Restored $3.5M Toronto Victorian for sale was featured in a design magazine

If you've ever wandered down Brunswick Ave. in the Annex, you know it's one of Toronto's most charming stretches — leafy, historic, and lined with those drool-worthy Victorians that make you wish you lived in the neighbourhood.

But every so often, a house comes along that takes all that old-world character and flips it into bold, contemporary territory.

That's exactly what's happening at 497 Brunswick Ave., a fully restored and reimagined Victorian that just hit the market.

The kitchen with custom cabinetry.

Listed as a "true designer's paradise," the three-bedroom, five-bathroom home looks like it's been plucked straight from the pages of a glossy interiors magazine — which makes sense, since it was featured in Designlines earlier this year.

The front porch. 

From the street, it's a classic Victorian Annex house: a red-brick semi with a wide, welcoming front porch.

The living room is painted in Champion Cobalt by Benjamin Moore. 

But step inside and the design drama unfolds, courtesy of THMR Development Inc., Barry Goldman Architect, and stylist Chad Burton.

The dining room built into the staircase. 

The house is filled with unconventional design choices from the bold colours to the quirky layouts. 

The sprial staircase at the centre of the home. 

In other words, this house has capital P personality, but it also still very much honours the historical roots of the home. 

A bedroom with the original fireplace. 

For example, the original fireplaces are all still intact, and the intricate mouldings and millwork are a direct nod to the ornate, over-the-top style of the Victorian era. 

The foyer. 

The foyer sets the tone with crown moulding, panelled walls, checkerboard tile, and richly patterned wallpaper — a clear signal this isn't your typical millennial grey family home.

The living room with a fireplace. 

The living room doubles down with bold colour, custom built-ins, and a wood-burning fireplace tucked beneath bay windows.

One of the bathrooms. 

Throughout the house, deep blues and teals dominate, which was definitely intentional.

A family room in the basement. 

"Each space needed a different mood — teal for the kitchen, peacock blue for the library, and aquamarine in the bathrooms," Ran Zha of THMR Development explained in Designlines.

The dining room. 

And then there's the dining room, anchored by a curved custom banquette and overlooked by the home's spectacular spiral staircase — a sculptural centrepiece that ties everything together.

The kitchen. 

The kitchen is equally impressive, with stone counters, a Bertazzoni range, high-end JennAir appliances, a farmhouse sink, and custom cabinetry that nails the balance between function and flair.

The family room. 

Off the kitchen, the family room offers another fireplace, exposed brick, and a walkout to the backyard.

A bedroom. 

Upstairs, every bedroom has its own ensuite (goodbye bathroom battles).

The primary bedroom. 

The third floor is reserved for the primary suite.

The cylindrical shower. 

It's a sun-soaked retreat with built-ins, a spa-worthy bathroom featuring a cylindrical glass shower with a rainhead and bench seating, and a private rooftop deck.

The rec room. 

The lower level is fully finished with polished concrete floors, a spacious rec room, another bedroom or office, and a full bathroom.

The backyard. 

Out back, the landscaped yard is a green, fenced-in escape with plenty of room for entertaining. And rare for the Annex, there's legal front yard parking for two cars.

The back of the house. 

497 Brunswick Ave. is currently listed at $3,495,000, after a recent price drop from $3,779,000.