In midtown Toronto, true houses have become scarce. Too many offerings ask the buyer to surrender scale, light, or the simple dignity of distinct rooms.84 Walmsley asks for none of that. Set in Deer Park, between Yonge Street and Avenue Road, this all-brick residence offers 2,448square feet of living space on a 25-by-120-foot lot. Built in 1987 and held by the same owner for nearly thirty years, it has the composure of a home that has been carefully kept rather than hastily remade.

Blond hardwood continues throughout. The kitchen is oriented south, with abundant cabinetry, a generous island, and a round table set within bright windows. A two-piece powder room is discreetly placed in the hallway. Beyond, a formal dining room overlooks the sunken living room, so gatherings remain connected to the centre of the house.