2833 WINDSOR STREET

This is a fully renovated character home on a traffic-calmed bike route in the very lovely Cedar Cottage neighbourhood. Setting this home apart is its expansive and functional family oriented layout, its excellent location, and a very well-executed full renovation.

Modern amenity and technology is nicely woven into the existing structure. The aesthetic however, is classic in design. 

Retaining and restoring heritage elements such as the original cedar shakes, over-height ceilings, and solid fir flooring has created that special feeling you only get in these older Vancouver character homes. This is enhanced by thoughtful contemporary aesthetic choices that align with the original character, and are classic enough to not look dated over time.

With an east-facing orientation there is great light throughout the day. The front of the house, including the large covered verandah, gets direct light in the morning. The backyard gets direct light in the afternoon. Inside, light is also abundant via big windows and skylights.

There’s a great outlook over to the North Shore mountains from the dining room and the upstairs bedrooms. From these rooms you can see Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour for that instant ski report.  

There’s also a pleasant view from the west facing bedroom balcony over the backyard and immediate neighbourhood. The front verandah looks over the streetscape from an elevated semi-private position, perfect for calling out to neighbours and saying hello.

Inside you’ll find the classic and much sought after top floor, three bedroom layout. A full bathroom, and laundry are also located on this level. Make sure you don’t miss the really cute balcony opening from the west facing bedroom.

On the main level there’s an excellent combination of open-plan living and distinct room areas. Over-height ceilings, big windows, and large principal rooms create a welcoming and impressive feel, especially in the dedicated dining room and large kitchen area.

The kitchen is well appointed with all the high-end attributes you’d expect. A really great peninsula is located in the southwest corner, with great light and windows all around. 

A large deck is immediately accessible from the kitchen, effectively extending the interior outside. This is a pleasant space with a great outlook over the yard and surrounding neighbourhood. Mature plantings keep it private, cool, and comfortable.

On the garden level you’ll find two more bedrooms, one currently used as an office space, and one currently used as a mudroom as it opens directly to the backyard. There’s a very nicely designed bathroom and a large and tidy mechanical room with lots of extra storage space.

On the garden level you’ll also find a fully finished, fully separated one bedroom suite with its own entrance. This is perhaps one of the nicest secondary suites we’ve seen in East Vancouver as it’s finished to the same high standards as the rest of the house. The suite has its own laundry in the kitchen and a dedicated deck in a private area of the front yard.

The house has been extensively renovated (2018-2021) with a combination of classic contemporary design and top-end finishing. 

New kitchens were installed with custom millwork, natural stone countertops, stainless appliances by Fisher & Paykel, Bosch, etc., custom fixtures, gas stoves, and heated tile floors. A super nice features is the on-demand boiling water on tap.

The bathrooms were fully renovated with seamless glass surrounds, extensive custom tiling, heated floors, custom fixtures, and custom lighting. 

Evident as you walk through the space is the custom paintwork and custom finishing carpentry. There is new flooring everywhere with the exception of the original fir floors, which were retained and beautifully refinished. 

Windows were updated where necessary and the mechanical was addressed with a Bosch on-demand tankless water heater and a Bosch furnace. There is recessed lighting throughout and the chimney has been repointed above the roof line. 

Vancouver character homes of this era often had a fireplace in the dining room and this home is no exception. The original wood burning system was replaced with a remote and thermostatic controlled Valor gas unit in the restored, original brick surround. The surround has been exposed creating a bold focal point for the whole main floor. It really makes the space feel open, big, warm and inviting.

Technological upgrades include CAT6 hardwiring into most rooms, expandable Neviweb home automation (currently operating some thermostats and a power outlet), programmable light switches, built-in speakers in the kitchen and dining room, a multimedia centre located in the utility room, and a mechanically restored, vintage old-school antenna that receives 8 channels of over-the-air digital broadcast TV.

Recent updates outdoors include the rear deck and stairs to the back yard, torch on roofing for the detached studio, and landscaping in both front and rear gardens.

Outside, there’s a good balance of open space and smaller scale, distinct areas. Immediately off the rear deck is a grassy area, perfect for kids, that leads up to charming and private keystone patio with mature plantings lining the perimeter. 

At the rear of the yard there’s a detached studio building with heat, power, and great light. This is a perfect space for craft projects, arts, or for your ‘remote’ office with a really short commute. 

At the front of the house, a grand staircase is nicely framed by landscaped beds and more mature plantings. The raised deck for the suite is on the north side, and a brick pathway leads to the backyard on the south side of the lot. 

The north side of the rear yard has secure, locked access to the alley which is very convenient for sorting and setting out bins for weekly pickup. This is a large space with direct access to the mudroom on the garden level. 

In this area are two large built-in exterior storage lockers for bikes, yard tools, sports equipment, etc., right next to the laneway access door. This is fantastic at-grade access for cyclists who don’t want to haul bikes up stairs.

This home is located between Main Street and Commercial Drive, giving you the best of both of these most desirable East Vancouver neighbourhoods. Also within close proximity is the emerging “Fraserhood” commercial area and the Kingsway/ Fraser triangle with its many hyper-fashionable restaurants, shops, and services. 

The immediate neighbourhood is described by the current owners as being a “great community with a diverse and harmonious population of all ages, origins, ethnicities, and family compositions… There are lots of families with children providing ample play opportunities and amazing neighbourhood energy for holidays and events like Halloween.” 

This home is on a bike route and designated slow-traffic street with great connections to the entire bike route network. It’s also a short walk to two skytrain stations (VCC-Clark and Commercial/ Broadway).

The very popular Charles Dickens school is a short walk away and this home falls into its catchment area. Tupper Secondary is a 10 minute walk away.

This is one of those great homes that merge modern technology and amenity into a classic heritage aesthetic. The family oriented layout is fabulous and the location is pretty hard to beat. A fully renovated turn-key home with great style and character, this is one to put on your list.

Come see us at our open houses or contact us for a private showing.