Laneway Suite of the Week: A two-storey, two-bedroom modern bunker in the Beaches

Neighbourhood: The Beaches
Price: $2.4 million for the main house and laneway suite Size: 750 square feet Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 Builder: Ryan Cousins, Cousins Contracting
Real estate agent: Adrienne Scott, Chestnut Park Real Estate

The place

A two-bedroom, one-bathroom laneway suite, located behind a Craftsman house on Glen Stewart Avenue in the Beaches. The place is steps from Glen Stewart Park and a short walk from the shops and restaurants on Queen. Motorists have easy access to Kingston Road and Lake Shore Boulevard, and transit riders have several bus routes and streetcar lines at their disposal.

The history

Owner and contractor Ryan Cousins built this home in 2022 to bring in some rental income, charging $3,500 a month. Now, he and his wife are looking for a new adventure, so they’re selling the laneway suite along with the main house—all for $2.4 million. Realtor Adrienne Scott says that potential buyers have mostly been investors looking to rent out the suite as well as multi-generational families looking for plenty of space.

Related: How a Parkdale architect transformed a few backyard parking spots into a second home

The tour

Here’s a view of the stained-wood façade from the back alley. That’s a tiny porch on the left and a walkway to the main house on the right.

Every inch matters: Cousins equipped the porch with granite tiles and warm lighting.

The foyer flows right into the open-concept kitchen and living area.

Horizontal windows illuminate the living space. Note the L-shaped storage banquette.

The kitchen’s backsplash and counters are marble.

A closer look highlights the millwork and shiny appliances, including a Sub-Zero fridge.

Open shelving makes great use of the space above the waterfall sink.

All of the engineered hardwood flooring (including the staircase) is heated.

Slanted ceilings presented an opportunity to be creative. Below, Cousins shoehorned in a custom cubby and a stacked washer-dryer.

This is the bathroom, with a glass shower and a wide vanity.

Down the hall is the main bedroom.

The Juliet balcony overlooks the neighbouring rooftops and gardens. That shaded portion of the sliding door is actually the exterior glass railing.

This angle shows the half-wall loaded with storage panels and drawers.

And here’s the second bedroom.

Are you living the laneway life? Send your story to realestate@torontolife.com.