Surreal Estate: $4.5 million for a Bellwoods Victorian with a shower as big as a bachelor pad

Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods Price: $4,499,000 Previously sold for: $1,275,000 in 2012 Size: 3,392 square feet Bedrooms: 3+2 Bathrooms: 5 Parking spots: 3 Real estate agent: Alex Brott, Sage Real Estate

The Place

A three-plus-two-bedroom, five-bathroom detached staring right into Trinity Bellwoods Park’s central lawn. The century home comes with elegant rooms representing many design styles as well as multiple spaces made for taking the world’s best bath. It’s within walking distance of the bars, restaurants and shops on both Dundas and Queen West, and motorists are a short drive from the Gardiner.

The History

Built in the mid-1800s on former farmland, this house was one of the neighbourhood’s first. In 2012, the current owners bought the Victorian for $1.2 million and reimagined everything, modernizing it for comfort and styling it to honour its heritage.

Related: $32 million for a palace in Rural King that can withstand a Category 7 hurricane

The Tour

Here’s the stately main entrance. When renovating, the owners made a point of incorporating luxurious textures throughout, including the red velvet bench that lines this space.

The moody living room is equipped with a gas fireplace set in white marble, original hardwood floors and built-in shelves for the owners’ collection of antique toys. That huge picture window overlooking the baseball diamond is a highlight from the 2012 renovation.

Tucked around the corner is the powder room, shrouded in pink onyx—a stain-proof alternative to soft marble.

This lounge acts as a transition space between the front and back of the home. That painting on the left is by Toronto artist Bobby Mathieson.

The walnut-laden kitchen offers a full suite of high-end Miele appliances plus a nifty pop-up downdraft in lieu of a bulky range hood.

These cupboard handles are all Bakelite pulls that the owners sourced from antique markets.

Original stained glass windows and a vintage chandelier that the owners scored while on a trip to Winnipeg light up the dining area.

The floor-to-ceiling glass door leading to the backyard comes with a retractable screen. Another thoughtful detail is the quirky wooden case for the light panel, adorned with buttons.

In the backyard: a deck and a 35-foot lot—rare for this part of town—lined with mature trees. That door on the left leads to a mudroom, especially useful for winter entry and storage.

Beside the deck is the former carport, which has been transformed into an outdoor dining room with skylights.

Back inside, the stairwell is fashioned with a skinny window that stretches over two storeys.

Moving to the second floor reveals this gallery-like corridor that peeks into each room.

The TV room could easily become an office, a den or a studio.

Like the living room, the first bedroom pays tribute to the house’s Victorian roots. Just beyond the frame sits an 80-square-foot walk-in closet.

The second bedroom is a 180-degree tonal shift from the first. It’s flanked by vintage French doors with pebbled glass and east-facing windows that flood the space with morning light.

There’s also a very blue corner bathroom, anchored by its jumbo soaker tub.

Here’s a closer look at the bathroom’s floating vanity.

Up on the third floor is the airy main bedroom, with vaulted ceilings.

A reverse angle shows the study nook and the entrance to the stunning wet room.

The wet room is enveloped by dark ceramic tiles and features a striking three-headed rain shower.

This is the main room in the basement, currently set up as a fitness zone.

Even the laundry room has been thoughtfully styled. Note the inset shelf on the right and the antique sink.

Last but far from least is the home’s serenity room, with a custom jacuzzi, a super-wide vanity, cedar plank ceilings and a frosted transom window that echoes the light-bouncing mirror on the left.

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