38 AVENUE RD., SUITE 1000
WHAT: A luxury two-bedroom condominium apartment in The Prince Arthur in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood.
SIZE: 2,700 square feet
ASKING PRICE: $2.75-million
The den, with its built-in, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. (DEBORAH BAIC/THE GLOBE AND MAIL)
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TAXES: $14,958 (2008)
AGENT: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Johnston & Daniel Division (Ethel Sapera)
AMENITIES: French mouldings, oak and marble floors, and nine-foot ceilings give the suite the feel of a traditional European apartment. Guests enter a 15- by 10-foot foyer that has striée painting, a coffered ceiling and crown mouldings. The living room has a large picture window and a gas fireplace with wood mantel and marble surround.
The den has built-in, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a door leading to a balcony. In the kitchen, Poggenpohl cabinets, oak floors and custom-made shutters in the breakfast room extend the continental feel.
The dining room is entered from the foyer through double doors, and features a Juliet balcony and two built-in china cabinets.
In the master bedroom, imported needlepoint broadloom from England, three walk-in clothes closets and built-in cabinets add luxury. The master ensuite bathroom has separate vanities and his-and-hers entrances to a shared walk-in shower.
In Ethel Sapera's view, the best part of living at 38 Avenue Rd. is having Tony, the concierge, to rely on. The real estate agent with the Johnston & Daniel Division of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. has lived in the building for eight years.
"This concierge has been offered every job everywhere — he's just the best."
Ms. Sapera calls down for her car in the morning and has help carrying her parcels upstairs. She relies on Tony DiLollo for information like how much a postage stamp costs.
"I would never move from here," she says.
Ms. Sapera also handles many of the transactions of those people buying and selling units in the building.
Currently, she's representing the two-bedroom Suite 1000 on the 10th floor.
The homeowner, Barbara Coven, moved to the condo from a house in Toronto's Forest Hill neighbourhood. She hired designer Robert Noakes and told him that she wanted to feel as if she'd never left.
"He took my house and he recreated it."
Ms. Sapera says the large dining room is part of the appeal of the unit. "People with homes couldn't give up their dining room."
In the living room, Ms. Coven raised the doorway heights and had some book and display shelves built in.
"We were very aware of the architectural detail," she explains. "We took out the bulkhead so [the room] had more grace."
Ms. Coven enjoys having guests in the living room, but she uses the library almost every day.
"This is my favourite place to sit and read. The sun just comes streaming in."
The room provides views of the leafy Annex neighbourhood and the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition to the Royal Ontario Museum.
The breakfast room faces south and provides a sunny place for casual dining.
In the master bedroom, built-in closets provide plenty of storage and Mr. Noakes had the cabinets lit from above.
"You can spot his work in a minute because of the lighting over all of the bookshelves," Ms. Coven says.
She adds that the backdrop is quiet enough to suit different styles and furnishings.
"Anybody could move in and make it their own. It would be easy for me to imagine somebody else moving in here and bringing their own personality."
Ms. Coven says the space is also ideal for parties. "I've had 100 people in here easily because it's got good flow."
The condo building has lots to offer, Ms. Sapera points out. Besides the 24-hour services of Tony and his staff, there is also a gym, sauna and sundeck, along with two party rooms.
Yorkville's shops and restaurants are right out the front door, and the neighbouring Park Hyatt hotel is seconds away.
"We're always at the Park Hyatt," Ms. Sapera says.
