How one woman built herself a Dovercourt Village laneway suite designed for dance parties

Neighbourhood: Dovercourt Village Size: 1,137 square feet Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1+1

Related: $2.2 million for an upside-down Harbord Village home with a rooftop shower

The Place

A two-bedroom, one-plus-one-bathroom laneway suite a few blocks west of Christie Pits Park. The in-fill mixes the contemporary (black metal cladding, floor-to-ceiling windows, tons of white throughout) with the traditional (red brick and oak, echoing Toronto’s century homes) for something both functional and charming. Other features include an open-concept kitchen, a sunken living room and a skylight. It’s within walking distance of the many bars and restaurants along Bloor, plus Ossington station. And motorists are a short drive from both Davenport and Dufferin.

The History

Realtor and developer Marisa Janigan—who grew up in midtown—completed this property in June of 2024. Her goal was to build a unit that she could move into but also rent out if need be. As part of the vision, her architect proposed a sunken living room that could double as a dance floor for parties with friends. The entertainment space would also have a cottage-like monolithic gas fireplace reminiscent of Janigan’s childhood homes in midtown. Today, Janigan and her partner enjoy sipping wine in the laneway under their cantilevered roof, surrounded by neighbourhood kids playing.

The Tour

The façade rises above the laneway. Its mosaic of windows has been oriented to maximize both natural light and privacy, while its cantilever allows for a de facto patio.

Before going inside, here’s a peek into the backyard, which connects to the main home fronting Concord Avenue. Note the floor-to-ceiling window that dramatically protrudes from the roof.

Here’s the foyer. Its staircase comes with a sleek glass railing and Harry Potter–esque storage underneath. There are oak floors throughout.

Now for the bathroom, which includes fixtures from Kohler, a cabinet vanity and a photo on acrylic taken by Janigan herself.

This office is also just off the foyer and could easily be a second bedroom. It overlooks the laneway and comes with a Murphy bed.

The main bedroom, meanwhile, is large enough for a king-sized bed and has a view of the backyard.

Space-saving solutions abound: a stacked washer-dryer, sandwiched between the two bedrooms, hides behind a pocket door.

Heading upstairs highlights the kitchen, sneakily illuminated by a west-facing transom window. That’s a powder room on the right, also with a pocket door.

The kitchen is equipped with so much cabinetry along with a granite waterfall island and stainless steel appliances.

Turn around to take in the dining area, surrounded by glass bannisters for more natural light. The photo of Cherry Beach—where Janigan’s parents would take the kids for day trips—is a lovely Toronto touch.

Lastly, here’s the sunken living room and occasional dance floor. Janigan was inspired by a mix of modern and ’70s design.

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