A classic Toronto house was completely and awesomely reimagined in the '80s
When you see a century-old Rosedale heritage home, you can pretty much guess what you're going to get.
They usually have traditional interiors with hardwood floors, wood-panelled dining rooms, detailed crown moulding, fireplaces galore and maybe a stained glass window or two.
And while 23 South Dr. might look like your typical Rosedale home from the outside, it is anything but typical on the inside.
The foyer.
Completely reimagined in 1987, this house is a stunning combination of heritage home and '80s architecture that gives it tons of unique character and whimsy.
The living room.
As you enter the home, you have the more traditional part of the house, with a classic living room complete with a fireplace.
A bedroom.
But as you move through the house, those 1980s elements start to crop up.
The dining room.
In the dining room and a bedroom, for example, there are glass brick walls quintessential to the era.
The atrium.
And, things get even more wild from there.
The kitchen.
The kitchen floats above the atrium, with cabinets framing captivating views of the west-facing garden.
The atrium with an indoor tree.
The two-storey open atrium, meanwhile, is spectacular. It boasts rich terracotta flooring, painted brick walls and even an indoor tree.
The family room.
Off the atrium, there's a cozy family room with yet another fireplace.
The backyard.
The atrium also opens directly into the park-like backyard, which is a whopping 292 feet deep and heavily treed.
More backyard.
In fact, the listing mentions that there's enough space beyond the patios that you could easily add an outdoor hockey rink or soccer field beside the gorgeous flora.
A bedroom.
23 South Dr. comes with five bedrooms and five bathrooms.
The primary bedroom.
The primary bedroom is spacious with a bay window, a sitting area, a fireplace and an ensuite bathroom.
Another bedroom with built-in cabinets.
The other bedrooms are spacious and bright, each with their own unique built-ins and layouts.
A bathroom.
The one room that might be the weirdest in the house is the third-floor bathroom, which has a tub on a pedestal.
The primary bedroom sitting area.
But what's more curious than the bathtub shrine is the fact that this property is back on the market only three months after being sold.
A dining nook under the kitchen.
23 South Dr. sold in October 2024 for $6,699,000, almost $300,000 below asking, but still a hefty price tag.
Steps out to the backyard.
Now, it's just been listed for $7,495,000 with no updates other than a fresh coat of paint in the living and dining rooms.
Another bathroom.
Sure, paint can be pricey, but it's not $700,000 pricey.
The family room off the atrium.
And while property values in the neighbourhood went up seven per cent in the last 12 months, Toronto is still suffering from sluggish real estate market.
The house has four fireplaces.
To raise the asking price of the house by almost 12 per cent in this environment seems counterintuitive.
The back of 23 South Dr.
But, realtor Gillian Oxley says that the price increase likely reflects that the original buyer simply "got a great buy," securing the property for less than it's worth with all it has to offer.
"Due to unforeseen family circumstances, a new buyer now has the chance to own this coveted land in the centre of South Rosedale. At almost 300' deep and 50' wide on a west lot with skyline views. As Mark Twain wisely said, 'Buy land — they're not making it anymore!'"
