Ruggles-Munro House › Downstairs

The Ruggles-Munro main house is arranged with the typical Georgian centre-hall plan and has an attached two-storey ell at the back. Its outstanding heritage characteristic is the ballroom on the second floor, which retains its original Georgian window mouldings and fireplace mantle. The house also features “cross and bible” doors, original wide board floors and original painted paneling in the front hall, back bedroom and attic.

Here’s a tour of the house, showing the rooms before and after the rehabilitation.

Front Hall and Staircase – 19 by 7 feet

Painted ochre, its original colour (which I discovered under layers of wallpaper), the main hall features a painted chequerboard floor on new wood and its original wide board painted paneling on the staircase side and basement door.

Formal Living Room – 14 by 14 feet, with bay window additional

The formal living room opens to the right of the staircase. Research showed it was a separate room with a corner fireplace, so I replaced the missing walls and rebuilt the fireplace. The mantle is original to the house and we believe it came from this room. The wide plank floors are original.

Formal Dining Room – 11 by 15 feet, with bay window additional

The formal dining room opens to the left of the staircase. It was originally another front parlour, but I think it works better as a dining room or family room. It features a vintage chandelier and the wide plank floors are original.

The Kitchen – 14 by 12 feet

The newly designed and built kitchen features stainless steel appliances, ample storage, a copper-topped island and a “peek-a-boo” window into the dining room. The wide plank floors are original. Mrs. Munro moved her kitchen into this sunny space from the room across the hall sometime in the 50s.

The Office or Television Room – 14 by 10 feet

Directly across from the kitchen, this room would make a wonderful office, den, or even ground floor bedroom. Its wide plank floor is original.

The Downstairs Bathroom – 7 by 7 feet

This three-piece bathroom features a wide entry door, beautifully tiled shower and pedestal sink and toilet. It has a new laminate wood floor.

The Sunroom - 18 by 9 feet, and foyer – 9’ 10” by 10 feet

Seven windows flood this spacious room with light. It comprises the back door foyer and informal living area, with a very large coat closet tucked behind the bathroom. This space has a new laminate wood floor. It used to be Mr. Munro’s workshop and mud room and Mrs. Munro’s former kitchen pantry. Much earlier, it would have housed the kitchen.

The Back Verandah – 19 by 8 feet, and patio – 19 by 11 feet

The covered back verandah leads to a brick patio and the garden.