34 Louvain Ave.
ASKING PRICE $839,000
SELLING PRICE $904,000
TAXES $3,235 (2014)
DAYS ON THE MARKET Eight
LISTING AGENT Steven Fudge, Bosley Real Estate Ltd.
The Action: Any offers for this redesigned, semi-detached house in Leslieville were held off for one week, which allowed 80 shoppers to arrange private tours and attend public open houses before a three-way bidding war materialized.
What They Got: As a German architect's first foray in the Toronto market, Felix Leicher – principal of baukultur/ca – gutted and redesigned this 1,273-square-foot house with a more modern plan and sustainable and stylish finishes, from cedar privacy screens on the porch to a foyer with hexagon tile flooring and an oak staircase with a beamed and vaulted, skylit ceiling above.
- The living room features an exposed brick wall and a walkout to a side deck also accessible from a rear cooking and dining quarters with custom duo-toned cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, Caesarstone-topped island and back door to a large deck, fenced backyard and two-car laneway parking off the 19-by-113-foot lot.
- The second floor is divided up for three bedrooms and larger of two renovated bathrooms, while the 647-square-foot basement is largely open for storage.
The Agent's Take: "You could tell it was an architect-designed home and he chose very strong European finishes," agent Steven Fudge says.
"The market responded to the attention to detail and level of finishes, which were quite high-end, which is also unusual to find in a property of this size."
For instance, buyers were enamoured by the way the outdoors were brought inside.
"This home not only has a walkout to a great deck, but a side deck to capture the morning sun, and because it was wrapped in windows on three sides, the amount of light in this property was superior than most downtown houses," Mr. Fudge adds.
"My own personal favourite of the house was the second-floor landing at the top of the stairwell because it has an exposed roofline installed with operable skylights, so it was really flooded with light."