Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing it, between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time), by using the blue link-up button below.
Grange Park – Toronto
Because of the development boom that started in the 1970’s in downtown Toronto, one hundred and fifty year-old buildings are rare. What’s even more rare in downtown Toronto is one hundred and fifty year-old homes.
Around the corner from the Art Gallery of Ontario on Dundas Street is a unique neighborhood called Grange Park where a few of these old homes still survive to this day.
The area contains an interesting mix of mansions and two-story row houses with detailed architectural features
Some of which are very well preserved
While a few are in need of some serious TLC
My first reaction when surveying the area was how much it reminded my of Elfreths Alley in Philadelphia
Particularly because of the old brick and the wonderful hidden nooks and crannies in some of these buildings
The area is only a few blocks wide. Many of the historical homes fell victim to the developers’ wrecking ball in the 80’s in order to make way for new apartment buildings. However some of the ones that remain, particularly on Beverley St. are wonderful examples of area’s 19th century residential architecture – very much worth checking out.
Since these are all private residences I didn’t get to go into any of them, but just from the look of the exteriors I was able to imagine wonderful high ceilings and lovely hard wood floors. Or perhaps that’s just me and my vivid imagination 🙂
Don’t forget to click on this blue button to add the link to your own Thursday Doors post to this week’s list:
If you share your posts on Twitter and Instagram remember to use the #ThursdayDoors hashtag and please do take a few minutes to visit the Thursday Door posts shared by others.
As always, thanks for looking 🙂
I took lots of door photos for you while I was in Paris that I look forward to sharing with you soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! I’m looking forward to it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Norm, nice doors! I was in Toronto few weeks ago, many places to take photos, but lots of people too, what time did you take your photos? No one around?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Elizabeth. It was a weekday morning in late December.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m definitely gonna go on a door hunt today ready for next Thursday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to seeing what you find 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Norm. I had a problem uploading files today and am too late to add link. Oh dear! I guess Eastern time isn’t as much later than UK as I thought/hoped . my post can be seen at http://helenbushe.com/yellow-doors/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better late than never. If I’m not mistaken we’re 6 hours behind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some wonderful architecture there Norm – love the smart black doors but rather like that cute one with the purple pillars! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jane. That purple one has gotten mixed reviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😦 😦 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the green door. Amazing the variety in everything in this world…including doors!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. Not sure why but that green one does stand out more than the others.
LikeLike
Another great selection of doors. My favorites are 44 and 46, and that blue gray one near the end. That one is lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
MP!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These doors backed up by wonderful architecture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most of them in a neo-Renaissance style – interesting features on each! The red brick reminds me so much of my country of origin – Holland – which was commonly used for private residences. As always, a great collection, Norm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the kind words 🙂
LikeLike
Fab places, Norm – a nice part of Toronto 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a nice discovery for us. But in a city of that size there’s always something new to discover.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! I went to university there and I’m sure there are still great swathes of it I haven’t even seen. Gorgeous city 🙂
LikeLike
Grange Park homes look well cared for and very pretty, Norm! The first one is framed beautifully with the red and cream bricks, #44 and 46. Have a wonderful rest of the week! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Robin, you too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who in God’s name thought lilac was a good idea? Yeah, #52 is my favorite, for sure, with that curvy porch roof and the little steps down at the side. So odd and intriguing! These shots remind me of the Old Louisville neighborhood. Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
52 is my fave as well and for the same reason – just loved that porch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the one with the bright lavender columns.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Andrea – that one sure stands out 🙂
LikeLike
I got a kick out the door with the lilac archway – someone wanted to show their love of purple!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that one was noticed by a number of people with somewhat mixed reviews 😉
LikeLike
Very nice doors, I like that architecture. From me some more modern ones, and sustainable! https://carpediemnl.wordpress.com/2016/04/28/sustainable-doors/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Marga 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful doors and entrances, Norm. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! We were at the gallery, but the weather didn’t encourage a lot of exploring. The overgrowth of apartment complexes was vry evident and a bit sad to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean, that’s why this felt like such an amazing discovery. It’s only one block long by three blocks wide. If we had turned down a different street we’d have missed it completely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great collection. I would love to go on an architectural tour in that neighbourhood. The stories those buildings could tell!
Please, someone run over to #32 and cover that horrible pinky/lilac trim!! Oops, my ‘judegmental’ is showing.
They make me think of homes in the UK and the brownstones of Boston. So much character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Leah. That Lilac one has gotten some mixed reviews on here so far. Not my cup of tea either but some seem to like it 😉
LikeLike
As my nanna would say (when trying not to sound judgemental, but still getting the point across that the other person’s opinion/tastes were decidedly WRONG): “To each his own.” Ha ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
My vivid imagination matches yours. I can easily imagine the details on the inside are just as lovely as the exterior!
I love the top double doors — Oh what a statement! That brick detail, ooh! I might fancy the wear and tear on the green one as well, but I’m partial to florals, and that stained glass is ever so dreamy. They’re all fabulous and I love the angle you capture with the stairs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joey. I’d just love to get a tour inside of one of these places just to see the layout/floor plan, and also because I’m kinda nosy that way!
Yes that first set of doors is one of my faves too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would be hard-pressed to pick a favourite although the twin doors in the first photo are gorgeous.
These little neighbourhoods are such jewels – perhaps made more so by the fact they are getting increasingly rare. I too can imagine the high ceilings inside!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joanne. It’s so nice to make these unexpected little discoveries.
LikeLike
What an amazing group of doors with each one as interesting as the previous one. Love the unique glass transom windows with the house numbers. It sure seems like a stop a native or tourist would want to make if in that area. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a wonderful little doorscursion. In fact I wish there had been more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favorite is the grey one, second from the last. Although I haven’t seen the alley in Philly, there are a number of small streets that are very similar and lots of wonderful row houses and doors like these.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank Janet. What I find amazing is that even though they were all built in-line at the same time, over the years each one through the help of different owners, has developed its own look and character.
LikeLike
These are wonderful doors, Norm. I love the details in these buildings, the lines in the brick, the curves, and those arched entrance ways. I was pretty sure the white and yellow entrance was going to be my favorite, until I scrolled down to the gray one. I like them both, but I’ll go with gray. Good job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful series! The second last is my favorite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you – that is a nice one 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked the last door (Door 52) and the second to last which is an up close and personal photo of the little side shoot. I wonder how much snow fills up those steps in winter? Living down there would be a challenge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I can imagine it would be a pain in the butt to shovel out whenever there’s a good snow storm.
LikeLike
They certainly built them to last and such beautiful architecture. I can picture the high ceilings too Norm. Over here on the Gold Coast a house is considered old when it gets over 20 years. Perfectly good houses are knocked down to put bigger ones up. I’m visiting a more historic village in New Zealand this week. https://memoriesaremadeofthisblog.wordpress.com/2016/04/28/thursday-doors-akaroa/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that’s a short lifespan for a house. It takes most families here at least 20-25 years to pay off the typical mortgage.
LikeLike
It seems to be a mobile community in Australia and people take their mortgages with them from house to house. It horrifies me at the enormous mortgages people take out these days to finance the enormous houses they build.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That redbrick (no. 52) is my favourite with its unusual porch. Great collection, Norm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That one stood out for me as well – thanks Jean 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person