$2 million Toronto traditional home surprises with rainbow interiors

Back in 2019, this Victorian semi-detached Toronto home sold for $1,777,000.

At the time, it was pretty standard as far as Annex semis go: Nice bones, lots of charm, but fairly forgettable interiors.

In fact, that may have been part of the problem. The property bounced on and off the market for nearly two years before finally selling.

The front entrance. 

Now, 170 Howland Ave. is back on the market and while the exterior hasn't changed dramatically, the inside has undergone a full personality transplant.

One of three bathrooms. 

Tucked beneath a canopy of mature trees in the heart of the Annex, the fully renovated home now looks like someone took a traditional Victorian and let a maximalist interior designer loose inside it.

The kitchen and living room. 

The interiors are unapologetically colourful, layered with bold paint choices, playful wallpaper, eclectic decor, and enough personality to make the average all-grey Toronto flip look emotionally repressed.

The dining room. 

Sure, not everyone wants their house to look like a circus tent fever dream. But personally, I’m very pro people decorating their homes for themselves instead of some hypothetical future buyer who may or may not exist.

The living room with a fireplace. 

It's oddly refreshing to see a house that actually feels lived in and expressive instead of staged within an inch of its life.

A bedroom. 

And if the rainbow interiors aren't your thing, the five-bedroom home still has plenty going for it.

The open concept main floor. 

The main floor has been opened up into one large flowing space combining the living room, kitchen, and dining area, making it feel much larger than your average Toronto semi.

The backyard. 

The kitchen walks directly out to a backyard deck that the listing enthusiastically describes as perfect for afternoon tea, BBQs, social gatherings, or simply enjoying beautiful weather.

The primary bedroom. 

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms on the second floor, including a bright primary suite with a Juliette balcony overlooking the backyard.

The fifth bedroom. 

The third floor adds even more flexible living space with an additional room that could function as a home office, study, or fifth bedroom depending on how many children, roommates, or long-term guests life has currently assigned you.

The basement. 

Meanwhile, the finished basement includes a recreation room with a gas fireplace, which feels especially valuable during Toronto's annual grey-sky season.

Another bedroom with exposed brick walls. 

And then there's the location.

Another bedroom with a large bay window. 

The property sits within walking distance of the University of Toronto, parks, cafes, restaurants, shopping, TTC access, and enough coffee shops to sustain even the most over-caffeinated freelance writer.

The third floor bathroom. 

Not to mention, property values here tend to hold extremely well.

The vibrant stairwell. 

The Annex remains one of Toronto's most consistently expensive neighbourhoods thanks to its historic homes, leafy streets, walkability, and proximity to basically everything.

The garden and the back of the house. 

In fact, detached homes in the area regularly sell well above the $3 million mark, which makes 170 Howland Ave.'s $2,190,000 asking price feel surprisingly reasonable by Annex standards.