Canadian Homes – Page 4

A Good Home, Apple Pies, Canadian Gardens, Canadian Homes, Canadian life, Farmhouse Kitchen, Garden

Garden Joys

September 18, 2015September 19, 2015 Cynthia Reyes

It’s such a joy to grow things.

And even more satisfying to know that the stuff we’re eating is from our own garden.

This year, as I walked through the garden, I found myself eating berries and vegetables before I even got them into the house.

Instead of making jelly, I ate the currants fresh from the bush every day.

Asparagus spears, delicious when eaten fresh, often didn’t make it into the kitchen.

Same for the raspberries and even some tomatoes.

Being able to forage for food in one’s own garden is a privilege.

Recently, we’ve made herb oils (basil, in this case).

And I’ve made peach cake.

Knowing my tragic history with baking cakes, my family was impressed by how well it turned out.

I was so impressed with my baking victory that I kept making the same cake over and over again.

“Make her stop!” younger daughter begged her father.

I protested and she said “Mom, I love you. But you know … you find one thing that you can make, and you keep making it and making it till we’re sick of it.”

I rolled my eyes and tried to look penitent. But I was busy making another peach cake.

Soon it will be time to pull the garlic and onion bulbs from the soil.

And time to make apple pie.

I’ll peel and slice the apples, and my good man will make the pies. Everyone in our family looks forward to this tradition (and no-one complains since he only makes these delicious pies once a year).

It’s the simple stuff. The good stuff.

And my daughter will be relieved to know that now I’m serving the peaches freshly sliced, with yogourt.

But just wait till next summer.

PHOTOS BY HAMLIN GRANGE

A Good Home, Canada's National Historic Sites, Canadian Gardens, Canadian Homes, Canadian life, Famous Places, Gardens, Heritage Homes, Home

PARKWOOD: A Place of Astonishing Beauty

July 28, 2015May 15, 2016 Cynthia Reyes

Ever visited a garden which made your jaw drop — repeatedly?

Parkwood does that to me… every time I visit. A national historic site, Parkwood is gorgeous.

You’ve likely seen Parkwood in the movies – many movies and television shows have been shot here, from X-Men to Hannibal.

Located only about 35 minutes from Toronto, Parkwood is the kind of place where you can lose yourself, meandering from one space to another. Time moves slowly and pleasantly on the 12-acre grounds.

Surprisingly, Parkwood is right downtown in the city of Oshawa.

It’s one of the few places I know that has a white garden — but then again, Parkwood has so many garden rooms, it could dedicate one to each colour and still have space left over.

Built for auto baron Robert Samuel McLaughlin (“Sam”), his wife Adelaide Louise and their five daughters in 1917, the house is a mansion by any definition.

Many features were rare at that time: indoor heated swimming pool, morning room for breakfast, large conservatory and an indoor bowling alley and games room.

As for life’s ‘little’ luxuries: Parkwood had an in-house telephone system, an elevator, a central vacuum system, remote-controlled outdoor lighting system, air conditioning, climate-controls for the art gallery, a walk-in refrigerator, and much more.

The family could well afford it. McLaughlin was president of his family business Canadian Motor Car Company which became General Motors of Canada.

The house is Classic Revival in style, with some Georgian features.

I’m impressed by the grand house and its history — it’s a Canadian jewel.

But I’m completely bowled over by the gardens.

Inspired by the great gardens of Europe, they were created by the finest landscape designers available.

And though Adelaide and Sam loved gardening, the expansive grounds and eleven greenhouses required a staff of 24 to look after them.

Today, people visit from all over Canada and the world. They tour the house or gardens or both, and some come for lunch or tea at the restaurant. I highly recommend the tea house-restaurant and tours. A great way to spend a morning or afternoon in a place of outstanding beauty.

To visit Parkwood or donate to the upkeep of this national treasure:

Tel: (905) 433-4311
Email: info@parkwoodestate.com

All photos courtesy of Parkwood Estate

A Good Home, Architectural Conservancy, Architecture and Design, Canadian Homes, Canadian life, Homes

The Fabulous Ravenscraig

June 30, 2015June 3, 2018 Cynthia Reyes

PHOTOS BY HAMLIN GRANGE

RESEARCH BY KIMBERLY VANEYK

Mrs. Strike lives in Bowmanville’s beautiful historic district, near Toronto. Her home, Ravenscraig, is outstanding – for its design as well as the people associated with it. Two former mayors lived here. This grand home hosted many receptions, dinner parties, Rotary gatherings and afternoon tea. Guests included prominent members of society.

