House of the Week: $4.9 million for an enormous ex-schoolhouse near Trinity Bellwoods stuffed with stunning art

Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods Price: $4,999,900 Previously sold for: $3,925,000

Size: 6,000 square feet Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 5 Parking spots: 1 Real estate agents: Brett Starke and Christina Romanzas, the Starke Group

The Place

A six-bedroom, five-bathroom detached with over 6,000 square feet of living space steps from the Ossington strip. The house is full of large-scale mixed-media artworks that are negotiable in the sale. It also comes with many dedicated zones for lounging, skylights everywhere and an elevator. It’s within walking distance of Trinity Bellwoods Park and the many bars, restaurants and shops on both Dundas and Queen West. And motorists are a short drive from the Gardiner.

The History

This property is more than a century old. Originally built as a schoolhouse in 1910, it was converted into a bakery in the 1960s before it became a community centre—Parkdale Neighbourhood House—a couple decades later. In 2004, the new owners purchased the place for $630,000 and transformed it into a lofty open concept home. Most recently, frontman James Priestner of Rare Americans bought it in 2019 and spent about $5,000 turning it into his live-work space.

Related: This East York property nearly tripled its asking price in two years

The Tour

The historic façade, with “Parkdale Neighbourhood House” engraved above the front door—a treat for any Toronto history buff.

The current owner mostly uses the second entrance, which is part of the home’s extension. It leads to this de facto mudroom, equipped with a stainless steel grid window and basketball net (not pictured).

The kitchen is meant to evoke a classic diner, with its red leather swivel bar seats, reclaimed wood ledge, tiled backsplash and two sinks.

This reverse angle highlights the kitchen’s granite counters, warm cupboards, gas cooktop and stainless steel appliances.

Just beyond the bar is the dining area, lit by a custom chandelier. It comfortably hosts eight guests.

Now the sunny living room. It overlooks the back courtyard from that Juliet balcony in the corner. Those jumbo bishops are a nice touch.

Here’s a room set up explicitly as a gallery, with an original Banksy on the left.

Moving to the second floor reveals a more industrial-salon feel: grey tiles, a steel staircase and ivory walls lined with art.

The bedrooms on the second floor, meanwhile, come with softer hardwood floors and Edwardian-style windows. This one is currently set up as an office, but it could be a lounge, a guest room or a library.

Here’s the airy central hub of the home. A hundred years ago, children would run through this space from class to class, and the owners kept its very institutional fire extinguisher and push door as quirky reminders. Today, it houses a crystal butterfly sculpture by Max Jamali atop a black marble plinth.

There’s a four-piece bathroom that includes a luxury soaker tub right off the central hub.

This is the main bedroom, which comes with an inset shelving unit.

It also has an ensuite bathroom—complete with two sinks—that flows directly into the walk-in closet. Note the glass block details on the floor.

Ascending once more, the third floor is fitted with a kooky U-shaped catwalk, allowing residents to peer over the steel rails into the gallery below.

Check out these long, narrow skylights carved out of the original cathedral ceilings. They flood the top two floors with light and echo the slatted wood floors beneath them.

Tucked away in the attic of the home is this loft-style bedroom overlooking the neighbourhood. No need for a morning alarm when you have a sunlight directly above your bed.

Lastly, the hidden back courtyard and deck. The only thing missing? A lounger, a classic novel and a glass of wine.

Have a home that’s about to hit the market? Send your property to: realestate@torontolife.com.