John and Agnes Hobbs House (1983)
Challenging your ideas on heritage — this stylish home blends early 1980s contemporary with a twist of post-West Coast Modern.
Builder Grant Ferguson constructed 110 St. Patrick in 1983, and its smaller, near twin at 109 Fourth Avenue in 1981. He sold the St. Patrick home in 1985 to John and Agnes Hobbs, who lived here for nearly 38 years. The current owners purchased the home in January, 2023, undertaking a 14-month renovation that retained the home’s original footprint, while revitalizing the interior.
Now complete, the exterior reflects typical characteristics of the period, with an asymmetrical facade, a mix of small and large windows, geometric shapes, and forward sloping, alternating roof lines. The original wall sconces, doorbell and handrails were kept, as were the window openings – albeit with new windows. The exterior was painted a deep brown, allowing the home to recede into the streetscape, allowing neighbouring heritage homes to stand out.
The entry to Hobbs House. 
The kitchen is open to the rest of the main floor. 
The original honey-coloured oak banister. 
The papier-mache ‘guard dog’ collected on the owners’ travels. 
The playful terrazzo tiling in the shower of the main bath. 
The laundry room also houses the homes efficient combi-boiler system. 
The upstairs office has a glazed entry. 
The principal bedroom’s ensuite. 
The sunken living room overlooks St. Patrick’s Street. 
Entry foyer – note the oak divider made from a re-purposed kitchen desk. 
The sunken living room features a low profile electric fireplace.
Inside, remnants of the 1980s era include the original honey-colored oak banister and a kitchen desk that has been repurposed as an oak wall shelf in the front entry. These elements inspired a Japandi (a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design principles) style sensibility, featuring a restrained neutral palette and natural materials. Playful oversized terrazzo tiles add character to the bathrooms.
In the basement, a new wall provides separation and privacy, while a combi boiler (that provides both hot water and central heating in the same system) replaces the space-hogging furnace and hot water tank, freeing up space for a new laundry room. The old laundry room is now a studio.
Changes to the floor plan created more functional spaces. On the main floor, rooms are in their original positions, but walls separating them were removed to create an open, airy space. The sunken living room is a cozy spot to enjoy the new electric fireplace. The renovated kitchen and dining area, complete with a custom-built banquette, invite guests to gather.
Upstairs, the large street-facing principal bedroom (which had no ensuite bath) was reconfigured into a glassed-in office and two bedrooms. At the rear of the house, the second bedroom’s original powder room was expanded into a three-piece bathroom with a walk-in shower. Through meticulous renovations and thoughtful design choices, the home seamlessly blends its 1980s character with modern functionality, marking a new chapter in its storied history.
Article by: Anna Camporese
Presented by: Wood Be Art
