Listed is a female-founded app and is local to Toronto. As an agent, I pay for a subscription to Listed. Folks who create a free account using my links are able to access all public and sold property information. This is how I meet some of the great buyers and sellers I work with. Not intended to solicit parties under representation with another agent. This list is not an endorsement for any of these properties and buyers are encouraged to perform proper due diligence as a part of submitting an offer on a property.)

try listed on the app store

Not intended to solicit parties under agency agreement.

 

Homes listed for sale are advertised with Listing Agent permission and details including asking price and availability are subject to change at Sellers' & Listing Agent's discretion without notice. For the most updated listing information, please reach out directly or view the live listing on Realtor.ca or via my Listed App. Information is deemed to be reliable but is subject to errors and omissions; buyers’ and buyers’ agent to perform their own due diligence.

Miranda Caldwell, REALTOR®