Done Deals: 24 Grenadier Hts.
24 GRENADIER HTS., TORONTO
ASKING PRICE $1.628-million
SELLING PRICE $1.75-million
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE $580,000 (1999)
TAXES $10,108 (2011)
DAYS ON THE MARKET Eight
LISTING AGENTS Jill Stewart and Robert LePage, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
The Action: On a 45-by-170-foot lot fronting and backing onto two quiet streets in Swansea, this 2.5-storey house received requests for 20 private showings and a half-dozen more during a by-appointment-only open house.
A handful of offers were submitted, including one $122,000 over the list price.
What They Got: In the past decade, the seller - and principal designer of Bjarnason and Associates - redesigned this roughly 80-year-old structure with a more open layout, built a three-storey addition and installed upscale finishes throughout, such as cherry cabinetry, slate floors and granite and marble countertops.
Leaded glass windows, wood trims and French doors were preserved in areas such as the foyer, fireside living room and dining room, but replicated in the family room, breakfast area and the lower-level recreation room.
There is a deck off the office on the second floor, along with three bedrooms and one of three bathrooms.
The third-floor master suite was renovated so it now features 12-foot vaulted ceilings, double doors to the deck, a walk-in closet and six-piece bathroom.
The property is also equipped with sound, security, water purification and two heating/cooling systems.
There is a tandem garage wired for a sauna and gym in the west-facing yard that the seller redesigned with a hot tub, open and pergola-covered patios, formal and natural gardens, a pond and walkways formed by Robin Thornrose of Tintagel Masonry.
The Agent's Take: "It was designed very carefully by the owner, so you could tell there were lots of details that you don't necessarily see that often," says agent Jill Stewart, who cites quality woodwork and light fixtures.
"The original home is an Arts and Crafts home and the addition had a more contemporary feel, but it blended well."
It also had a "beautifully landscaped front and back," she adds, "and Grenadier Heights is a crescent that sits between Grenadier Pond and [Rennie Park's]'Catfish' pond, so it's a pretty unique environment. …
"When I've been in the backyard, there have been flocks of geese and cranes. It's hard to believe you're in the city."