Glebe House Tour & Tea to showcase five homes
By Suzanne McCarthy House descriptions by Stephanie Small
Do you fancy a self-guided stroll through the Glebe to visit five beautiful homes and afterwards sip tea and eat superbly baked goodies?
Then you should attend the 15th Annual Glebe House Tour.
Thanks to very generous Glebe homeowners and volunteers, you can tour four recently renovated homes and one newly built one at a Sunday afternoon open house.
Volunteers at each home will have detailed information including sources of materials, paint colours, contractors and designers. Each home will be custom adorned by Bloomfields Flowers, providing added beauty and great ideas for floral accents.
A shuttle will provide easy access to each home for those who don’t wish to walk or bike.
Afterwards, tour participants are welcome at the Glebe Community Centre to enjoy refreshments and to fill out a survey for a chance to win one of two home decorating consultations.
The Glebe House Tour is on Sunday, September 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person or $35 on the day of the event. They are available at Bloomfields Flowers, 783 Bank Street; Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue; or by calling 613-564-1058 or 613-233-8713. You can also purchase tickets online at www.gnag.ca under Events. Tickets for the tour often sell out, so buy early.
Adults and children age 11 and up are welcome, as are babes in arms.
The Glebe House Tour raises money so Ottawa families in need can attend the youth programs of the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group (GNAG). Money raised also supports community development projects.
Suzanne McCarthy is chair of the Glebe House Tour Committee, and Stephanie Small is a member of the committee.
233 Fourth Avenue
This lovely home was recently renovated to improve its flow and functionality for entertaining and family life: a gorgeous, roomy kitchen now opens out to a backyard deck, sleek storage elegantly hides everything from hockey bags to cleaning supplies, a stunning marble dining room table integrates the original part of the house with the marble in the new kitchen, and a new bathroom and closets enhance the master bedroom retreat. These beautiful new features were all added while preserving elegant original features like leaded glass windows and antique doorknobs.
350 Second Avenue
Soaring ceilings let light flood throughout this airy new build, whose soothing palate harmoniously incorporates natural wood and stone elements with finishes such as wood windows, a cement-toned ceramic fireplace surround and matte-finished white oak floors, as well as the occasional splash of colour. The sense of tranquility also gets a boost from the generous storage spaces that help keep this busy young family organized. In the basement, high ceilings create appealing spaces for playing and working out. Even the laundry room is a light-filled and inviting room.
166 Clemow Avenue
Originally owned by Henrietta Clemow, this home underwent major structural work and was expanded in the back to create a spacious, light-filled kitchen and family room. To accommodate the blended family that now lives here, the home was renovated to include everything from playrooms to a young adult retreat – all embracing “transitional” style, which marries traditional design with contemporary features in a way that’s both comfortable and classic. Don’t miss the master suite, which evokes a luxurious boutique hotel.
15 Linden Terrace
The homeowners preserved most of the original layout of this grand old Glebe home, aside from getting rid of the servants’ quarters and stairs to make way for a luxurious, large kitchen, perfect for preparing for large dinner parties where guests later linger in the comfy dining room chairs. Or the party can spill outside, through new glass doors in the dining room that open out onto the spectacularly landscaped backyard. Enjoy the eclectic mix of furnishings and art, all curated creatively in this fabulous home.
24 Renfrew Avenue
Rather than paint out the original wood trim in this gem of a home, the owners decided to brighten things up with light wall colours, contemporary art and carefully chosen light fixtures. They also preserved the home’s original layout, using clever design to create a high-end kitchen with room for both of them to cook. Indeed, the entire home, inside and out, features careful attention to detail and furniture to scale – including pieces made to measure by one of the homeowners.
15th annual Glebe House Tour & Tea
Sunday, September 20, 1–4 p.m.
Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 at the door
Tickets available at:
Bloomfields Flowers, 783 Bank Street • Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue
613-564-1058 or 613-233-8713, or online at www.gnag.ca (under Events)
Adults and children age 11 and up are welcome, as are babes in arms.
Tickets are limited. Buy early!
PHOTOS: SUZANNE MCCARTHY
