It’s rare for a listing to outright say that a property might not be “right” for a buyer.
Generally, sales strategies are employed to maximize the potential buyer pool, not minimize it.
But 55 Chisholm St. is a very unconventional home, so when Engelbrecht Associates say “this is not a property for everyone,” it kind of makes sense.
The main floor.
Located in West Harbour in Oakville, this three-bedroom, four-bathroom house is a bold mix of industrial design and the cozy charm of a Muskoka cottage.
The dining room.
You have a soapstone fireplace mixed with polished concrete floors juxtaposed with a hyper-modern bright blue Scavolini kitchen. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
The living room.
The main floor of the house is an open concept space, where every room flows together.
The fireplace.
At the heart of the space is the soapstone fireplace that is reminicent of Swedish tile hearths that are used to heat homes, as the tiles give off residual heat.
There’s a solarium off the living room.
The warm wood-panelled ceilings and exposed stone walls add a country cabin charm to the space.
The kitchen.
The kitchen, meanwhile, offers an unexpected pop of colour with its blue cabinets, and is equipped with all the high-end appliances any home chef would want.
The staircase.
The main staircase is possibly the most interesting part of the house, with layers of reclaimed wood, scrap metal and slate combining to make a three-dimensional wall.
One of the bedrooms.
Upstairs, you’ll find the main bedrooms.
The primary bedroom.
The primary bedroom is cozy with natural plaster walls. It also has its own private terrace.
The primary ensuite bathroom.
The ensuite bathroom is also unlike any other primary bathroom I’ve seen, with curved purple-toned plaster walls creating an almost Roman bath vibe.
A terrace.
If you keep walking up the stairs, you’ll find yourself at a treetop lookout terrace.
The basement bathroom.
There’s more living space in the basement, where there is the exposed original stone foundation, an extra bedroom and bathroom.
The basement den space.
There’s also a den, gym and luxe cedar-lined wine cellar.
The backyard.
The outdoor space of 55 Chisholm St. continues the Muskoka-retreat feel, featuring a fire pit, sauna, outdoor shower, outdoor kitchen and dining area, and a variety of different seating areas.
The outdoor kitchen.
And while all those things are very cool, perhaps the coolest thing about this home is its commitment to sustainability.
A covered patio.
The house boasts geothermal heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilation and rainwater harvesting.
A sunny workout spot.
55 Chisholm St. is listed for $4,592,000, which is actually a price drop from last year’s listing price of $4,990,000.
The inside of the shower in the primary bathroom.
However, the price drop isn’t surprising given the state of the market, plus the unusual style of the house that likely means it’s going to take longer to find the perfect buyer.
The family room.
Realtors Petrus and Joshua Engelbrecht know this and seem cool to wait for that Goldilocks purchaser to come along.
The house from the street.
As they write in the listing: “55 Chisholm St. is for those who dare to live differently, who value artistry over convention, and who understand that true luxury lies in the details. If you seek the exceptional, this is your place. If not, it’s not for you.”
