Mid-Century Modern Bungalow with West Coast Vibes
Discover a unique mid-century modern bungalow on Ledge Road, nestled in a ravine in Toronto. Experience stunning lake views, open-air living spaces, and abundant wildlife, all while enjoying the west coast vibes in this artistic retreat.
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The Bluffs: 2 Ledge Rd $1.999M - 4 BR - 3 WR - 100 x 175 ft. lot
Welcome to your own private oasis in the Bluffs. This truly one-of-a-kind architect-designed ravine property sits on a full half-acre and offers a rare combination of privacy, nature, amazing wildlife, and stunning southeast-facing unobstructed views of the water. Surrounded by mature trees and natural beauty, this home feels peaceful and secluded while still being in the city. This mid-century modern style home was designed by an architect who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, showcasing character, warmth, and a thoughtful connection to its natural surroundings. Built for entertaining, from intimate dinners to large gatherings, it features approximately 1,480 sq. ft. of decks and balconies, including a 550+ sq. ft. party deck, a 750+ sq. ft. wraparound deck, and two second-storey balconies. The great room is crowned by a soaring two-storey beamed ceiling and a massive Douglas Fir beam, creating a dramatic and memorable living space. The primary suite offers vaulted beam ceilings, a wall of windows facing the morning sunrise, and a private balcony tucked beneath the forest canopy. A separate two-room guest suite with bathroom features vaulted wood beam ceilings and a balcony overlooking the lake. An additional detached 360 sq. ft. studio/home office with 10-foot ceilings adds incredible flexibility. With hardwood flooring through the majority of the living space and the potential to reconfigure up to seven bedrooms, this home is as functional as it is unique. Minutes to Cudia Park, Sylvan Park, the Doris McCarthy Trail, and a 5 km waterfront trail. Near RH King, Cardinal Newman, and the new French Catholic Lamarche high school. A rare opportunity in one of Toronto's most scenic communities.
Nick's Notes:
If your heart belongs on the west coast, but you find yourself in Toronto, 2 Ledge Road is as close as you will get to feeling at home. Navigating through the surrounding neighbourhood to this mid-century modern bungalow, you will find yourself peering at homes substantially larger, even ostentatiously so, yet not nearly as artful.
Ledge Road is aptly named. It is a single-lane private road that carves along a ledge on a ravine downhill. Somewhat steep and engulfed by nature, the topography hits you with those West Coast vibes right away. This is not a setting, nor a home, for the more conservative, risk-averse folks who live on the tableland above. It is in a ravine that demands a certain amount of chutzpah that the right buyer will view as the price of admission.
The property is built on the slope of the ravine and feels like a retreat. Inside, it is centred around the open-air living/dining space. Outside, the multiple terraces take advantage of the lake views. Wildlife is rampant in the area, as you can see from the photos in the listing. The deer are unfazed by humans and walk by nonchalantly as you are relaxing outside. If you had a vegetable garden, they may be a pest, but there isn’t much flat land here to cultivate or maintain.
Which explains the 1,480 sq.ft of decking, much of which is cantilevered off the rear of the house and is nearing the end of its life expectancy. Interestingly, there is a secondary structure built as an office/studio to take advantage of the clearest lake view. The largest and newest deck is on the roof of this studio. It is easy to see why the property has become host to an annual epic party with 160+ guests. The home has had some efficiency upgrades over the years and is perfectly livable, but there is some fairly obvious deferred maintenance outside and updating needed inside, ex. the kitchen is from 1996. Having said that, so much of the character is embedded within the design of the home, so an MCM purist will see a lot to work with. The renovations should be more incremental than fundamental.
Built in 1957 and set on a concrete block foundation, it appears there is no need to tear this house down, and it is unlikely you would be allowed to expand on the footprint of the house anyway. The owners have an engineering report from 2014 available. Regardless of my observations from viewing the home, I recommend a buyer perform further due diligence on all aspects of this unique property. In an affluent neighbourhood like the Bluffs, at this price point, and having been on the market for 46 days, I believe it may be flying under the radar given its unicorn status.
Ledge Road terminates near the driveway of this property, where only one other neighbour has the need to drive. As a private road, five neighbours share the cost of snow removal in the winter ($1,800 each). The property connects to city water, gas, and hydro, but not sewer. That means the house is on a septic system that is pumped out every five years. A new owner may look at upgrading to a more modern septic system in the future. The owners have been quoted an estimate of $40K.
The current owners have lived in the house since 1994 and are moving to, you guessed it, the west coast. Rather impressively, they have been able to keep their heating cost per year under $2,000 by using the airtight wood-burning fireplace in combination with the hot water rads via a newer tankless boiler. When a tree inevitably falls in the ravine, they use it for firewood. The owners haven’t bothered with installing AC, as they say it has not been needed.
Please contact me for more information, pics & video and to book a viewing.
Listed by Robert Faulkner, REMAX Hallmark Realty Brokerage.
