Wychwood Park is an almost too-good-to-be-true private enclave hidden in the middle of the city. This restored house at 24 Wychwood Park strikes a livable balance between the older estates and new builds that make up the 60 residences of this former artists colony. Built in 1923, the house is an Arts and Crafts-style 4 bedroom with lots of original features in an idyllic setting.

This house has lots of nice-to-haves: leaded glass casement windows, built-in bookshelves surrounding a wood-burning fireplace, a stainless steel kitchen and original flooring. The copper roof and eaves, newly installed in 2009, will only look better with age and patina. There are only two bathrooms and each is fairly cramped, but who can say no to an original claw foot bathtub?

This is the type of house that blends in with the foliage in the fall, feels warm and cozy in the winter, and might seem a bit dark in the spring and summer. Although the dark oak and nooks and crannies are evocative of the age of the house, they might come off as claustrophobic to someone used to open floor plans and oversized windows. The kitchen doesn't quite fit with the adjoining rooms, but it's shiny and new from top (industrial-sized fridge) to bottom (white marble and black granite floor).

SPECS

Address: 24 Wychwood Park
Price: $1,879,000.00
Lot Size: 40 x 114.5 ft.
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Parking spaces: 2
Taxes: $8,762.74 (2013)
Wychwood Park Association Fee: $1,249.56
Walk Score: 88

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Original claw foot tub
• Completely renovated stainless steel kitchen
• Industrial-sized fridge
• Slate and copper roof and copper eaves

GOOD FOR

This house would be a real catch for a family that has always dreamed of living in this unique community, as location is the big selling point here. Arguably, the only neighbourhood in Toronto with more privacy and peacefulness than Wychwood Park is Ward's Island, and good luck with that. Bring your sticks and racquets: the communal tennis court is a special perk, and Taddle Creek Pond is re-imagined as a hockey rink in true winters.

MOVE ON IF

You find Wychwood a little too quiet and a touch creepy. It's like no other neighbourhood in the city--if you buy this place, be prepared to pony up an annual fee to help pay for maintenance. All of the neighbours are quite familiar with one another, and, despite the massive trees lining the winding road, it might be hard to maintain privacy. Let's put it this way: if you prefer your tennis in singles rather than doubles, you might want to search elsewhere.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

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