$12.5 million for a heritage church conversion with a footprint big enough for a mansion

Neighbourhood: Palmerston–Little Italy Price: $12,500,000 (as seen on HouseSigma) Size: 4,500 square feet Bedrooms: 4+2 Bathrooms: 7 Parking spots: 2 Real estate agents: Jimmy Molloy and Lindsay Van Wert, Chestnut Park Real Estate; Marci Cook, Forest Hill Real Estate.

The Place

A four-plus-two-bedroom, seven-bathroom townhouse carved from a heritage church in Little Italy. It comes with ecclesiastical windows, Parisian flair, a self-contained guest suite and an underground two-car garage with an EV charger. The property is within walking distance of Trinity Bellwoods Park as well as four streetcar lines and two bus routes. And motorists are a short drive from the Gardiner.

Related: $2.1 million for a modern-meets-rustic Aurora Village home

The History

Built in 1889 in the Romanesque Revival style, the College Street Baptist Church was once a cornerstone of the west end. In the early 2010s, Brennan Custom Homes purchased the then-crumbling institution and divided it into four grand freehold residences. This particular unit features interiors by design firm Powell and Bonnell, which balanced the structure’s original red brick and terracotta with ultra-luxe contemporary finishes.

The Tour

This is the façade from the street: a master class in restoration. Note the original 12-foot floral-inspired cathedral window above the steel-and-glass front door.

The foyer sets a sophisticated tone with its industrial steel-and-glass overture, which is paired with elegant cove moulding and travertine floors that run throughout the main level and up the central staircase.

In the dining room, antiqued mirror glass walls and integrated panelling add depth and a touch of old-world glamour.

Powell and Bonnell wanted some Parisian chic, so they introduced over-the-top proportions, pared-back wall panelling, gold accents and chandeliers. This passage links the formal dining room to the living room.

Here’s that living room, which is more contemporary than the previous zones, with an entire wall of windows, an entertainment system and modernist furniture, plus some vintage light fixtures.

The open-concept kitchen and family room acts as the heart of the home. It opens directly onto the back courtyard (more on that later).

Heading upstairs highlights the sleeping quarters. Each of the four bedrooms, like this secondary one, is designed to feel like a private retreat in a hotel.

As for the main suite, it’s conveniently elevated to overlook its own private lounge and office.

The main suite’s lounge has focal-point windows with a Juliet balcony, a fireplace and space-saving pocket doors.

A peek inside the main ensuite reveals the soaker tub chamber, lined with herringbone hardwood.

Now for the main ensuite in full glory. Here, residents will find twin cabinet vanities, marble surfaces, intricately tiled floors and a sculpture display seemingly lifted from a fine art gallery.

On the third floor, a stunning ceiling loaded with skylights and supported by original steel rafters crowns the home. The room’s glass staircase and in-floor skylight help spread sunshine to lower levels. This space currently serves as a family recreation and wellness wing, with a dedicated yoga room and sauna (not pictured).

Lastly, here’s a view of the courtyard, tucked behind all that restored brickwork—a secluded green space ideal for al fresco dining.

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