6348 Hurteau, Ville Emard, A Shoebox Bungalow with Soul

Don't be unduly fooled by its cuteness! This brick bungalow is as rock-solid as a house can be.

6348 Hurteau is a typical early 20th century bungalow, flat-roofed and longer than it is wide. I coined the term "shoebox house" a few years back to describe this quintessential Montreal bungalow because of their simple, straight-lined design.

This property has been in the same family for more than 65 years. Four sisters grew up sharing one of the bedrooms. Their father had walled off one end of a double room to create a windowless tailoring workshop. Their mother, an amazing gardener, grew roses, peonies, hydrangeas, columbines and raspberries in the fenced yard. Earlier this week, I picked about three cups of raspberries and baked them into a really tasty pie!

This house has two real bedrooms, with the possibility of creating a third by dividing one of the double rooms.

It has a compact but very clean bathroom which has been recently freshened up with paint and new tile.

There's a combined living and dining room. as well as a spacious eat-in kitchen that gives onto an unheated sunporch that is usable during three seasons. The ceiling height throughout is at least nine feet, which gives this compact row house a definite feeling of spaciousness.

The roof was redone in December, 2011. The floors, all hardwood, are original.The basement has a laundry room, workshop and storage, with a separate door to the back yard. The house has electric baseboard heating, as well as an updated panel.

The asking price is $257,000 and the vendors are very motivated to sell. I'm having an open house on Sunday, 2-4 p.m.. Drop by for a peek. I'm thinking of putting a raspberry pie in the oven.  Maybe I'll offer you a piece. Maybe.