How heartwarming then, that Mrs. Strike’s fondest memories focus not on those powerful people, but on the places in her home where her three sports-loving sons played. Historian Kimberly Vaneyk and I had the pleasure of visiting Mrs. Strike recently to learn more about her home. We loved the stories about her sons’ escapades. The grand entrance hallway where uniformed servants greeted dinner-party guests, took their hats and coats and ushered them inside? That’s where the Strike boys played basketball during winter, breaking only one piece of precious stained glass with their Nerf ball. The living-room/ballroom where guests danced? That’s where the boys practiced hockey. (They also played in the basement.) And why do you suppose Mr. and Mrs. Strike bought this grand home back in 1963? “Seems silly,” she says, smiling, “but our boys were in hockey and it was near the rink!”

The Strikes even built a skating rink for their sons and friends.

“Our own south lawn was always a big rink every winter since 1963. For the sides of the rink, we used doors, old boards, anything that could stop the puck! Everybody knew that rink.”

There was also the “Wounders’ Tournament” – won by the player who managed to throw most of his friends into/over the boards.

THE DESIGN

In a town of grand homes, Ravenscraig is one of the grandest. The house’s Queen Anne style is rare even here in the historic district. Its turrets are eye-catching. Interior features are also distinctive. Designed for wealthy families who entertained a lot, special attention was paid to the movement of servants – and the flow between hallway, kitchen, dining-room and living-room.

RAVENSCRAIG’S FABULOUS PAST

Ravenscraig attracted the famous and the fabulous, the wealthy and influential, the good and the great. Bowmanville’s former mayor, Dr. Hillier, and his family had Ravenscraig built in the late 1800’s. They entertained dignitaries from religion, medicine, law, business and politics. They hosted fundraisers and other projects to support the community. Mrs. Hillier herself knitted 500 pairs of socks for local soldiers during World War 1.

Subsequent owners of Ravenscraig included the Schon’s, who fled Austria just before World War 2.

Ravenscraig then became a focal point for the arts. Guests included well-known musicians, painters and European actress Methchild Harkness, the Schons’ houseguest.

A second mayor, Morley Vanstone, and his family lived here after the Schons. The Vanstones were a wealthy family who owned the local mill. Each family left its mark… especially true for Dr. Hillier, whose initials are carved in the fireplace mantel.

Warm thanks to Mrs. Strike for her gracious welcome, to historian Kimberly Vaneyk and to Hamlin Grange for the photos.

A Good Home, Buying a Home in Toronto, Canadian Gardens, Canadian Homes, Living in Toronto, Multicultural Toronto at Home, Personality Profile, Toronto Homes

Selling “Home”

June 6, 2015June 6, 2015 Cynthia Reyes

These days, Toronto is well-known for two things: an extremely multicultural population, and a very hot real estate market.

It’s an interesting time to be buying or selling homes.

Loraine Lee visits nearly 200 homes a year. Her clients come from a wide variety of backgrounds.

“The first thing that strikes you is the cuisine. Once you enter the house, you can tell who lives there – by the smell of the cooking. Although nowadays, sellers are very aware and try to either open windows to get rid of the smells or by masking them.”

Born and raised in Jamaica of Chinese parents, Loraine and her family moved to Toronto in the 1970’s.

She’s a gifted writer and former publisher who decided to pursue her passion for real estate 10 years ago. Doing so has opened up the world’s cultures to her, right here at home in Toronto.

The first time she saw an altar in a linen closet, it surprised her. Now, it’s just one of the many religious practices she sees in Toronto homes.

“At one home, the wife was from the West Indies and the husband from India. She had Hindu and Buddhist statues, but also crucifixes and statues of the Virgin Mary. I think she was trying to cover all bases.”

With Toronto’s large Chinese population, Feng Shui beliefs about design dictated what houses some people would buy. But that’s changing.

“In the last three to four years, the market has been so hot because of low inventory that Feng Shui seems less important. If the price is right, no one seems to be bothered anymore about the number 4 or that the house is a T-Junction house. There are remedies for those “blockages”, so it’s no longer an issue.“

There are many ways of creating a home. Loraine appreciates them all.

“Some men putter around continually – either willingly or at the behest of their wives – painting, changing floors, renovating bathrooms, laying stone walkways, etc. Some people’s homes are always spotless. There are the folks who spend hours in their garden all Spring and Summer, and the beautiful colours reward them.”

Loraine loves figuring out the diverse needs and values of her clients and her clients’ letters show that they value her going the extra mile:

“Loraine had a way of making us feel as if we were the only clients she had! She really took the time to know us and understand our needs and budget!! With Loraine we didn’t only find a new home… but also a new friend!”

Congrats, Loraine.

Dedicated to everyone who is trying to buy/make a home in Toronto’s complex housing market and to realtors who do their best to help you.